Salva
In the beginning of the story, what language is Salva learning in school?
Arabic.
What is Nya's main, time-consuming responsibility each day while living in her village?
Making long trips to the pond to fetch water for her family.
What special skill does Buksa, a young man from the Jur-chol tribe, possess?
He can follow a bird called a honey guide to find bees.
What devastating event caused Salva to become gripped by fear in the land of the Atuot?
His friend Marial is killed and eaten by a lion during the night.
Where Does the Name of the Holiday Come From?
It means "dedication". Hanukkah celebrates the Jews' rededication of the Second Temple.
Why did the first group of people from Salva's village leave him behind in the barn?
He was a child and they were afraid he would slow them down.
What is the primary reason Nya's family moves to a camp by a lake for five months of the year?
The pond near their village dries up during the dry season.
The region inhabited by the Atuot people is known for being home to what fierce animal?
Lions. The Atuot are called the people of the lion, and their land is know for a large lion population.
What happens to Uncle Jewiir at the end of the desert crossing?
He is robbed and shot by men from the Nuer tribe.
Why Do We Celebrate Hanukkah for Eight Nights?
To commemorate the miracle of the oil—and perhaps as a nod to Sukkot. The Second Book of the Maccabees (c. 124 BCE), written in Egypt, notes that Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days because it was actually a belated celebration of Sukkot.
Who does Salva joyfully reunite with after weeks of walking, a person he believed was far away in the army?
His uncle Jewiir, his father's younger brother.
In Nya's storyline, what illness does her younger sister Akeer suffer from?
A severe fever and stomach infection from contaminated water.
How does the group cross the Nile River?
They build canoes out of papyrus reeds.
Why were thousands of refugees, including Salva, forced to flee the camp in Ethiopia in 1991?
The Ethiopian government collapsed, and soldiers drove the refugees out of the country.
Why Do We Light Just One Candle on the Menorah Per Night?
To mirror our increasing happiness over the course of the holiday.
In the 1985 narrative, what is the primary reason Salva cannot attend school for the entire year?
His family moves away from the village during the dry season.
What is Nya's tribe called?
The Nuer.
After crossing the Nile, what is the next major obstacle the group must face?
The Akobo desert. The fisherman on the Nile isalnd warn the group to take plenty of water.
In the refugee camp at Ifo, who taught Salva the basics of English and how to play volleyball?
Michael, an aid worker from Ireland.
What is the Name of the Ninth Candle on the Menorah?
The one in the middle is referred to as the "shamash," which means "helper" or "attendant" in Hebrew.
After escaping Ethiopia, Salva became the leader of a large group of boys walking to which country?
Kenia.
What was ironic about the location of the new well in Nya's village?
It was a place where villagers had been gathering for celebrations for years.
How does Uncle Jewiir motivate Salva to keep walking across the desert when he is about to give up?
He breaks the journey into smaller parts, telling Salva to walk as far as the next group of busshes or clump of rocks.
What was the name given to the thousands of displaced Sudanese boys who were chosen to be resettled in the United States?
The Lost Boys of Sudan.
Why Are Traditional Hanukkah Foods— Sufganiyot—Fried?
To commemorate the miracle of the oil.