Author Archives: Aashna P.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (Some Spoilers)

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A Long Walk to Water is a short but inspiring read based on a true story. Set in the country of Sudan during troubling times, the books jumps between the narratives of two different kids, Nya and Salva, both living in different times but still facing hardships at the young age of 11.

Nya, whose story was set in 2008, walked up to 8 hours a day to get water for her family. Making 2 trips to the faraway pond everyday for 7 months a year, after which her family would move to a camp. The camp did not require long walks for water, however living there also contained risks, one of which was coming face to face with the Dinkas, a rival tribe. All was going as usual, till her beloved sister Akeer fell sick, and the problem rooted back to the water.

Salva, a kid driven away from his family and everyone he knew because of war is forced to keep walking. In a group of refuges, consantly running from war, and getting further and further from his family. Facing lions and crocodiles, taking lead of a group of boys for a journey more than a year long, Salva eventually makes it to the United States. The book focuses more on Salva’s long and cruel journey and how he came out with a plan, determined to make a change.

The book ends on a hopeful tone, and demonstrates the power of determination and the power to make change resting in everyone. Overall, it was a short read that could be finished in one sitting but it gives hope and contains the inspirational message that anyone can contribute to a positive change in this world full of negatives.

A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom – A short overview

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Tuesdays with Morrie is a moving non-fiction book about Mitch Albom’s favorite professor, Morrie Schwartz giving Mitch a “final class” on lessons in life. It is a book about how to navigate love, work, community, and family about how to forgive and lastly, it talks about the fear of aging and death.

In Morrie’s deteriorating health, he and Mitch met every Tuesday and talked about everything from the world, to feeling sorry for yourself, and from marriage to modern culture. One big topic that was personally moving was their talk about regrets. One of life’s biggest regrets tends to be not living life to its fullest. Morrie advised Mitch not to chase after money like Mitch had been doing, and instead, to focus on his life, and family, and to have an impact on his community and live for a meaningful purpose to not regret his life when his time eventually came.

Another piece of advice given to avoid regret was to forgive. Talking about his personal experience with his friend, Morrie advises Mitch not to make the same mistake as he did and to not focus on his pride or vanity and then regret his chance to forgive. Before anything, however, he talks about how you should forgive, understand, and be truthful to yourself. They even talk about how in modern culture, people run after money and forget to find their own opinions, and desires, forever running after society’s perception of them.

Finally, although sometimes hard to face, death is an inevitable truth that was talked about unflinchingly in this book, and as Morrie said, “Death ends a life, not a relationship.” “Truth is, once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.” This book completely changed my perspective on life and death. Many don’t really believe – quite understandably – the inevitability of their death until it’s too late, and to really live, Morrie says, you must accept the fact and ask yourself that if today was your last day, are you really doing everything you want?

Overall, I found this book to be really meaningful and life-changing. It gave me new standards to live by, and I would recommend it to everyone interested because it includes many lessons that I think could fit all ages.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.