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Book Review of The Wave

The Wave
The Wave
Author: Todd Strasser
Genre: Teen & Young Adult
Book Type: School Library Binding
daedelys avatar reviewed on + 1218 more book reviews


This book is a must read. I couldn't put it down once I stared.

I found it to be so disturbing how a repetition of actions used on a group of people can easily serve to brainwash them. Whether it be students, military or religious organizations, it's easily to be led like sheep into believing what you are told. The "everyone's doing it" becomes common place and those who don't agree are outsiders.

It's even more unsettling that this boo is based on actual events and that a teacher allowed it to continue knowing he was using Hitler's regime as the catalyst for the project. I was appalled at how the teacher, who was considered the leader of the Wave, just couldn't comprehend how things were getting out of hand. Especially when he hear students planning on getting more recruits for their cause and then having other students volunteer as his "bodyguard". He actually seemed to enjoy the power he was having.

The easy pull of fascism is brilliantly portrayed in this book and I am planning on doing some Googling on the original story that happened in Palo Alto, CA. It's a story that a person of any age can read and learn from.