THE WAVE By Thomas Garzino Author This novel

THE WAVE By: Thomas Garzino

Author � This novel was written by Todd Strasser

Characters � � � � � Laurie Saunders- Main character of the book. Newspaper editor/ chief of the Gordon Grapevine. Dating David Collins and her best friend is Amy Smith. Ben Ross- History teacher who started the wave. He is known as an entertaining teacher. Christy Ross- Ben Ross’ wife. She is a choir teacher. Robert Billings- Class loser who doesn’t care about his appearance. David Collins- RB of the football team. Laurie’s boyfriend. Brian Ammon- QB of the football team. Amy Smith- Laurie’s best friend who secretly has a crush on Brian. Carl Block- Reporter for the grapevine, and is known as a prankster. Alex Cooper- Music reviewer for the grapevine. Brad- Makes fun of Robert and says he wouldn’t let the Nazis manipulate him. Mrs. Saunders- Laurie’s mom who thinks the wave is stupid. Mr. Saunders- Laurie’s dad. Very creative and he likes the wave. Eric- Senior who says he wouldn’t let minority control majority George Snyder- Senior who likes the wave Norm Schiller- Bio teacher and also the football teacher Principal Owens- Principal of the school who always has a smoking pipe. Mr. Gabondi- Teaches French and is a very boring teacher.

Conflict � � � Man vs. Society Mr. Ross vs. the students The conflict of this novel is the experiment that Mr. Ross creates which is called The Wave. At first, everybody enjoys the wave and looks at it as a good experiment. But then, as the experiment continues, students start to fight and people start getting beaten up. It turns into chaos.

Plot � The plot of the book is the experiment which was the wave. The students in Mr. Ross’ class watch a video on the Nazis and what they did during the holocaust, which motivates Mr. Ross to do a similar experiment to teach the kids a lesson.

Setting � The setting of the book takes place in California in 1969. The high school is called Gordon High School.

The Grapevine � The Grapevine is the school newspaper in the novel. Laurie is the editor and chief of The Grapevine.

The Letter � In the book, Laurie receives an anonymous letter which was slipped under the door of the publication office. The letter says how he and some of his friends have been threatened into joining The Wave. He also says how he has no idea what the wave members will do to people who don’t join.

The Rally � The rally took place in the auditorium of the school and only wave members were allowed to attend. During the rally, all of the doors are locked from the outside and guarded carefully. What happens during the rally is Mr. Ross shows a video of Adolf Hitler, and tells the kids “This is your leader!” He then tells the kids "You traded your freedom for equality. But, you turned your equality into superiority over non-Wave members. You accepted the group's will no matter who you had to hurt to do it. “ The students then get up and proceed to leave the rally, as they’re all hurt and disappointed.

The Lesson � The true lesson in the novel is the we cannot learn from the past unless we remember and understand the past. Before the experiment, the students believed that they wouldn’t let Nazis take over, until the experiment happens and they are completely unaware that they became much alike to how the Nazis acted under Hitler’s power.

The Experiment � The experiment had a big impact on the students. Once the experiment started, the students treated each other differently and actually payed attention and went to class on time. They all accepted each other no matter the case and thought of themselves as a whole. Once the wave starts. Mr. Ross gives the members yellow membership cards. He tells them that if their card has an X on it, it means they are a monitor. The monitors are supposed to tell Mr. Ross if any of the members of the wave aren't following the rules.

The Movement � The slogan of the wave is “Strength through discipline, Strength through community, and Strength through action. ” The rules of the wave are everybody has to have a pencil and paper to take notes, stand next to your desk when you take notes, and when you answer a question, you have to say “Mr. Ross” before you answer. The symbol of the wave was a circle with a blue wave inside of it.