The Big Wave (1948)

Two friends, Kino and Jiya live in Japan. Kino's family farm the land on the side of a mountain. His best friend Jiya lives on the beach below where he fishes with his father. Kino fears the Volcano on his mountain and Jiya fears the sea might become angry. One day the bell at the castle begins to ring. Kino and his family rush outside. His father tells him this has happened once before and that the villagers below need to go to the castle. Kino sees several families or their children run to the castle. He waves to his friend Jiya. Jiya runs to the house of his friend Kino. There they watch as a giant wave wipes out all of the village and remaining people below, including Jiya's family. Given the choice to live with the old man in the castle or with his best friend's family, Jiya chooses his best friend's family. As time passes people begin to build on the beach again. Kino misses the beach and must make several decisions that not only affect him but the young girl he wants to marry. ( )

This book is about two young boys who live near an large sea in Japan. Kino lives way up on a mountain top, and his best friend, Jiya, lives in a fishing villiage along the shore line. The two boys play in the water quite often. Jiya informs Kino as to why everyone is so afraid of the big wave and Kino finally understands. One day Jiyas father, mother, and brother are swept away by the sea while kino, Jiya and Kinos father watch helplessly at the top of the mountain. Kino and his family take Jiya in as their own. Jiya is really sad and has to learn how to live again with his family dead. He grows up to be a very kind an honorable young man who finds comfort in Kinos little sister Setsus company. Jiya marries Setsu and they rebuild a house in the villiage where he once lived with his family.

This book really touched me. I found myself getting teary-eyed with the boys. It really makes me appreciate life and realize how lucky we are to live here on earth.

I will read this to my class so that they can see how important it is to live life after unfortunate events take place in their lives. Hopefully the class will have a brighter outlook on life after hearing this story.

Computer generated pictures. Diversity in classroom. Fiction. Great for grades 3-7. His family and village swept away by a tidal wave, Jiya learns to live with the ever-present dangers from the sea and volcano.

Kino lives on a farm on the side of a mountain in Japan. His friend, Jiya lives in a fishing village below. Everyone, including Kino and Jiya, has heard of the big wave. No one suspects it will wipe out the whole village and Jiya's family, too. As Jiya struggles to overcome his sorrow, he understands it is in the presence of danger that one learns to be brave, and to appreciate how wonderful life can be.

Genre: historical fiction
Media: Japanese Brush Painting, pastels (cover only)
Age Appropriateness: intermediate
Plot: society against nature, person against nature
Characterization: Jiya is a round and dynamic character. At the beginning of the book we are introduced to Jiya and we learn that he is a fisherman's son and he is a good student at school. We learn that he has a respect for the ocean. After the big wave comes we see Jiya change form carefree to heartbroken, to depressed, to understanding the tragedy of losing his family and creating a new life for himself. He is determined after the tragedy to live his life with joy.
Review: This is a good representation of historical fiction. The climax is very believable, because tidal waves were and still are a common occurrence. However, it is difficult to determine how historically accurate this book is. It is accurate in its representation of traditional Japanese culture, but it does not give specific reference to the time and place of the story.