Nya
What task does Nya do every day for her family?
Fetch water
What happens to Salva’s school when the war begins?
They stop class and run to the bush
Whose story appears in short sections at the start of most chapters?
Nya’s
In what country does Nya live?
Sudan (Southern Sudan)
What is Nya’s biggest daily struggle?
Finding water
How long does Nya’s daily trip to the pond take?
About half a day (2 hours each way)
Why can’t Salva go back home after leaving school?
His village is attacked and unsafe
Whose story makes up the main part of each chapter?
Salva’s
What natural feature makes life hard for Nya’s family?
The lack of clean water
What is Salva’s main conflict?
Surviving the war and being separated from family
Why does Nya dig in the mud at the pond?
To find cleaner water
Who does Salva meet after being left behind by his group?
An old woman
What type of POV is used in the novel?
Third-person limited
Describe one difference between Nya’s and Salva’s settings.
Nya is in 2008, Salva is in 1985 OR Nya stays in one place, Salva moves across the desert
What theme is shown through Nya and Salva’s challenges?
Perseverance or survival
What problem does Nya face while carrying water in Chapter 1?
There is a thorn that gets stuck in her foot and makes it painful to walk?
How does Salva feel when his family does not appear at the refugee group?
Sad and hopeless but determined to survive
Why does the author include two different characters’ stories in the book?
To show how their lives connect and highlight the theme of water
How does the dry season affect Nya’s life?
I forces her to walk even farther for water?
How does water show hope in the story?
Clean water represents life and a better future
What does the pond look like when Nya arrives in the dry season?
A big hole in the ground with muddy water at the bottom
How does Salva show strength after being left behind by his group?
He survives alone by staying with the old woman and then finding a new group to travel with
How do two different stories help the reader understand survival?
It shows different struggles from two perspectives
Why is the setting dangerous for both Nya and Salva?
Extreme heat, lack of water, and war/conflict?
What conflict does Salva face after being left behind?
The fear of being alone versus the need to keep moving