The Big Wave

This is a lovely short chapter book appropriate for young readers, with complexity and depth. How is it possible to live with risk, and be at peace? This edition includes prints by Hiroshige and Hokusai, which is a fantastic, if not unusual choice for author and publisher to make.

This is a story for children, and a very quick read. I found it interesting. It deals with a natural disaster in Japan and how one lives after the loss of your family. Two young boys, close friends, live on the coast of Japan when a "big wave" comes. It gets a little emotional. It struck me as an excellent story for all ages, but especially for showing children about unexpected loss and the aftermath. Seems like a perfect book to read and share with children.

Short, poignant story of two Japanese youths and how a natural disaster affects their lives. Apparently intended for a younger audience but a nice read for adults as well.

This is a book about life and death and learning to live with suffering. A lovely book. I'm not sure how children will react to it. It would be good to start conversation.

This is a short but very thoughtful book. Kino lives in Japan and witnesses a tidal wave destroy the village below his family's farm. His friend Jiya is one of the only survivors. As the family takes the orphaned Jiya in, Kino's father tries to help him understand how a person can move through grief and go on living.

This is almost like a small philosophy book rather than a novel like The Good Earth, but I'm glad my students are reading it.

A short story by Pearl S. Buck tells the story of Kino and Jiya, best friends. Jiya's family is killed by a typhoon and he is taken into Kino's family where he grows up and learns to deal with grief. Upon manhood, though, Jiya returns to the sea. Some very tender information about grief and coping. Written for children ages 8-12.

I read this book as a child, and though I didn't remember it until recently, Buck's gentle, assured writing of this story remained impressed on my mind. It is a story about two boys, friends, who live in Japan under the shadows of volcanoes and at the mercy of the sea. One day the big wave comes, and tragedy ensues. This book not only describes the Japanese mindset of enjoyment of life and bravery in death, but it resonates to all humanity...especially to those who have lived through a natural disaster and know that "Life is stronger than death."