Major Plot Points Chapter 1-9
What happens to Salva during school at the beginning of the novel? (Chapter 1)
Salva hears gunshots. The two-year long religious war between rebels from the south and the government has reached Salva’s village. He runs into the bush, leaving home behind.
What happens to the group and Uncle while they're in the desert? (Chapter 10)
After looting everything the group has, the men pick up Uncle’s gun and aims his gun at Uncle, and fires three times.
Who finds Salva at the Ifo refugee camp and how do they help him? (Chapter 14)
Michael, an aid worker from Ireland
He begins to teach him English and introduces Salva to the game of volleyball.
What caused the Lost Children's refugee crisis?
The Second Sudanese Civil War
What word best fits?: refugees, orphans, aid workers
Thousands of ______ have fled the area due to war.
(hint - it's before he meets up with Uncle)
An old woman and Buska (from the Jur-chol tribe)
What/who arrives in Nya's village toward the middle of the book? (Chapter 12)
Ten men and two trucks have arrived at the village, along with a drill that looks like an iron giraffe. They have brought other equipment, including plastic pipes. Men continue to clear the land.
What are some things Salva does once he reaches the United States (Rochester, NY)? (Chapter 16)
He joins a volleyball team, goes to college to study business.
He thinks about returning to Sudan, to help the people there.
Salva's friend; eaten by a lion.
Which word fits? Terrain, herd, or rebel?
After crossing the Nile River, they walked through the Akobo desert, which was harsh ___________.
Terrain
What is Nya's mother worried is going to happen to her husband and Dep when they go out to hunt? (Chapter 6)
They might encounter men from the Dinka tribe, and fight, be injured, or killed.
What happens to the refugee camp Salva stayed in for 6 years? (Chapter 12)
Rumors spread that the Ethiopian government is collapsing and that the camp will no longer be open. One day, trucks filled with soldiers arrive. Chaos ensues as the soldiers order everyone to leave Ethiopia.
Who is Salva reunited with in the clinic in South Sudan? (Chapter 17)
His father - Mawien Dut Ariik
What are the two major tribes in South Sudan?
These are Dinka and Nuer.
Which word fits? Migration, fatigue, or aid worker?
____________ is traditional for Sudanese teenage boys. They often move away from home to herd cattle or seek education and work.
Migration
What wrong with Akeer? And how do they help her? (Chapter 7 + 8)
Nya’s sister Akeer has been complaining about a stomachache and is too weak to go anywhere.
Nya and her mother take Akeer to the clinic. After just two doses of medicine, Akeer is much better.
What does Salva decide to do with the boys that he crosses the Gilo River with? (Chapter 13 + 14)
Salva organizes the group and gives everyone jobs to do.
The group travels by night to avoid the fighting and bombing. Other boys join them and share tales of hardship and danger.
What finally happens for Nya the watering hole in her town? (Chapter 18)
They finally get it to work properly and she drinks the clean and cool water.
Which river did Salva and uncle cross in self-made boats?
The Nile River
What word best fits the blank?: peril, despair, vision
Every group had stories of terrible ______: boys who had been hurt or killed by bullets or bombs, attacked by wild animals, or left behind because they were too weak or sick to keep up.
Peril
What desert do Salva and Uncle go through on their trip? What are some problems Salva and the others face? (Chapter 9)
Akobo Desert
-He walks barefoot under the blazing sun, every breath sapping his energy, thorns tearing at his feet, his lips cracked.
-Salva stubs his toe on a rock and loses his whole toenail.
-The travelers come upon nine men dying of thirst in the sand.
The water is a muddy brown.
Nya approaches a man. He greets her. She thanks him for bringing water. He asks her name. She tells him. The man then introduces himself. His name is Salva.
Who lives in Rochester, New York and adopts Salva?
Chris and Louise
Define "arid".
Without moisture.