Characters
Embedded Files
Salva
Salva (Salva Mawien Dut Ariik), is 11 years old when war separates him from his family. As a child, he is not afraid to voice his opinion among his peers. When he finds himself separated from his family, he becomes fearful, clinging to the adults who befriend him along the journey to refugee camps. He learns courage and perseverance by heeding his uncle's advice. He gradually emerges as a leader among his peers, inspiring others to have hope and perseverance in the face of hardships. As an adult, he continues to inspire and lead others in projects that bring hope and life-sustaining water to villagers in the land of his birth—including the rival Nuer tribe.
Nya
Nya is the main character of the 2000s narrative. Like Salva, her character is also based on a real person. Most of Nya's days are consumed with fetching water as she spends most of her time walking back and forth to a pond several miles away from her village, where she collects water. Nya is resourceful and responsible, enduring the hot climate and the physical exertion needed to fetch water every day.
She is a keen observer of all that goes on around her. She worries about her sickly younger sibling and is aware of her mother's fears. She is puzzled by men who seem to be looking for water where she knows there has never been a drop.
It is because of Salva's efforts to bring water to her village that she is finally able to spend her time getting an education rather than collecting water.
Uncle Jewiir
Uncle Jewiir, the uncle of Salva Dut, is a former South Sudanese soldier. During the middle portion of the book, Jewiir acts as a guardian and protector to Salva, while they and thousands of others migrate across Sudan in search of a safe refugee camp. Because of his military training, his gun, and his helpful nature, Jewiir becomes the de facto leader of the refugees. However, he’s later murdered by soldiers from the North. Jewiir’s death is a traumatic event for Salva, who is forced to fend for himself and beg for food without Jewiir to protect him. However, Jewiir’s example of strong and calm leadership continues to inspire Salva. There are many times in the book when Salva, on the verge of giving up, remembers Jewiir’s encouragement to move “one step at a time.” In this sense, Jewiir is an important influence in Salva’s life—and in some ways, a father-figure to Salva.
Marial
Marial is a young boy, the same age as Salva. The two meet during the march towards Ethiopia and they quickly become friends, mainly because they are the only children in the group. The try to maintain their optimism during the trip but unfortunately, Marial disappears suddenly during one night. The rest of the members in the camp theorize that the young boy was most likely killed by a lion.
Buksa
Buksa is a man from the same village as Salva; he ran when the rebels began attacking the city. When the group abandoned Salva, Buksa went with them, leaving the young boy behind.
Akeer
Akker is Nya’s younger sister. Nya’s mother tells Akker that she will have to go with her sister to the pond to get water but she becomes sick and suffers from gastrointestinal pain before she is able to do so. Akker is taken to a doctor who tells her and her mother that the reason why Akker got sick was that she drank dirty water.
Dep
Dep is Nya's older brother.
Michael
When Salva is at a refugee center, he meets Michael, an aid worker from Ireland. Michael takes a liking to Salva and teaches him how to read English.
Chris
An American man who, along with his wife Louise, adopts Salva Dut, and later helps Salva found a nonprofit.
Louise
An American woman who, along with her husband Chris, adopts Salva Dut, and later helps Salva found a nonprofit.
Scott
A friend of Chris and Louise, who helps Salva Dut set up a nonprofit designed to help Sudanese villages.
Mawien Dut Ariik
The father of Salva Dut, who doesn’t appear in the book until the final pages.
Page updated
Report abuse