Another WILD adventure from Rodman Philbrick,
author of Wildfire and Wild River. Wild Wave is the adventure of two
kids trapped in the aftermath of a tsunami.(goodreads summary)I
Middle Schoolers Nick Chase and Jess Hardy are spending a Saturday morning at an animal rescue sanctuary called the Friends of the Wild. Jess is a volunteer and Chase is gathering information for a school podcast assignment for one of his classes. Suddenly, out of nowhere, an earthquake hits and everyone is frantic. When they look over the bay area, the water is gone and boats are overturned on their sides. Only mud is left where the sea should be. Nick and Jess's instinct tells them to run as a tsunami hits destroying everything in its path. As the two kids run for high ground, they depend on each other for survival by working together and putting their courage to the test.
This was a heart pounding and exciting middle grade novel. The story begins immediately by plunging readers into Nick and Jess's fight to stay alive. As the rushing floodwaters push them deep into the forest, they begin to wonder how they will make it to safety or if they will ever see their families again. They eventually find Mr. and Mrs. Bumper, the high school soccer coach and the science teacher at their middle school stranded in the forest. Knowing they need to help save them as well, they decide to continue to trek out on their own, readily prepared by the Bumpers to face the dangerous elements ahead. Remaining level headed and working together was a key part of the story for their survival. The numerous cliffhangers throughout makes you want to keep turning the pages. The chapters are fast-paced and short which would work well for reluctant readers. We learn a lot about Nick and Jess as characters and their families. They show their vulnerabilities and fear like any person would in a challenging situation such as this. But they also demonstrated maturity, strength, problem solving, courage and hope in finding their families alive. Readers will relate to the pair and cheer for a positive outcome. A great adventure story to end the summer with or pick up at the upcoming school book fair. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 10-12.~
Title: Wild Wave
Author: Rodman Philbrick
Pub. date: August 2024 Scholastic Press
Genre: middle grade fiction, adventure
Hardcover 192 pgs.
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