Based on a true story set in Sudan, this is a novel that tells two stories—one about a contemporary child who spends her days fetching water, the other about one of this African country’s “lost boys.” Simply and economically written, this account of the experiences of a young Sudanese refugee is suspenseful, poignant, and personal. The ending, which brings together the two separate narrative strands, is unexpected and moving. Includes a map, an afterword by the “lost boy” on whose story this is based (now living in Rochester, NY), and an author’s note. Paperback, 128 pages. By Linda Sue Park.