Chapter One Southern Sudan, 2008: Nya, who is eleven, is walking with a large container. She will walk half the morning. Southern Sudan, 1985: Salva, a Dinka, is in school. He only attends for part of the year because his family moves away during the dry season. His father is considered successful in their village. Salva has three brothers and two sisters. His sisters are not allowed to attend school and instead learned how to keep 'house' from their mother. Before Salva was old enough to attend school, he would care for the family’s cattle with other young boys. It was a very happy time. While in school Salva hears gunfire and is told by the teacher to run away from the village, to run away. There has been a war going on for two years. Rebels from southern Sudan have been fighting against the government. The government wanted everyone in Sudan to practice the religion Islam but not everyone in Sudan wanted this religion. As Salva runs from the school into the bush he sees many people running for their lives.
