What do you think?
Rate this book
Wave: A Novel in Verse
A coming-of-age novel in verse set in 1980s Southern California, about a Persian American girl who rides the waves, falls, and finds her way back to the shore
Thirteen-year-old Ava loves to surf and to sing. Singing and reading Rumi poems settle her mild OCD, and catching waves with her best friend, Phoenix, lets her fit in—her olive skin looks tan, not foreign. But then Ava has to spend the summer before ninth grade volunteering at the hospital, to follow in her single mother’s footsteps to become a doctor. And when Phoenix’s past lymphoma surges back, not even surfing, singing, or poetry can keep them afloat, threatening Ava’s hold on the one place and the one person that make her feel like she belongs. With ocean-like rhythm and lyricism, Wave is about a girl who rides the waves, tumbles, and finds her way back to the shore.
Thirteen-year-old Ava loves to surf and to sing. Singing and reading Rumi poems settle her mild OCD, and catching waves with her best friend, Phoenix, lets her fit in—her olive skin looks tan, not foreign. But then Ava has to spend the summer before ninth grade volunteering at the hospital, to follow in her single mother’s footsteps to become a doctor. And when Phoenix’s past lymphoma surges back, not even surfing, singing, or poetry can keep them afloat, threatening Ava’s hold on the one place and the one person that make her feel like she belongs. With ocean-like rhythm and lyricism, Wave is about a girl who rides the waves, tumbles, and finds her way back to the shore.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 29, 2022
33 people are currently reading
674 people want to read
About the author
Diana Farid
5 books7 followersDiana Farid is an award-winning author and poet. Her picture book, WHEN YOU BREATHE, https://store.abramsbooks.com/product... was a 2021 National Council of Teachers of English Notable Poetry Book and a 2022 EUREKA! Gold Award winner for nonfiction. Her novel in verse, WAVE https://store.abramsbooks.com/product... was a 2022 School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Book, the Cybils Award Winner for Novel in Verse, a Middle East Book Award Honoree, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, and a Golden Poppy Award Finalist in both the Middle Grade and Mirrors & Windows categories. Her forthcoming books, THE LIGHT OF HOME (Scholastic) https://bookshop.org/p/books/where-wa... and ALREADY ALL THE LOVE (Little Bee) https://bookshop.org/p/books/already-... will be released in the fall of 2024. Diana is also a physician and associate professor of Medicine at Stanford University.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews
April 14, 2022
In a Nutshell: A middle-grade novel-in-verse that covers quite a lot of serious themes and does justice to almost all of them.
Story:
The approach of the book towards its content is quite paradoxical. On the one hand, it is written in a language exactly suiting its target age group of middle graders. Simple words, smooth flow, issues they can identify with. On the other hand, it covers such deep themes that one can’t help being stimulated into thought.
There is a whole range of topics included: parental divorce, OCD, poetry, singing, surfing, life-threatening illness, friendship, and parental expectations. Each of these, though discrete, is woven so well into the tapestry of the book that the result is a mellifluous harmony surging with the voice of a young girl struggling to find her place in the world. As she says in one of the verses, she is “not Persian enough at home, not American enough at the beach.” The cover page and the title reflect Ava’s love for the waves, and these is a recurrent idea in many of the poems.
While there is a small part about Ava’s mom having migrated from Iran before the revolution changed the country, the book doesn’t delve much into immigrant issues, which suited me perfectly. I was initially not a fan of cancer being written into the story but the author does complete justice to it and doesn’t milk the pain to enhance the impact. This isn’t Phoenix’s story but Ava’s, and the focus stays on Ava and her feelings right till the end.
The audiobook clocks at 3.5 hours and is narrated by the author herself. I am usually not a fan of books narrated by non-celebrity authors because they might write fabulously but most of them can’t perform. As such, the narration often sounds drab or monotonous. This book is a big exception. Diana Farid narrates the book with such beauty that even I, a person with not a single poetic bone in my body, understood the verses and their underlying pathos. Her voice has a lovely cadence and she enunciates every word clearly. Moreover, as she herself is the poet, she knows just where to stress and where to pause for effect. I would definitely recommend this book in audio format.
All in all, if a poetically-challenged person such as Yours Truly enjoyed this middle-grade novel-in-verse, it definitely has a lot going for it. Recommended for sure.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC of “Wave”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
Story:
1987, Southern California. Thirteen year old Ava loves many things things: surfing with her best friend Phoenix, singing, reading poems by Rumi. Unfortunately, she doesn’t enjoy the field of medicine but her doctor-mom has clear plans for her future. She sets up Ava to spend the summer volunteering at the hospital she works for, such that Ava can also become a doctor. (“If you are a doctor, you will always have find a job.”) Ava tries to balance her passion for her hobbies with her supposed responsibility towards keeping her single mom satisfied. To add to the issues, Phoenix’s cancer, which has been in remission, is back with a vengeance. This is turning out to be a summer vacation Ava simply doesn’t want to face.
The story is written in verse style, with quick poems covering a multitude of feelings and issues.
The approach of the book towards its content is quite paradoxical. On the one hand, it is written in a language exactly suiting its target age group of middle graders. Simple words, smooth flow, issues they can identify with. On the other hand, it covers such deep themes that one can’t help being stimulated into thought.
There is a whole range of topics included: parental divorce, OCD, poetry, singing, surfing, life-threatening illness, friendship, and parental expectations. Each of these, though discrete, is woven so well into the tapestry of the book that the result is a mellifluous harmony surging with the voice of a young girl struggling to find her place in the world. As she says in one of the verses, she is “not Persian enough at home, not American enough at the beach.” The cover page and the title reflect Ava’s love for the waves, and these is a recurrent idea in many of the poems.
While there is a small part about Ava’s mom having migrated from Iran before the revolution changed the country, the book doesn’t delve much into immigrant issues, which suited me perfectly. I was initially not a fan of cancer being written into the story but the author does complete justice to it and doesn’t milk the pain to enhance the impact. This isn’t Phoenix’s story but Ava’s, and the focus stays on Ava and her feelings right till the end.
The audiobook clocks at 3.5 hours and is narrated by the author herself. I am usually not a fan of books narrated by non-celebrity authors because they might write fabulously but most of them can’t perform. As such, the narration often sounds drab or monotonous. This book is a big exception. Diana Farid narrates the book with such beauty that even I, a person with not a single poetic bone in my body, understood the verses and their underlying pathos. Her voice has a lovely cadence and she enunciates every word clearly. Moreover, as she herself is the poet, she knows just where to stress and where to pause for effect. I would definitely recommend this book in audio format.
All in all, if a poetically-challenged person such as Yours Truly enjoyed this middle-grade novel-in-verse, it definitely has a lot going for it. Recommended for sure.
4.25 stars.
My thanks to RB Media and NetGalley for the ALC of “Wave”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
***********************
Join me on the Facebook group, Readers Forever! , for more reviews, book-related discussions and fun.
March 22, 2023
a sweet lil historical novel in verse. it tackles a lot of issues, and does so very eloquently. ava is navigating her persian american identity, racism from her ignorant neighbors, her abandonment issues due to her father's absence, her undiagnosed mild OCD, her enormous crush on her best friend sequoia, and sequoia's subsequent illness. she balances her relationships with friends, her volunteer gig at her mom's hospital, and her passions for surfing and swimming, all in 1980s california.
i really appreciate the small glimpses of iranian culture, and the way the book never feels unrealistic in all the issues it tackles. my only criticism is that the poetry element didn't feel very strong to me. i've read some of elizabeth acevedo's books recently, and those really drive home the reason for writing a story in verse, the way a story can shift when its words are gilded, pure poetry. i didn't feel like the poetry in wave was particularly powerful or enjoyable. the story itself is what made me stick around.
i really appreciate the small glimpses of iranian culture, and the way the book never feels unrealistic in all the issues it tackles. my only criticism is that the poetry element didn't feel very strong to me. i've read some of elizabeth acevedo's books recently, and those really drive home the reason for writing a story in verse, the way a story can shift when its words are gilded, pure poetry. i didn't feel like the poetry in wave was particularly powerful or enjoyable. the story itself is what made me stick around.
December 27, 2022
Format: audiobook
Author: Diana Farid ~ Title: Wave ~ Narrator: Diana Farid
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Set in the 1980s, California. Wave is about a 13-year-old Persian girl called Ava. She has a mild OCD - we can see this also from the style of the poems. Her mother is a single-parent doctor, and she wants Ava to become a doctor, too. But Ava, more than that, wants her teen freedom. To hang out with her friends, have fun, enjoy the music, and surf. Wave is a deeply moving and occasionally sad coming-of-age novel-in-verse.
I’m glad I had a chance to listen to this in an audiobook form read by the author - Diana Farid. This way, it sounded even more like a novel and not just a collection of poems.
Thanks to Recorded Books for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
Author: Diana Farid ~ Title: Wave ~ Narrator: Diana Farid
Content: 4 stars ~ Narration: 5 stars
Complete audiobook review
Set in the 1980s, California. Wave is about a 13-year-old Persian girl called Ava. She has a mild OCD - we can see this also from the style of the poems. Her mother is a single-parent doctor, and she wants Ava to become a doctor, too. But Ava, more than that, wants her teen freedom. To hang out with her friends, have fun, enjoy the music, and surf. Wave is a deeply moving and occasionally sad coming-of-age novel-in-verse.
I’m glad I had a chance to listen to this in an audiobook form read by the author - Diana Farid. This way, it sounded even more like a novel and not just a collection of poems.
Thanks to Recorded Books for the ALC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review and all opinions are my own.
May 7, 2022
“Love invades spaces death doesn’t know how to reach.”
I was pretty bummed when I read the description of the book and realized the blurb gave away something that readers don’t discover until page 166. Kind of a weird editing choice, ya know?
But other than that, this book is just perfect. A beautiful, heartbreaking novel in verse that made me smile and cry over and over again. And yet another reminder that our friends can truly be our family.
“If you don’t take the
d
r
o
p
you miss the
r
i
d
e.”
I was pretty bummed when I read the description of the book and realized the blurb gave away something that readers don’t discover until page 166. Kind of a weird editing choice, ya know?
But other than that, this book is just perfect. A beautiful, heartbreaking novel in verse that made me smile and cry over and over again. And yet another reminder that our friends can truly be our family.
“If you don’t take the
d
r
o
p
you miss the
r
i
d
e.”
January 22, 2022
I cannot think of a more perfect title for this memorable book -- "Wave" takes you on an emotional and powerful journey that feels like being immersed and taken in by the ocean itself. The lyrical narrative is steady and enthralling. While the narrative from the protagonist's point of view may feel sparse because this is told in verse, I actually think it perfectly fits the character and the emotional undertones of the story. There is much to celebrate in this book -- Persian culture, friendship, 80's music, to name a few. And there is even more to stop and make you think -- grief, broken families, mild OCD, and let's not forget the inclusion of Rumi's philosophy. I loved the inclusion of poetry and music in what feels like a work of art in itself. Ava, our brave and complicated teen protagonist, is wonderful to follow along on the journey. I could imagine myself on the surfboard with her, riding the waves, falling, and getting back up again. Her story is a stunning depiction of perseverance and finding meaning and spirituality in the every day encounters with other people.
Memorable, evocative, and perfect older middle grade (10-14).
Oh -- and I just want to add that I love that this was set in the 80's. It never felt like an overdose of "here's what was cool about the 80's" though. It indulged in a few gems like the making of mixed tapes and just the underlying reality that these kids did not have cell phones. I loved it!
***Note: I was give a review copy of this book via the publisher. Opinions are my own.
Memorable, evocative, and perfect older middle grade (10-14).
Oh -- and I just want to add that I love that this was set in the 80's. It never felt like an overdose of "here's what was cool about the 80's" though. It indulged in a few gems like the making of mixed tapes and just the underlying reality that these kids did not have cell phones. I loved it!
***Note: I was give a review copy of this book via the publisher. Opinions are my own.
July 2, 2022
This book is beautiful. I will be purchasing the physical copy to see the artwork and the mixtape lists that come along with it. ❤️ It has so many layers and so many pieces of nuance that this is a read for any age, even though it’s listed as a middle grade read.
I found it randomly on Libby and thought “yes! Cute short book in verse to listen to while I water the roses and weed!” Cue sobbing into the dirt for a solid five minutes as the book ended. This book is gentle, but not to be punny, literally comes and goes with waves of emotions. There are many things I can only sympathize with the main character on, but also many things I can relate and connect with: mixtapes, loving the arts that parents don’t “see a future” in, finding release in an activity (hers is surfing- mine was dance), and childhood friendships that endure.
There are so many lines of beautiful poetry, but my favorite is the descriptions of Ava surfing, and making a mixed tape. It is prime 80s/90s nostalgia packaged with an amazing story of friendship and self-discovery. I love this book. So much. So so much.
I found it randomly on Libby and thought “yes! Cute short book in verse to listen to while I water the roses and weed!” Cue sobbing into the dirt for a solid five minutes as the book ended. This book is gentle, but not to be punny, literally comes and goes with waves of emotions. There are many things I can only sympathize with the main character on, but also many things I can relate and connect with: mixtapes, loving the arts that parents don’t “see a future” in, finding release in an activity (hers is surfing- mine was dance), and childhood friendships that endure.
There are so many lines of beautiful poetry, but my favorite is the descriptions of Ava surfing, and making a mixed tape. It is prime 80s/90s nostalgia packaged with an amazing story of friendship and self-discovery. I love this book. So much. So so much.
March 21, 2022
Wave is a novel-in-verse narrated in the first person by Ava, a thirteen-year-old Persian American living in southern California who is mildly OCD. Set in the 1980s, Ava is looking forward to graduating from eight grade and a summer of hanging out at the beach surfing with Phoenix and best friend Naz before school begins again. Ava's parents are divorced, her dad lives in Paris with his new family, and her Iranian born mom is an OB/GYN doctor at the local hospital. Her mom is hoping Ava will follow her into medicine, and signs her up to be a volunteer on Saturdays for the summer, something she isn't too happy about.
At the hospital, Ava meets patient, Mr. Cameron, in room 509 and discovers that they share a love of poetry by the Persian poet Rumi.
At school, Ava, who loves music, sings in the choir and her teacher announces that they have been invited to sing at the Fourth of July Freedom Festival, with Ava having a solo part. It means rehearsals even after school ends.
At the beach, Ava is confronted by a racist volleyball player more than once who instantly dislikes her for her dark olive skin. This is a difficult experience for her since the beach is the one place Ava has always felt she like she fit in since her skin tone could pass for tan. And it's at the beach that she begins to notice small changes in Phoenix. He had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma as a child, but has been in remission. Now his cancer has returned and his prognosis isn't very good.
Then, Ava slips and falls at the hospital, breaking her leg. Since her summer of surfing is now curtailed, her mother signs her up for a medicine for teens class every Monday and Wednesday, a class that begins June 29th, which Ava resents since she has made it clear to her mother that she has no interest in medicine and needs to prepare for her solo at the Freedom Festival.
There's a lot happening in this novel and yet none of it feels unrealistic or overwhelming. Instead, it is a poignant coming-of-age story about identity, friendship, love, loss and grief. But it is also about how music and poetry can help us process life's more difficult challenges, as summed up in the song that Ava wrote about her life.
Farid has included lots of different aspects of Iranian culture throughout the novel and it is interesting that she set her novel in a time when anti-Iranian feelings were running high in this country. The poetry gives the reader not just a sense of waves building as they come in and crash at the shoreline, then draw back out to sea again, but they are so symbolic of the highs and lows of Ava's life that fateful year (the timeline goes from March to November).
Sprinkled throughout the novel are lovely spot illustrations relating to Ava's life. I chuckled when I saw the one with Ava's new walkman. I know exactly how she felt when she received it, I still have mine and yes, it still works. And to go with that walkman, Farid has included a playlist of Phoenix's songs for Ava, and Ava's songs for Phoenix - all very 80s.
Wave is a poignant novel and though some may see it as historical fiction, it will no doubt resonate for today's readers.
Thank you to Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for providing me with an ARC of Wave.
At the hospital, Ava meets patient, Mr. Cameron, in room 509 and discovers that they share a love of poetry by the Persian poet Rumi.
At school, Ava, who loves music, sings in the choir and her teacher announces that they have been invited to sing at the Fourth of July Freedom Festival, with Ava having a solo part. It means rehearsals even after school ends.
At the beach, Ava is confronted by a racist volleyball player more than once who instantly dislikes her for her dark olive skin. This is a difficult experience for her since the beach is the one place Ava has always felt she like she fit in since her skin tone could pass for tan. And it's at the beach that she begins to notice small changes in Phoenix. He had been diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma as a child, but has been in remission. Now his cancer has returned and his prognosis isn't very good.
Then, Ava slips and falls at the hospital, breaking her leg. Since her summer of surfing is now curtailed, her mother signs her up for a medicine for teens class every Monday and Wednesday, a class that begins June 29th, which Ava resents since she has made it clear to her mother that she has no interest in medicine and needs to prepare for her solo at the Freedom Festival.
There's a lot happening in this novel and yet none of it feels unrealistic or overwhelming. Instead, it is a poignant coming-of-age story about identity, friendship, love, loss and grief. But it is also about how music and poetry can help us process life's more difficult challenges, as summed up in the song that Ava wrote about her life.
Farid has included lots of different aspects of Iranian culture throughout the novel and it is interesting that she set her novel in a time when anti-Iranian feelings were running high in this country. The poetry gives the reader not just a sense of waves building as they come in and crash at the shoreline, then draw back out to sea again, but they are so symbolic of the highs and lows of Ava's life that fateful year (the timeline goes from March to November).
Sprinkled throughout the novel are lovely spot illustrations relating to Ava's life. I chuckled when I saw the one with Ava's new walkman. I know exactly how she felt when she received it, I still have mine and yes, it still works. And to go with that walkman, Farid has included a playlist of Phoenix's songs for Ava, and Ava's songs for Phoenix - all very 80s.
Wave is a poignant novel and though some may see it as historical fiction, it will no doubt resonate for today's readers.
Thank you to Barbara Fisch at Blue Slip Media for providing me with an ARC of Wave.
March 13, 2022
Beautiful and heartbreaking story written in verse.
Read
April 15, 2022I definitely cried. I wasn't prepared tbh and all of a sudden I'm crying in my car so that was cool.
This is a really beautiful novel but for me I struggled with the audio. Others have said the exact opposite so I seem to be in the minority. Novels in verse are either a hit or miss as audio and sadly this was a miss. It's unfortunate bc the story is beautiful and I think it's because I listen to audios too fast for this. It was choppy and stilted and maybe if I could listen as 1x or 1.5x it would've been okay, but I set it at 2.5x just so I didn't get bored 😅
Anyway, this is set in 1980s and is centered around an Iranian American girl trying to figure out her future. The waves and music and writing call to her but her mom desperately wants her to go into medicine. During her summer at the hospital as a volunteer, Ava learns a lot and also learns that medicine isn't her future. Then her best friend Phoenix ends up in the hospital with a recurring cancer and she has to face what a future could look like without him. You're gonna cry.
I think this is technically YA because the MC is 13-14 but it reads like middle grade. There's some serious conversations about racism and bullying and misogyny all thrown in as well and it was done well.
This is one I'd recommend for reading vs listening but certainly one I would recommend.
This is a really beautiful novel but for me I struggled with the audio. Others have said the exact opposite so I seem to be in the minority. Novels in verse are either a hit or miss as audio and sadly this was a miss. It's unfortunate bc the story is beautiful and I think it's because I listen to audios too fast for this. It was choppy and stilted and maybe if I could listen as 1x or 1.5x it would've been okay, but I set it at 2.5x just so I didn't get bored 😅
Anyway, this is set in 1980s and is centered around an Iranian American girl trying to figure out her future. The waves and music and writing call to her but her mom desperately wants her to go into medicine. During her summer at the hospital as a volunteer, Ava learns a lot and also learns that medicine isn't her future. Then her best friend Phoenix ends up in the hospital with a recurring cancer and she has to face what a future could look like without him. You're gonna cry.
I think this is technically YA because the MC is 13-14 but it reads like middle grade. There's some serious conversations about racism and bullying and misogyny all thrown in as well and it was done well.
This is one I'd recommend for reading vs listening but certainly one I would recommend.
April 19, 2023
Wave by Diana Farid is a lyrical, captivating, and heartwrenching middle grade verse novel about first crushes, surfing, and the grief of losing a friend. This is also a great way to introduce kids to older technologies from the 80s and learn about volunteering at a hospital. Ava is a flawed, relatable protagonist and I adored her friendship with Phoenix and Naz and her overall character growth throughout the story. Just have the tissues nearby!
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/wave-b...
Full review: https://readingmiddlegrade.com/wave-b...
October 23, 2022
"Connect with the people listening. If you do, it'll be better than perfect, 'cause it'll be true." p. 83
"Poems rise up out of falling tears." p. 179
"Words are like. medicine, when the right ones are given, and the right ones are heard." p. 199
"Poems rise up out of falling tears." p. 179
"Words are like. medicine, when the right ones are given, and the right ones are heard." p. 199
February 11, 2024
Eloquent, heart-wrenching, and tender, Wave is a standout for several reasons. Firstly, Ava is a believable, multilayered protagonist; despite differing ages, decades, and interests, her insecurities and victories ring piercingly true to me as she grapples with the tension between her own vision for her life and future and those which others push her toward. The characters are deftly drawn and distinct, and the relationships between them truly make Wave shine; the connection Ava develops with an elderly, poetry-loving patient is particularly touching, while her bond with Phoenix centers and grounds the story---just as it does Ava herself. I've never surfed (personally, I think it sounds terrifying!), but Farid's exquisite free verse turns the ocean into a friend, a sparkling world so beautiful that I found myself rereading passages again and again, and feeling the sea to be a home, just as it is to Ava. And the story's moving, lyrical exploration of grief and healing mark it as a modern Bridge to Terabithia, one perfect for book groups and discussions.
In a word: gorgeous.
In a word: gorgeous.
July 25, 2022
This was a great and rather uniquely written story. I actually rated it 3.5 stars. I was very intrigued by reading this book as it brought me an altogether new style of writing with rather short chapters. It almost has a poetic effect but wrote more like a prose. It tells the story of a Persian family. This book was aimed at ages 10 to 14 yrs but because of its unique approach to the story. I am unsure if that age group would appreciate the story and meaning behind it. Unfortunately my 10 year old wasn't around for me to test this theory on.
As an adult I appreciated its approach and style. I listened to the audiobook which was read by the author. I loved her voice and time of her voice although the breaks were a little long for an audiobook which slowed down the pace a little. It was definitely a layed back slow pace book. It would make an excellent book to listened to before bed to relax you. Because of the books unique style I am still yet to decide whether I loved this book. I find myself in uncharted waters and need to do as Switzerland does and sit on the fence with this book. I would definitely like to sample more of this authors writing to fully make up my mind on this.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for bringing this rather unique style of story into the lives of a different culture.
As an adult I appreciated its approach and style. I listened to the audiobook which was read by the author. I loved her voice and time of her voice although the breaks were a little long for an audiobook which slowed down the pace a little. It was definitely a layed back slow pace book. It would make an excellent book to listened to before bed to relax you. Because of the books unique style I am still yet to decide whether I loved this book. I find myself in uncharted waters and need to do as Switzerland does and sit on the fence with this book. I would definitely like to sample more of this authors writing to fully make up my mind on this.
Many thanks to the author and publishers for bringing this rather unique style of story into the lives of a different culture.
September 30, 2022
This was pretty great, and hearing the lyrical prose of this novel-in-verse made this book even better. I'm a big fan of this novel genre, and the author and narrator both do a fabulous job with the ebbing waves feels. Ava deals with some heavy issues during her summer before high school, and it's very well done.
Oh, and I love that this is set in the late 80s; it's nice to see a juvenile book set in a time before social media. (Ahhh, I miss those days.)
Oh, and I love that this is set in the late 80s; it's nice to see a juvenile book set in a time before social media. (Ahhh, I miss those days.)
November 20, 2022
One of the best YA books I've read this year. The poetry form of the writing of this book pushes you along like the waves of the ocean guiding your reading journey. The is a book that I would reread as it was beautifully crafted. It is however, a very emotional read. My eyes are still burning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2022
This was an excellent coming of age book written in verse about an Persian girl who surfs. This is a book about friendship, family, racism, and death.
August 6, 2022
Fanominal poetry! I'm constantly impressed with the creativity and heart in each poem... while telling a complex story. Awesome metaphors and imagery. It's sad and hopeful. I loved it! 😭🥰
November 12, 2023
4.5 stars! The writing is wonderful and so lyrical.
April 9, 2025
4.5
Such a beautiful story about love and loss.
Such a beautiful story about love and loss.
February 24, 2023
This book takes place in the 1980s. All of the tech referenced in the book is from that era. Because of this I had my doubts as to this being a good middle grade book and not just nostalgia for Gen Xers. This was a great book! It's written in verse and includes drawings (of such things as cassette tapes and Walkmans - What an awesome way to explain older tech to younger readers!). There are descriptions of bullying. The Farsi terms used in the book are all translated in the footnotes. There are also depictions of OCD. Grab a box of tissues for the ending.
The main character is an eighth grader named Ava. Her mom is a single mom from Iran. Her father lives in Iran with a new family and rarely visits. For these reasons she feels different. But she likes music, singing, and surfing with her best friend. Her mom pushes her to be a doctor like her and makes her volunteer at the hospital. Not how she wanted to spend her summer. She just got her first choir solo. With all of that going on, her best friend's cancer returns.
This book doesn't talk down to middle graders. It is mature without being graphic. It’s realistic in its portrayal of a time when more independence was afforded to middle graders but bullying and mild (and major ones for that matter) mental health issues were often overlooked and not addressed by parents. Teens were allowed (or left in some cases) to problem solve on their own. Let me be clear the presence of parental guidance is not absent in this book. It is clearly there, it’s just not the micromanaging parenting style that is so prevalent today. Unlike many books written for this age range it doesn’t feel like you are being beaten over the head with some moral lesson your parents/teachers want you to get so you can make the world a better place in the ways that their generation has utterly failed. This book was a breath of fresh air despite the at times heavy topics.
The main character is an eighth grader named Ava. Her mom is a single mom from Iran. Her father lives in Iran with a new family and rarely visits. For these reasons she feels different. But she likes music, singing, and surfing with her best friend. Her mom pushes her to be a doctor like her and makes her volunteer at the hospital. Not how she wanted to spend her summer. She just got her first choir solo. With all of that going on, her best friend's cancer returns.
This book doesn't talk down to middle graders. It is mature without being graphic. It’s realistic in its portrayal of a time when more independence was afforded to middle graders but bullying and mild (and major ones for that matter) mental health issues were often overlooked and not addressed by parents. Teens were allowed (or left in some cases) to problem solve on their own. Let me be clear the presence of parental guidance is not absent in this book. It is clearly there, it’s just not the micromanaging parenting style that is so prevalent today. Unlike many books written for this age range it doesn’t feel like you are being beaten over the head with some moral lesson your parents/teachers want you to get so you can make the world a better place in the ways that their generation has utterly failed. This book was a breath of fresh air despite the at times heavy topics.
October 14, 2022
I loved this coming-of-age story about a young Persian American girl who always feels like a misfit unless she is making music or surfing. It is also about first love and first loss, acceptance of self, and finding family among friends.
The poetry in this novel in verse is so good. I especially liked the concrete poems.
The poetry in this novel in verse is so good. I especially liked the concrete poems.
May 27, 2022
This free verse novel is good, but I didn't find it especially gripping. The main character is the daughter of a Persian immigrant, and her single mother is pressuring her to become a doctor like her. However, she doesn't like volunteering at the hospital, and her true passions involve surfing and poetry. She also has mild counting and checking OCD, which are conveyed through the free verse poems, and she becomes even more distressed when her male best friend's cancer returns.
The book ends up being very sad, but it is mostly a grab-bag of different topics, social issues, eighties cultural and music references, and common experiences. I don't think the plot holds together well, and even though it can appeal as a slice-of-life story, I don't think it delves deeply enough into the many issues it tries to address in passing.
People with vision issues should know that it is difficult to read this book's minuscule navy print. This looks like the publisher was desperate to save paper and printer ink, and it does a great disservice to the story and to the reluctant readers who often gravitate towards free verse novels because of their fast movement and white space. However, this book is also available as an audiobook, so people who don't want to deal with the eye strain can pursue it that way.
The book ends up being very sad, but it is mostly a grab-bag of different topics, social issues, eighties cultural and music references, and common experiences. I don't think the plot holds together well, and even though it can appeal as a slice-of-life story, I don't think it delves deeply enough into the many issues it tries to address in passing.
People with vision issues should know that it is difficult to read this book's minuscule navy print. This looks like the publisher was desperate to save paper and printer ink, and it does a great disservice to the story and to the reluctant readers who often gravitate towards free verse novels because of their fast movement and white space. However, this book is also available as an audiobook, so people who don't want to deal with the eye strain can pursue it that way.
April 8, 2022
Set in the late 80s, Wave is a novel in verse about Ava, a Persian American surfer girl who loves Rumi poems and spending time with her best friend, Phoenix. But when Phoenix's cancer resurfaces, Ava watches everything she's come to love about her life fall apart.
I don't read a lot of verse books, but this one was beautifully written and completely immerses the reader in the California sun and sand amid the music of the 80s. I liked Ava a lot, and I think there are definitely kids out there who can relate to her plight of not wanting the same life as her parents want for her. She's a well-written and likeable character who's not without flaws.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. The novel is read by author Diana Farid, and she's spectacular because who better knows how her novel is supposed to sound than the author herself. Recommended.
I don't read a lot of verse books, but this one was beautifully written and completely immerses the reader in the California sun and sand amid the music of the 80s. I liked Ava a lot, and I think there are definitely kids out there who can relate to her plight of not wanting the same life as her parents want for her. She's a well-written and likeable character who's not without flaws.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. The novel is read by author Diana Farid, and she's spectacular because who better knows how her novel is supposed to sound than the author herself. Recommended.
November 8, 2022
I really loved this book. At first I didn’t think I was going to like it, but it was a great book!! I loved how it made me feel :)
January 1, 2023
Beautifully written middle grade novel in verse
TW- cancer, divorce, death of a friend, hospice/end of life care
TW- cancer, divorce, death of a friend, hospice/end of life care
March 24, 2024
1 star. Really did not care for this one. Didn't care for the poetry. It did not feel poetic at all, just felt like choppy phrases most of the time.
October 28, 2022
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central and Blue Slip Media
Ava lives in Southern California in the 1980s, and loves to surf and to sing along with pop hits of the day. She's been friends with Phoenix forever, and has recently realized she has a crush on him. Her Iranian born mother is an OB/GYN and is very excited about her job, which takes a lot of her time. Ava's father has never been present in her life, and only occasionally reaches out with late birthday gifts or superficial phone calls. Because her mother works and has been divorced, the Persian community frowns on her a bit, and Ava's fashion sense sets her apart as a young woman who might not be the best candidate for marriage. Ava's mother wants her to consider a career in medicine, so when summer arrives, arranges for her to work at the hospital as a junior volunteer (sort of like a Candy Striper, for those of us who are older!). Ava would much rather hang out at the beach with Phoenix to surf, or with her best friend Naz, who is also Persian. It's not a horrible job, and she does enjoy connecting with some of the patients, but when she falls and breaks her leg on the job, she is even angrier with her mother. Phoenix, whose father also works at the hospital and who lives next door, has battled cancer in the past, but when it reemerges, his prognosis is not good. Ava is sure that, with her help, he can overcome the disease again. She tries to encourage Phoenix to continue with his music and surfing, but as his condition worsens, he has less and less energy. This sends Ava into a panic, but also makes the two realize the depth of their feelings for each other.
Wave captures the feeling of 1980s beach culture with a story in verse strongly reminiscent of Lurlene McDaniel's tear-jerkers like Six Months to Live (1985). Whereas the McDaniel books were a bit more mellowdramatic and definitely more white, Wave is a great mix of Persian culture, 1980s music references, and Ava's own issues mixed in with Phoenix's medical problems. I loved that not only was there a description of how to make a mix tape from songs on the radio, but there was a list of songs at the end of the book. Young readers will be completely amazed.
Ava has a lot going on, and her struggles with balancing all of the expectations her mother has of her are vividly depicted. She's conflicted about her father, dealing with rampant racial microaggressions, and finding it hard to process her feelings about Phoenix. I found it particularly interesting that she found it easier to pass as Latinx, but this makes sense. The Iranian hostage crisis would have been fresh in the minds of people at this point in history, and this fact is addressed.
Goto's page decorations add a fun element to the story, and look a bit like designs from adult coloring books, with their fine details. This will definitely appeal to young readers, but part of me wanted them to have a 1980s/Max Headroom/rebooted Art Deco look from that time period.
There aren't a lot of books about Southern California beach culture, and that's too bad. From my midwestern viewpoint, this is an interesting and exotic setting! Forman's Frankie and Bug is the newest book that explores this setting fully. There are also very few books about surfing. Guidroz's Samira Surfs , Colbert's The Only Black Girls in Town, and Mosier's Summer and July being the only recent entries with that representation. This makes Wave an intriguing mix of a lot of interesting factors, with the added element of Ava and Phoenix's star crossed romance.
I was a bit surprised that the print was SO tiny. There's a lot of concrete poetry, so I guess the small size was necessary to fit everything on each page, but it may dissuade some picky middle grade readers.
Ava lives in Southern California in the 1980s, and loves to surf and to sing along with pop hits of the day. She's been friends with Phoenix forever, and has recently realized she has a crush on him. Her Iranian born mother is an OB/GYN and is very excited about her job, which takes a lot of her time. Ava's father has never been present in her life, and only occasionally reaches out with late birthday gifts or superficial phone calls. Because her mother works and has been divorced, the Persian community frowns on her a bit, and Ava's fashion sense sets her apart as a young woman who might not be the best candidate for marriage. Ava's mother wants her to consider a career in medicine, so when summer arrives, arranges for her to work at the hospital as a junior volunteer (sort of like a Candy Striper, for those of us who are older!). Ava would much rather hang out at the beach with Phoenix to surf, or with her best friend Naz, who is also Persian. It's not a horrible job, and she does enjoy connecting with some of the patients, but when she falls and breaks her leg on the job, she is even angrier with her mother. Phoenix, whose father also works at the hospital and who lives next door, has battled cancer in the past, but when it reemerges, his prognosis is not good. Ava is sure that, with her help, he can overcome the disease again. She tries to encourage Phoenix to continue with his music and surfing, but as his condition worsens, he has less and less energy. This sends Ava into a panic, but also makes the two realize the depth of their feelings for each other.
Wave captures the feeling of 1980s beach culture with a story in verse strongly reminiscent of Lurlene McDaniel's tear-jerkers like Six Months to Live (1985). Whereas the McDaniel books were a bit more mellowdramatic and definitely more white, Wave is a great mix of Persian culture, 1980s music references, and Ava's own issues mixed in with Phoenix's medical problems. I loved that not only was there a description of how to make a mix tape from songs on the radio, but there was a list of songs at the end of the book. Young readers will be completely amazed.
Ava has a lot going on, and her struggles with balancing all of the expectations her mother has of her are vividly depicted. She's conflicted about her father, dealing with rampant racial microaggressions, and finding it hard to process her feelings about Phoenix. I found it particularly interesting that she found it easier to pass as Latinx, but this makes sense. The Iranian hostage crisis would have been fresh in the minds of people at this point in history, and this fact is addressed.
Goto's page decorations add a fun element to the story, and look a bit like designs from adult coloring books, with their fine details. This will definitely appeal to young readers, but part of me wanted them to have a 1980s/Max Headroom/rebooted Art Deco look from that time period.
There aren't a lot of books about Southern California beach culture, and that's too bad. From my midwestern viewpoint, this is an interesting and exotic setting! Forman's Frankie and Bug is the newest book that explores this setting fully. There are also very few books about surfing. Guidroz's Samira Surfs , Colbert's The Only Black Girls in Town, and Mosier's Summer and July being the only recent entries with that representation. This makes Wave an intriguing mix of a lot of interesting factors, with the added element of Ava and Phoenix's star crossed romance.
I was a bit surprised that the print was SO tiny. There's a lot of concrete poetry, so I guess the small size was necessary to fit everything on each page, but it may dissuade some picky middle grade readers.
April 14, 2022
PoV: First person present
ToN (Type of Narration): Solo by the author, Diana Farid
Audio book length: 3h, 30m
Genre and Sub genre: MG Sports/Action, Coming of age, diversity
Location: California
Time(s): 1908's
TW/CW's:
Language Rating: 0
Sex Rating: 0
Representation: Persian female doctor
Ava is a pre-teen in 1980's learning to navigate the world around her. She is Persian-American, born to a single mother. Her mom spent many hours as a doctor in the hospital. Ava spends a lot of time trying to fit in with her Persian family, with her American classmates, and with the neighbors in her community. She struggles with wanting to feel wanted, after feeling like her father abandoned her. Her mother wants her to spend her summer volunteering in the hospital, but Ava wants to spend her summers on the beach, surfing the waves. Ava knows she wouldn't do well in a hospital setting, even though her mother has high hopes for her to be a doctor. Ava can't even stand the sight of blood! She is also struggling with OCD, and with the sudden resurgence of her friend Phoenix's cancer diagnosis. With all of the things going wrong in her life, she is grasping at the things she loves in order to remain grounded.
This book is a beautiful novel written in verse. I love the unique perspective of a teen in the 80's. And everyone knows that I am a perpetual #BeachRat and #OceanLover and #SurfGirl, any book that brings me back to the sea! I was first drawn to the beautiful cover on this book, the art really speaks to me! The story is great! It is really not my type of book, I struggle with the books in verse, but for those who love this style, it was done really well! I also love the way she describes the Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosis and treatment in easy to understand terms and words for kids.
Audio book review: This book was narrated by the author, and she did a fabulous job reading her own work! Sometimes an author is really good at writing and mediocre at narrating, but that isn't the case here. Diana has a great voice for this book, and since she wrote it, her cadence is perfect. Diana has great diction and is clear when she isn't speaking English.
The audio book editing is good, all sections are the same volume. The narration speed is good. There aren't any flicker, impulse, or broadband noises. No plosives. A bit of sibilance.
**Audio book notes do not change my GR book rating, it is only here for reference. This entire review is also cross posted to Amazon and Audible**
https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/
https://www.doesthedogdie.com/
ToN (Type of Narration): Solo by the author, Diana Farid
Audio book length: 3h, 30m
Genre and Sub genre: MG Sports/Action, Coming of age, diversity
Location: California
Time(s): 1908's
TW/CW's:
Language Rating: 0
Sex Rating: 0
Representation: Persian female doctor
Ava is a pre-teen in 1980's learning to navigate the world around her. She is Persian-American, born to a single mother. Her mom spent many hours as a doctor in the hospital. Ava spends a lot of time trying to fit in with her Persian family, with her American classmates, and with the neighbors in her community. She struggles with wanting to feel wanted, after feeling like her father abandoned her. Her mother wants her to spend her summer volunteering in the hospital, but Ava wants to spend her summers on the beach, surfing the waves. Ava knows she wouldn't do well in a hospital setting, even though her mother has high hopes for her to be a doctor. Ava can't even stand the sight of blood! She is also struggling with OCD, and with the sudden resurgence of her friend Phoenix's cancer diagnosis. With all of the things going wrong in her life, she is grasping at the things she loves in order to remain grounded.
This book is a beautiful novel written in verse. I love the unique perspective of a teen in the 80's. And everyone knows that I am a perpetual #BeachRat and #OceanLover and #SurfGirl, any book that brings me back to the sea! I was first drawn to the beautiful cover on this book, the art really speaks to me! The story is great! It is really not my type of book, I struggle with the books in verse, but for those who love this style, it was done really well! I also love the way she describes the Hodgkins Lymphoma diagnosis and treatment in easy to understand terms and words for kids.
Audio book review: This book was narrated by the author, and she did a fabulous job reading her own work! Sometimes an author is really good at writing and mediocre at narrating, but that isn't the case here. Diana has a great voice for this book, and since she wrote it, her cadence is perfect. Diana has great diction and is clear when she isn't speaking English.
The audio book editing is good, all sections are the same volume. The narration speed is good. There aren't any flicker, impulse, or broadband noises. No plosives. A bit of sibilance.
**Audio book notes do not change my GR book rating, it is only here for reference. This entire review is also cross posted to Amazon and Audible**
https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/
https://www.doesthedogdie.com/
March 29, 2022
It has been a while since I read a novel in verse and I was reminded again how much I love it. This coming-of-age story about a Persian/American girl growing up over one tough summer was just so wonderful. I read it in just a couple of sittings because I needed to keep reading. The poetry was so full of meaning using very few words. The characters melted my heart and as a mom, I really awakened to the struggles of raising our children with our dreams versus their dreams.
The story begins in March 1987 with Ava getting ready to go back to school after Spring Break. Ava is an only child of a single mom, who is also a doctor. Ava has issues with OCD and also has a crush on her best friend and fellow surfer, Phoenix. Ava can’t wait to spend her summer crashing waves with Phoenix, but her mom has other plans for her. Instead, Ava has to spend her days volunteering at the hospital. But, there is more ahead for Ava’s summer that she never saw coming.
Fans of the Persian poet, Rumi, will find a lot to love in this novel in verse. Many of Rumi’s poets are used to begin a page. Ava turns 14 in 1987 and I turned 15 in 1987 so I could relate to a lot of her music references and especially the joy of making a mixtape. There is a lot of 80s nostalgia in the story that I loved.
Ava has a rough summer and has to grow up quickly. She also faces some hurtful racism at the hands of boys at the beach. This novel covers a lot of teen issues with grace and emotion shared in the prose. I think a lot of kids will relate to the feelings expressed in this story even though teens in 2022 have social media and cell phones. The fear of being not being accepted, losing a friend, or going after a dream will still resonate today with teen readers today.
The story begins in March 1987 with Ava getting ready to go back to school after Spring Break. Ava is an only child of a single mom, who is also a doctor. Ava has issues with OCD and also has a crush on her best friend and fellow surfer, Phoenix. Ava can’t wait to spend her summer crashing waves with Phoenix, but her mom has other plans for her. Instead, Ava has to spend her days volunteering at the hospital. But, there is more ahead for Ava’s summer that she never saw coming.
Fans of the Persian poet, Rumi, will find a lot to love in this novel in verse. Many of Rumi’s poets are used to begin a page. Ava turns 14 in 1987 and I turned 15 in 1987 so I could relate to a lot of her music references and especially the joy of making a mixtape. There is a lot of 80s nostalgia in the story that I loved.
Ava has a rough summer and has to grow up quickly. She also faces some hurtful racism at the hands of boys at the beach. This novel covers a lot of teen issues with grace and emotion shared in the prose. I think a lot of kids will relate to the feelings expressed in this story even though teens in 2022 have social media and cell phones. The fear of being not being accepted, losing a friend, or going after a dream will still resonate today with teen readers today.
April 25, 2022
I was provided the audiobook version via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A powerful story that is beautifully written, raw, emotional and unique!
13-year-old Ava is extremely relatable, pouring out her thoughts and emotions just like ocean waves. The word choices and the details immerse you into 1980s California.
Ava feels a great deal of pressure from her mother, who is adamant that Ava follows in her footsteps and becomes a doctor. Ava struggles with the absence of her father. Overall, she is trying to find her own path.
She wants to focus on enjoying her summer - surfing, singing and exchanging mixtapes with her friends. But the summer takes a heart-wrenching turn.
Family relationships, friendships, identity, discrimination and loss are major themes.
There’s excellent representation, as Ava’s Persian heritage is woven throughout this story.
I love the incorporation of 80s music. (Playlists are included!)
This book is very accessible to a wide array of readers due to it being written in free verse. Many reviews mention that their kids loved the format. This is a perfect read for middle grade readers. And even as an adult, I felt the emotional punch.
Audiobook notes: Honestly, I struggled with the audio at first. There were moments when it felt slow and monotone. Another reviewer used the word ‘stilted’ and I agree. But as the story progressed and I got used to the author’s tone, it was more enjoyable.
I love getting the opportunity to hear the work read from the author, but I feel that having the physical book would have been more enjoyable in order to see the free verse format and artwork by Kris Goto.
Thank you Netgalley, RB Media, Harry N. Abrams Publishing and Diana Farid.
A powerful story that is beautifully written, raw, emotional and unique!
13-year-old Ava is extremely relatable, pouring out her thoughts and emotions just like ocean waves. The word choices and the details immerse you into 1980s California.
Ava feels a great deal of pressure from her mother, who is adamant that Ava follows in her footsteps and becomes a doctor. Ava struggles with the absence of her father. Overall, she is trying to find her own path.
She wants to focus on enjoying her summer - surfing, singing and exchanging mixtapes with her friends. But the summer takes a heart-wrenching turn.
Family relationships, friendships, identity, discrimination and loss are major themes.
There’s excellent representation, as Ava’s Persian heritage is woven throughout this story.
I love the incorporation of 80s music. (Playlists are included!)
This book is very accessible to a wide array of readers due to it being written in free verse. Many reviews mention that their kids loved the format. This is a perfect read for middle grade readers. And even as an adult, I felt the emotional punch.
Audiobook notes: Honestly, I struggled with the audio at first. There were moments when it felt slow and monotone. Another reviewer used the word ‘stilted’ and I agree. But as the story progressed and I got used to the author’s tone, it was more enjoyable.
I love getting the opportunity to hear the work read from the author, but I feel that having the physical book would have been more enjoyable in order to see the free verse format and artwork by Kris Goto.
Thank you Netgalley, RB Media, Harry N. Abrams Publishing and Diana Farid.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews