Popular Authors - Peg Kehret ~ Escaping the Giant Wave

Book Cover Photo Source, Barnes and Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Escaping-the-Giant-Wave/Peg-Kehret/e/9780689852725/?itm=2, accessed May 9, 2009.

Bibliography

Kehret, Peg. 2003. ESCAPING THE GIANT WAVE. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing. ISBN 9781415555484

Summary

In the book ESCAPING THE GIANT WAVE by Peg Kehret, we meet Kyle, a thirteen year old boy from Kansas. When his dad is named the Salesman of the Year for his real estate company, the family wins an all expense paid trip to the Oregon coast. This is great news to Kyle and his sister BeeBee who have never before flown on an airplane. But when they get to the airport and Kyle discovers that Daren Hazelton, the boy who has bullied him since kindergarten, is going on the same trip, things start to go wrong. Arriving at the "luxury resort" they find that it is not yet finished and are forced to stay across the street at the old hotel. The elevator breaks down often, and there are not many people staying there. One night while walking on the beach, Kyle and his father see a sign warning of the possibility of tsuami's in the area. They stop to read the sign which includes steps to take if one ever hit.

The next night while his parents are out on a yacht celebrating his fathers award, an earthquake hits, setting the hotel on fire. Remembering what he read on the sign the day before, Kyle knows he must get his sister to safety, while trying to convince Daren that a tsunami may be coming. What follows is Kyle saving his sister form harm and finally seeing Daren for the lying coward that he is. This book would be good read aloud to fourth or fifth grade students to help them see the potential harm in bullying.

Reviews

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: Caroline Haugen - Kyle, his sister BeeBee and their parents are heading on a family vacation to the Oregon coast. BeeBee and Kyle have never been out of Kansas. Since their father is Salesman of the Year, the entire family gets to go to the awards conference in Oregon. However, the vacation is not what Kyle had expected. Daren, the school bully, turns out to be there as well. In addition, there is a terrible disaster while his parents are out on a cruise and Kyle has to learn to take care of himself and BeeBee. While the story has the potential to be highly interesting and suspenseful, it lacks the realistic detail for readers to become involved in the plot and invest themselves in the characters. The best part of the book is the sub-plot of eight-year-old BeeBee's obsession with the financial market. The book would be much stronger with more details and explanations.

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: Kyle's excitement at vacationing with his family on the Oregon coast turns to dismay when Daren, the school bully and Kyle's nemesis, turns up in the same hotel. When Kyle is left to baby-sit his little sister Bebe while his parents embark on a dinner cruise, an earthquake and then a tsunami strike, starting a fire in the hotel. Kyle and Bebe must outrun the tsunami and save themselves and Daren from this force of nature. Through this experience, Kyle is finally able to stand up to his tormenter. Peg Kehret's novel (S & S, 2003) is blandly narrated by Terry Bregy who deflates much of the tension and drama of the story. Nevertheless, middle school boys might enjoy the survivor aspects of the tale.-Lisa Hubler, Memorial Junior High School, South Euclid, OH