Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of A Long Walk to Water. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: The two storylines meet at the end. Salva Dut, one of Sudan's “Lost Boys” who walked across Africa as a refugee in 1985 and later moved to the United States, returns to South Sudan to drill wells. In 2009, one of those wells is built in Nya's village, so she no longer has to walk eight hours a day for water, and Nya thanks Salva.
Quick facts
– Book: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
– First published: 2010
– Type: A middle-grade novel based on a true story
– Tone of the ending: Hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
In 1985, eleven-year-old Salva flees his school when war reaches his village. He walks for years across Sudan and Ethiopia to refugee camps, losing his uncle. In 2008, Nya walks twice a day to a pond for muddy water.
What Happens at the End of A Long Walk to Water
After years in refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya, Salva leads a group of boys across the desert and later is chosen to go to the United States. He is welcomed by a family in Rochester, New York, goes to college and learns that his father is alive and recovering in a clinic in Sudan. He travels back to see him and realizes how much his people need clean water. Salva founds a project to drill wells. In Nya's storyline, men arrive with drilling equipment and, after days of work, find clean water. Her village gets a well and plans a school, so Nya and her sister can learn instead of walking for water. When Nya thanks the man in charge, he turns out to be Salva, who tells her he is also Dinka.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Salva survives and goes to America.
- Salva finds his father.
- Salva builds wells.
- Nya's life changes.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Salva Dut | Builds wells |
| Nya | Gets clean water |
| Uncle Jewiir | Killed |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows how one person can make a difference.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Readers are moved that Salva's story is true; his organization, Water for South Sudan, has drilled hundreds of wells. Many schools run water-awareness fundraisers after reading the book.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Perseverance. Salva never gives up.
Water. Water changes lives.
Hope. Hope drives Salva.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of A Long Walk to Water as hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Linda Sue Park to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Linda Sue Park closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading A Long Walk to Water with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about perseverance, and do you agree with Linda Sue Park's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces perseverance and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Linda Sue Park leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in A Long Walk to Water often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of A Long Walk to Water earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of A Long Walk to Water on Amazon
Books to Read After A Long Walk to Water
- Refugee by Alan Gratz
- The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba
Related: A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park: Summary and Key Takeaways · 15 Books Like A Long Walk to Water You’ll Love
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of A Long Walk to Water?
The two storylines meet at the end. Salva Dut, one of Sudan's “Lost Boys” who walked across Africa as a refugee in 1985 and later moved to the United States, returns to South Sudan to drill wells. In 2009, one of those wells is built in Nya's village, so she no longer has to walk eight hours a day for water, and Nya thanks Salva.
Is the ending of A Long Walk to Water happy or sad?
Most readers call it hopeful.
What does the ending of A Long Walk to Water mean?
The ending shows how one person can make a difference.
Who wrote A Long Walk to Water and when was it published?
A Long Walk to Water was written by Linda Sue Park and first published in 2010.
Is A Long Walk to Water worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy middle-grade novel based on a true storys. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Linda Sue Park prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read A Long Walk to Water before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.