Stroup, Hailey Long Walk to Water Student Guide

Student Guide

Name hailey

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 1

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Droned (pg.2): Something boring that someone keeps rambling on about
My sentence: At the dinner table my parents droned on about a story I didn’t want to here.

2. Halted (pg.4) ​ stopped

My sentence: ​ I halted at the door when It suddenly slamed shut

3. Rebels (pg.6) ​ bad people

My sentence: ​ The rebles ran away after the cops showed up

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​ (R) W​ hat kind of student is Salva? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Salva is a good student. He is a good student because it says in the text “Salva was a good student,” It

also says “ he already knew the lesson, which was why he was letting his mind wander down the road ahead of
his body.” This explains why he is a good student because he already knew the lesson and he already has in his
mind and he doesn’t have to learn it. That’s why Salva is a good student.

2.​ (R) ​What social class do you infer Salva’s family belongs to? Are they rich or poor? Support your answer
with evidence from the text.

Salvas family belongs to the upper class. They belong to the upper class because of this text evidence “
Salvas father was a successful man. He owned many cattle and work as their village of judge it ordered,
respected position” This explains how his family is successful because Salvas father owned many cattle and in
Sudan the worship cattle they even kill cattle if someone is gone or lost from home. The village judge is a very
important person in Sudan and other places. So Salvas father is the village judge so they are considered the
upper class. That is why they belong to the upper class.

3. ​ ​Describe the setting of the story. Give specific details from the story.
The setting of the story is in a deserted area in 1985. It is placed in a deserted area because it says in the text

“ he and his brothers, along with The sons of his fathers otherwise, would walk with the nerds of the
waterholes” this explains why he lives in a deserted area because he had to walk to water but when you live in a
grassland area you can just get water from plants. That is why he lives in a deserted area.

in Nyas part of the story it talked about how she walks to the water holes. That was part of the story talks
about how he is my and how his dad is in the upper class.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 2

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your own
that uses the word.
1. Tense (pg. 9) ​ Tight

​My sentence:

I was tense after my neighbor got robbed.
2. Scurried (pg. 12) ​ Quickly
My sentence: ​ I scurried away from the bee

3. Objected (pg.12) ​ A person of judgment
My sentence: ​ The judge objected the guilty criminal

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  ​Find one example of a simile in this chapter. Explain what is being compared.

One simile I found was overhead, a jet plane veered away like this league evil bird. It is comparing a jet plane and an evil bird

2. ​ (R) W​ hen given the choice between the line of men and the line of children, Salva chooses the men’s line
even though he is only eleven years old. What does this say about Salva?

This says a lot about salva. This says that he is a strong kid. It says in the text “ he was only 11, but he was the son of important
family. “ This explains why he is strong because he knew that he could try to sneak in and he tried an other people wouldn’t try so that
is why salva is strong.

3.​  W​ hat is the mood of this chapter? Cite details from the text that support this mood.
The mood is depressing. It is depressing because the soldiers were hurting people and they were hitting

people with the butt of there guns. That is why it is depressing

in Nyas part of the story she tried not to step on spiky things but then she did and she sat on the ground
squeezing it out. In salvas part of the story they were stopped by soldiers and they were making them go in
lines so salva went in the men’s line and got in trouble.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 3

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Artillery (pg. 18) ​ big guns
My sentence:

2. Sympathy (pg.18) feelings
My sentence:

3. Dimmer (pg.19) ​ a device for light
My sentence:

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  W​ hy do you think the author chose to include two different storylines (Nya’s and Salva’s) in one
book? What is the purpose for this?

She put to different story lines so the readers can understand how Sudan is in 2008 and Sudan in 1985.

2. ​ (R) D​ escribe how Salva treats the older woman he comes across. What does this tell us about Dinka
culture?

They treat them with respect. In the text it says “ thank you auntie.” This explains my reasonings because
auntie is an old lady and she gave Salva peanuts and Salva was thankful so instead of just chewing up his
peanuts he said thank you and then started chewing up his peanuts. That is why I think they think the tribe or
respect full to the elder.
3.​  W​ hy would the rebel soldiers ignore an old woman travelling alone? Why would it be more dangerous for
her to travel with Salva? Explain.

The reason why they let her travel alone because they are not on her side and they don’t want her to live
because she is not on their side. The reason why it’s dangerous for her to travel the server because Saba is
young and doesn’t know how to take care of people The reason why they let her travel alone because they are
not on her side and they don’t want her to live because she is not on their side. The reason why it’s dangerous
for her to travel server because saga is young and doesn’t know how to take care of people and elderly need
help with things like sometimes they can have trouble walking.

in Nyas part of the story it talks about how long she is out to get water and it talks about how only woman go
to get water and girls. In salvas part of the story he is in a group and he just woke up and they were leaving
him behind because they can’t wait for anyone because they have to go get water.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 4

PART 1: VOCABULARY

Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Lag (pg. 22) ​ slow

My sentence: ​ I was lagging to the fridge

2. Content (pg. 22) ​ peace
My sentence: ​ I wanted the world to have content

3. Sluggishly (pg. 23) ​ slowly
My sentence: ​ I sluggishly made it to the bed to sleep

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  N​ ya has to walk nearly half a day to find water. What can you infer about the place she lives? Why do
you think she does this? I think she lives in a deserted area because it said in the book that she stepped on
a thorn and thorns are mostly placed in a deserted areas.

2.​  W​ hose struggles do you feel is worse – Salva’s or Nya’s? Why? Explain your answer.

Salvas because he has to go through the war in action

3.​  E​ xplain what happened when the woman in the group reaches out and touches the man’s arm, and he
changes his mind about letting Salva go with them. Why does he change his mind? What does this tell us about
the tribe’s culture?

That they really care about their tribe members

Nya ate and went back to getting water. Salva was in the barn eating his peanuts and the dinka tribe came
and took salva .

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 5

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.
1. Clashed (pg. 26) ​ fought
My sentence: me and my brother fought over the iPad

2. Luscious (pg. 28) ​ sweat taste
My sentence: ​ my mouth was watering over thee delicious ham

3. Preyed (pg. 31) ​ hunted
My sentence: ​ my cat preyed the mouse

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  W​ hy do you think the Dinka and Nuer have such a long history of fighting when they face
such similar challenges?
The Dinka and the nuer probably had clashes between one another. They probably also had
stealing problems.

2. ​ I​ n this chapter, Salva meets a boy from his tribe but with a different accent who must be from an area not
near Salva’s village. What does this tell you about the spread of the war it tells us that the war is so bad that
people from far away have to go away from their homes. It
3.​  ​What is the meaning of the phrase “Salva heard that sigh all the way to his heart”? (29)

The meaning of the phrase means that the sign was in a different tone so it really meant to salva

In Nyas part of the story it talks most about how she moves near a big near a big lake and how she has to
dig a whole to get more water. In salvas part of the story he was walking the with his swollen eye from the
bee stings and a boy shows up and he speaks in a different language and he is really a like with salva.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 6

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Gobble (pg. 36) ​ ate very fast

My sentence:​ when I saw that cheesecake I gobbled it down before anyone could get it

2. Rebelled (pg. 36) ​ hurt

My sentence:​ After I ate that cheesecake my stomach rebelled strongly

3. Fortunate (pg. 37) ​ favored

My sentence:​ my brother did not seem so fortunate after he took out the trash

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  W​ hat is one theme you are seeing emerge in the novel so far? Explain your answer.
One of the themes that I saw is that Family is the special thing that you always need because in the

chapter salva was very happy when he found his Uncle.his mood changed to Sad and depressed to Happy and
Joyful. And since he had to go away from his family for a pretty long time now he has no one to care for him

he has no one to say he is okay when he is really not. Since he doesn’t have his family he has a empty hole
inside. So that is why I think that Family is a special thing that you always need is the theme.

2.​  (R) D​ escribe the character of Uncle, citing evidence from the text.
Uncle has many characteristics. One characteristic is that he is strong. It says in the story

“Uncle must know about the war and fighting!”. The book also states that “Salva hadn’t seen him in at
least two years, because Uncle had been in the Army. This proves That he is strong because if Uncle
knows about the the war and fighting, you have to be strong to fight. This also proves that he is strong
because he was in the Army it said and you have to be really strong to be in the Army. That was one
character trait that describe the character of Uncle.

3.​  (R) W​ hat do you infer happened to Marial? What is the evidence?
I have inferred about what happened to Marial. What I have inferred that he got eaten by a

lion. It says in the text “Once in the distance, they saw a lion chasing a topi”. It also states in the text “I
don’t remember if he slept near me”. This proves that he probably went out to go eat something then a
lion sneak up on him BOOM, gone. This was what I had inferred about what happened to Marial.

In Nyas part of the story it talks about Nya and her family just arrived at the lake and her brother and her
dad just went hunting and her mom is worried that they are going to get killed by the Dinka tribe. In Salvas
part of the story he just found his big strong Uncle. He is very happy because he hasn’t had family in a long
time. His uncle hunted for the tribe and helped Salva. Then one night when they were sleeping and Marial
went missing and that is what we are going to find out in the next chapter.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 7

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Constantly (pg. 40) ​ over and over again

My sentence: my brother constantly bothers me

2. Splotches (pg. 41) ​ a daub

My sentence: ​ I splotched my cookie doe

3. Staggered (pg. 43) ​ walk unsteady

My sentence: ​ I got dizzy and staggered

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ (R) W​ hat do you think has made Akeer and so many others in Nya’s tribe sick? Explain why you think that.

In Nya’s part of the story her tribe got sick.I think that they got sick from drinking the water. It
states in the text “Unable to hold anything in their systems, many of them starved to death, even
with food right in front of them.” It also says “with her hands , she would dig a hole in the damp
clay of the lakebed.” This proves that they got sick because of the water because when you are
digging a hole out of the bottom of the lake with clay at the bottom there is A LOT of bacteria
in that water so when people drink that they are going to get sick and they are not going to want
to eat, which brings me to my next explanation. So when they are getting sick and they are still
drinking that water and more bacteria is getting into the bloodstream they will want to stop
eating so now they are starving to death and dying. That is why I think the water is making them
become sick

2.​  (​ R) H​ ow has Marial’s disappearance changed Salva? Compare and contrast Salva before and after this
event.

​Marials disappearance really changed salva. The reason why I think it change salva was
because of this text evidence “He clung to Uncle like a baby or a little boy, hanging on to his
hand or shirttail when he could, never letting Uncle get farther than a arms length away.” it also
states that “If it hadn’t been for Uncle , salva may have gone crazy with fear. Uncle spoke to
him all morning in a steady, low voice. This proves that Marials disappearance changed salva
because this evidence from the story changed salva so much that he has to be not even a arms
length from his Uncle because he is so devastated. This changed because before when he was
with Marial he could let Uncle hunt and Now he has to be with him in order to feel better. This
explains how Marrials disappearance changed Salva.

3. What do you think the Nile River could symbolize? Explain your answer.
I Think that the Nile River symbolizes hope because when you see the Nile river you feel the best feeling ever

because you know you are almost there. It also helps you stay in there if you are feeling down because you
know you are close to home and you know you are going to see your family! That is why I think that the
Nile river symbolizes HOPE!

In Nyas part of the story it talked about how everyone was getting sick and how people were starving to
death for who knows why and everyone is trying to survive. In Salvas part of the story it talks about all of
Salvas pain and how he trying to think about how Marial disappeared and also how is Uncle literally saved
his life.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 8

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.
1. Monotonous (pg. 46) ​ dull
My sentence: ​ I dulled at the band recital

2. Abundance (pg. 47) ​ large amount
My sentence: I have a abundance of homemade cookies

3. Dismounted (pg. 48) ​ alight from something

My sentence: ​ I dismounted from my bike after the great trip

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS
1. ​ C​ omplete the cause and effect graphic organizer below (double click on the boxes to open up the drawing
so you can type in the boxes). Write one cause of Nya and Akeer drinking dirty water, and one effect.

2.​  (R) W​ hy do you think the fisherman not share their food with the refugees? Explain your answer.
The fisherman do not share their food with the other refugees. The reason I think that they ar not

because of this text evidence “They paddled for hours.” another piece of evidence is “None of the travelers had
money or anything of value to trade” This proves why the are not sharing because they paddled for hours and
the fisherman need food to get the energy to paddle people on a boat. Also, none of the travelers had anything
money or anything to trade so the fisherman need other supplies and if you need supplies you need to make or
buy them and they are not going to give fish that they have taken time to catch and just give them away to some
random refugees they don’t know. That is why I think that the fisherman won’t share their fish with the
refugees.

3. Predict: What do you think will happen to the group in the Akobo Desert? Why do you think that?
I think that they are going to step on a lot of things and become dehydrated because some of them

didn’t have containers they toor a piece of cloth from their clothes and tried to get water with that. That is
what I predict what is going to happen in the Akobo desert.

In Nyas part of the story Akeer got sick and they found a hospital and they said that she got sick because the
the water and she also said that if you boil it it will become clean water. In salva’s part of the story salva
made a pit stop to this place where there was fisherman and food and crops there and the fisherman wood
not share their fish but they would give Uncle some other food cause he had a gun.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 9

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Relentless (pg. 52) ​ ​oppressively constant

My sentence: ​ ​He led a strong fight against the ​relentless​ rulings of the committee

2. Gored (pg. 52) ​ p​ ierce or stab with a horn or tusk

My sentence: ​ ​The owner of an ox which g​ ored​ a man on the street was only responsible for
damages if the ox was known by him to be vicious, even if it caused death.

3. Precise (pg. 54) ​ accuracy of expression or detail
My sentence: ​ S​ o much is certain, though the ​precise​ incidents of the interview are variously told.

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  F​ or what purpose do you think the visitors came to Nya’s village? What do you predict will
happen with the visitors?
I think that the visitors came so that they help Akeer and Nya and her family not get sick by the
water. I think that the visitors are going to get sick because of the water. They may get thirsty and
they are going to have to drink the filthy water. That is what I predict about the visitors.

2.​  W​ hat does water symbolize in this chapter? Explain your answer.
I think that this symbolizes/care because when the women went to go and give the man water she did not

care about if she lost water she cared about the man dieing .

3. (​ R) W​ hy does the woman give the dying men water, even when she knows it will not help and that it
will hurt her own chances of survival? What does this say about her character?

This says a lot about the character. I think that her character trait is loving. The reason why I think this
is because of this text evidence. “One of the women in salvas group pushed forward and knelt down. She
opened her container of water of evidence is “The women did not answer. When she looked up, salva could
see the tears in her eyes.” This explains my reasonings because the women loved and cared about the man

so much that she pushed through everyone to get to the man. She also cares about the man so much that she
was crying because she knew it wasn’t going to work. That is why I think that her character trait is loving.

In Nyas part of the story the visitors came and everyone got sick. In salvas part of the story they were
walking through one of the biggest desserts and they found three men that were on their last breath and one
of the groups in her tribe pushed through everyone and started to cry and began to give one of them water.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 10

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Revived (pg. 58) ​ restore

My sentence: ​ I revived my life in minecraft

2. Ravaged (pg. 59) ​ s​ everely damaged

My sentence: ​ I ravaged my food after not eating breakfast

3. Receding (pg. 61) ​ ​go or move back

I was receding from the barking, crazy dog

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ H​ ow do you think the visitors will find water in the spot between the trees when Nya has never seen
any water there before?

Because the visitors have exact locations of where the forests are and know where rain starts in places.

2. ​ S​ alva wonders to himself if he would have given water to the dying men if he were older. Based on
what you know about his character, what do you think he would have done? Explain your answer.
I think that he would have tried giving him water and finding food and if they don't have luck he will
bury him in a hole

​3. ​(R) W​ hy did the strangers rob the group and shoot Uncle? What do you think was their purpose for
doing this?

It was very strange why the strangers robbed the group. There are many reason why. This is some
text evidence of what I think the purpose of the action. One piece of evidence is “He could see that that
they were armed with guns and machetes” This explains my thinking because if they were armed they
were definitely there to kill someone because they were also armed with machetes. The purpose of why I
think they are doing this is because they probably knew Uncle was a fighter in the war and they were
probably going to fight against him, and he was probably a good fighter and they just wanted to make it
easier on themselves. That is why I think the strangers rob the group and their purpose for doing this.

In Nyas part of the story the visitors went with Nya and the others and the found a spot where it was going to
rain. Insalvas part of the story they were walking and out of nowhere there was a water pit and a dead bird
next to it and they decided to go up to it and Uncle got shot and the group got robbed. They stole all of there
clothes and everything that was valuable.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 11

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Uprooted (pg. 64) ​ Pull out of the ground

My sentence: ​ I uprooted the weed out of the flower bed

2. Mourn (pg. 65) ​ Show regret
My sentence: ​ I got dared to slip on the ice I mourn that

3. Emaciated (pg. 68) ​ Thin or weak
My sentence: ​ The worm I found was emaciated

​PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  (R) ​Why does Salva feel stronger, bolder, and able to go on after his uncle’s death?
Salva felt different after uncle died. I think that salva feels stronger because of this text evidence

“Even though they had not been kind to him, at least he had known them”. Another piece of text evidence
is “ He felt his heart sick a little but he pledged clenched his hands into fists and made himself a promise
if they are here I will find them” this proves that he is strong to go in a group to go and try to get someone
to comfort him when lonely and that takes a lot of guts to do so that proves that proves he is strong. This
also proves that he is strong because he is forcing himself to try to find his family if he finds evidence that
they could be there. That is my reasonings for why I think Salva got stronger.

2.​  ​Compare and contrast Salva’s reaction to Marial’s death to his reaction to his uncle’s death.
The difference between Marials death and uncles death is that when Marial died saliva had Uncle to

help him find comfort in his heart. And the difference of when uncle died is because he had no one to care
for him he had to care for yourself and you don’t want to clog onto and he had no one to pour out his
feelings to and now he has to survive and try to find his family with no help all by himself.

3. ​ (R) ​How does Salva’s interactions with the group change after Uncle’s death? Why?
This event that happened really interacted with the group. This is the text evidence I found to support

my answer “ out of respect for him, the group walked no more that day but took time to mourn the man
who had been there leader.” The time for grief was short, and the walking begin again soon after dark”
this proves my answer because when Uncle died the group slowed down just like salva. That is what I
think the interactions

In nyas part of the story the people were clearing the land so more things can grow. in Salvas part of the
story they buried uncle and then they didn’t walk for a while and then they started to walk the they found this
place where everyone was going to, to find their family’s.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 12

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Skittered (pg. 73) ​ Move Lightly and quickly

My sentence:
I skittered across the floor to get to the snack drawer

2. Torrents (pg. 74) ​ A strong and fast moving stream of liquid

My sentence: ​ I fell in a torrent in Kentucky
3. Merciless (pg. 75) ​ Show no mercy

My sentence: ​ I was merciless to my brother after he annoyed me

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ H​ ow does Salva change and grow as a character this chapter? What causes this change to happen?
Salva changes because it says that salva finally got what Uncle said about how few people survived and

salva said that it really meant that his parents did not survive. Salva changed because of this text evidence “ in
the moment before calling out to the woman a second time, Salva realized what uncle truly meant something

salva had known it his heart for a long time his family was gone, they had been killed by bullets or Bombs.
starvation or sickness.

2. ​ (R) W​ hat is the mood at the end of the chapter? Cite words and phrases from the text that support this
mood.

There was a big mood at the end of the chapter. Chapter I thought the mood was happy because of this
text evidence “ they are driving us back to Sudan, Salva thought. They will force us to cross the river….”
this explains my reasonings because salva knows the way to go because of his travel from Sudan to
Ethiopia. That why I think the mood is happy.

3.​  W​ hat do you predict will happen at the Gilo River? Explain

In nyas part of the story they had to find rocks and use the tools to break up the rocks to make gravel. Nya
said it grew everyday. In salvas part of the story he thought that the girl with the orange hat was his mom but
it was not. So he had to live alone in the camp. Then six years later rumors started spreading about the
soldiers coming. Then they came and they took them by the river and salva knows where to go from there.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 13

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Prodding (pg. 77) ​ Poked with an object
My sentence: ​ My brother kept on prodding me with a stick

2. Plagued (pg. 80) ​ Cause trouble

My sentence: ​ My brother was plagued when the nanny came

3. Scavenge (pg. 81) ​ Search and collect

My sentence: ​ I was scavenging in my back yardage

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ (R) ​What does water symbolize to Nya in this chapter? What does water symbolize to Salva?
Compare and contrast the differences in the symbolic meaning of water throughout the chapter.

There are a lot of differences between the water in Nyas story and Salva's story. I think that in Nya's story it
symbolizes Faith. It symbolizes faith because in the book it said “ The pond water was pipe into what looks like a giant plastic
bag a bag big enough to fill the entire bed of the truck” it also states “ The drilling crew was discouraged by the leaks they
wanted to stop working but their boss kept going.” This explains why the water symbolizes faith because the water was filled
so they had so much water that they can take trips long trips to the water in the back hydrated. Another reason is because it is
so faithful of that because they wanted to quit but they knew it was good for them so they didn’t quit in the boss knew that it
was good for the people that needed the water because so they can easily get water. That is why I think the water in Nyas part
of the chapter symbolizes faith.

2. ​ (R) S​ alva faced many dangers in this chapter. Of them all, which do you consider to be the most
dangerous? Explain your answer.

Salva faced many dangers in this chapter. I think that the most dangerous is when the boy held his head
down in the water to try to save him from gunshots. In the text it says “ A boy next to him grabbed him
around the neck and clung to him tightly selva was forced under the surface without time to take more than
a quick shallow breath salva struggled kicking clawing. He’s holding on to me too hard I can’t air no air
left” Another piece of evidence is” suddenly the boys gripped loosened and salve a launch Tips of upward.
He threw his head back and took a huge cup of air for a few moments he could do nothing but gas and
choke when his vision cleared he so why the boy had let go he was flirting with his head down blood
streaming from a bullet hole in the back of his neck” This explains why I think that is a dangerous kid this
explains why I think that it is the dangerous event because salva was about to drowned but he was also
getting saved at the same time. But the boy died and Salva saw his body right in front of his face. That is
why I think that is a dangerous event in the chapter.

3.​  (R) ​Describe Salva’s character in the second half of this chapter. What character trait would you use to
describe him now? Explain your answer.

Salva really changed character traits between the first half and the second half of the story. I think his
character traits are leadership and bravery. I think this because of this text evidence “ Salva and a few
other young man walk at four months. But when they reach the camp but I F0, they found that things were
no different than a Kumkuma.” this explains my reasonings because you have to have to have bravery to
walk miles to find a different camp miles away with animals everywhere where they can KILL YOU. That
is my reasonings of why I think Salvas character trait changed to bravery

in nyas part of the story a big truck with a big plastic bag filled with water and they are taking it to Nyas
house. In salvas part of the story they got held hostage and they drove them to a river and then they started
shooting then this guy held salvas head down and then the guy who was saving salva from the gunshots
died from the gunshots.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 14

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Drifted (pg. 83) ​ Be carried slowly

My sentence: ​ I drifted the sleeping baby

2. Isolated (pg. 84) ​ Far away from other places

My sentence: ​ I isolated from the jail

3. Misery (pg. 84) ​ A state or feeling
My sentence:

My brother put me threw misery

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ ​How do you think the visitors will fix the brown, muddy water at Nya’s village? Explain your prediction.
Well they do have cars and upgraded stuff then the others so I think that they will replace the water with

pipes and filters to make the water clean and healthy to drink. They may also boil the water to clean the water.
That is what I think they will do to the dirty water.

2.​  O​ n a seperate piece of paper, draw a sketch/picture of the Kakuma refugee camp. Make sure it
accurately illustrates the setting. Take a picture of your sketch and insert it here.

3. ​ (R) D​ oes Salva feel hopeful in this chapter? Why or why not? Compare Salva’s hope in this chapter to
his hope on the journey to the camps.

I think that he was hopeful because he was finally accepted to go to America and he was very hopeful
because of this text evidence” there it was Salva Dut-Rochester, New York. Salva was going to New
York.” This explains my reasonings because to have that feeling of staying in Sudan your whole life with
no clean water barely any food and then you get to go to a state where there is everything and you can get
everything you really need then what you didn’t have in Sudan. That is why I think that he feels hopeful.

In Nyas part of the story she was sad because the sad because the water was so filthy and her heart sank.
In Salvas part of the story after waiting and waiting and waiting Salva finally got accepted to got to America!!!

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 15

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Misunderstand (pg. 91) to mishear something

My sentence: I misunderstood my mom when she said she wanted a new necklace, I thought she said
Bracelet.

2. Lumbered (pg. 92) ​ roughly
My sentence: ​ the road was lumbered

3. Abruptly (pg. 94) ​ hard

My sentence: ​ My phone hit the ground abruptly

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS
1. In the cause and effect map below, think of three effects that will occur when Nya’s village finally gets
water. *Double click on the map to access the boxes to type into in the drawing.

2. Find two examples of similes in this chapter. Explain what is being compared.

The first simile I found was “ not like a bird lifting off lightly with a quick flapping of wing, but with shrieks
and roars.” That simile is comparing a bird and a airplane. Another simile I found was “cars crawled along the
road like ants in a line.” it is comparing the cars to small ants

In Nyas part of the story the people kept on drilling till they got to the clean water. In Salvas part of the
chapter he was finally going to America so he took three flights to get there.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 16

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.
1. Vague (pg. 99) ​ a uncertain meaning
My sentence: ​ When my brother was crying and talking it was Vague
2. Notion (pg. 100) ​ a conception of belief
My sentence: ​ I had a notion with my brother
3. Remote (pg. 100) ​ the main centers of population
My sentence: ​ there is a remote in time square

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ ​In the Venn Diagram below, compare and contrast Sudan and America. *Double click on the diagram to
edit the Google Drawing.

2. (​ R) ​Why is it so difficult for Salva to return to Africa to see his father? Explain, citing evidence from the text.
It is very hard for salva to go back to sudan. The reason why is because of the war that is still going on.

It says in the book “sometimes that seemed like an impossible notion. In his homeland there was so much war
and destruction” it also states in the book “But the war was still raging, it was very difficult to make the
arrangements” This explains my reasoning because the war is so bad that it is hard for him to go to his
homeland without him even getting injured or killed. It is also hard because he can’t barley even make
arrangements because of all the war in sudan. That is why the war is causing him to have trouble getting Sudan.

In Nyas part of the story Nyas finds out that her dad is building a school and Nya is so HAPPY. In Salvas
part of the story he finds out that his dad is alive and is getting surgery in his stomach and Salva is trying to
get to Sudan without dieing.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 17

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Scything (pg. 103) ​move through or penetrate something rapidly and forcefully.

My sentence:.My costume required a scything

2. Haze (pg. 106) ​ a​ slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere
My sentence: ​ ​ Jule awoke in a h​ aze ​of hot and cold

3. Trembling (pg. 109) ​ s​ haking

My sentence:I was trembling when was sick

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1.​  (R) C​ hoose one character trait to describe Salva in this chapter. Cite two pieces of evidence to
support your answer.

Salva has a great character trait for this chapter. His character trait for this chapter is Strong. It is
strong because of this text evidence “His body shaking with sobs of joy, he reached up to hug Salva
tightly.’ The book also states “it has been almost nineteen years since they had last seen each other.”.
That explains my reasonings of why he is strong is because you have to be strong when you see your dad
sick and he is crying and you also have to be strong and not be crying. You have to be strong to not cry
because salva had not seen his father in nineteen years. That is why he is strong.

2.​  W​ hat do you predict Salva’s project for South Sudan will be?
I think his project is building wells because he thought in 2007 and in nyas story someone started

building wells in 2009. And in salva's story that it took a lot of time so that is why I think that he is
building wells.

3. ​ (R) H​ ow do you infer Salva feels about speaking in front of an audience? Cite two pieces of evidence
from the text that supports this.

Salva had a lot a feelings when he went up to talk to the people. I think nervous. The reason why
I think that is because of this text evidence “What if he made mistakes in pronunciation? What if the
audience couldn’t understand him?” another piece evidence that explains my is “Salva spoke into
microphone. H-Hello.” this explains why he was nervous because he is worrying about if he is going to
make mistakes which makes him nervous. The second piece of text evidence explains why he is nervous
because he is hesitating and that is a sign of being nervous. That is why he is nervous when he was
talking in front of an audience.

In nyas part of the story she finds out that she is going to school. In salvas part of the story he wanted to help
sudan and work on a project to help. He talks to audiences around the world to donate money.

STUDENT GUIDE – CHAPTER 18

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Disputes (pg. 113) ​ a disagreement

My sentence: I was in a dispute with my sister

2. Maintaining (pg. 113) cause or enable
My sentence:I needed to maintain my new chromebook

3. Assumed (pg. 114) ​ to suppose something

My sentence: ​ I assumed that my essay was done after 5 pages

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ (R) H​ ow have the volunteers creating one well transformed the lives of the villagers? Give at least
three different positive effects of the new well.

The volunteers have well transformed the villagers lives. They changed their lives because the
villagers won’t get a sick as they did when their water was flooded with bacteria. It says in the text
“The water was delicious” this explains my reasonings because in the beginning of the story they had
dirty water and they got sick and they weren’t able to do school because they had to get water. That is
how the volunteers transform the lives of the villagers.

2.​  H​ ow do Salva’s story and Nya’s story intersect and come together in this chapter? Why do you think
the author chose to tell the story this way?

They intersect because they both have a hard life in the beginning and then the finally meet and there lives intersected. The
author chose to write it that way so she can show people how just standing up for yourself can make a difference

3. ​ W​ as your prediction about Salva’s project from last chapter correct or incorrect?
Correct because he had help and he already knew where the places are where water is needed so that

is why I think his project is going to be successful.

Nya got water from the fountain and gots some for her dad. Her dad wanted her to meet someone. It 2as
salva she got shy but then when she met him she was not shy anymore.

STUDENT GUIDE – MESSAGE & AUTHOR’S NOTE

PART 1: VOCABULARY
Infer the meaning of each vocabulary word using context clues in the story. Then write a sentence of your
own that uses the word.

1. Perseverance (pg. 117)​ ​doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

My sentence: ​ I​ t took planning and ​perseverance​ to be successful

2. Depicted (pg. 118) ​ ​represent by a drawing

My sentence: ​ T​ he wall was painted with a large mural ​depicting famous​ scenes 

from American history

3. Languished (pg. 119) ​ ​grow weak

My sentence: ​ The ​ crops were languishing from a lack of rain.

PART 2: READING QUESTIONS

1. ​ ​Are you satisfied with how the book ended? Why or why not? If not, how would you have ended it
differently

I am satisfied because Nya and salva got to meet and they are probably going to be best friends because
they are both really helpful.

2.​  D​ o you think there will ever be peace in Sudan? Why or why not? Explain.

I don't think that there will be peace because the other people still don't agree with them and that
they still are trying to get everyone to be islam .

3. ​ (R) W​ hat do you feel the theme/message of the book is? Explain your answer thoroughly.
There was a big message in this book. I think that the theme of the message was to always be a

helper. I think that because it says in the book “He has drilled many wells for his people.This year he
decided to drill for the nuer as well.” It also says “But now Nya felt there was something she had to do.”
This explains ,y reasonings because drilling holes for someone else's group that you are not in is being a
helper because you are not aloud to do that when you are in Sudan.

Nya has to get water from the clean fresh well for her dad. then when she got back she got shy because her
dad made her meet salva. But then they became friends.