"The Wave" by Todd Strasser

[annettemarie]

Has anyone used this as a lead-up to learning about WW II?
http://www.amazon.com/Wave-Laurel-Le.../dp/0440993717

I'm wondering if there's anything in it that would make it a bad idea for my sixth grader to read. Thanks!

[AFWife]

We read it and watched the movie in 7th grade. I don't remember anything that was particularly bad in it...well, I mean, considering the overall theme and all. (There's no rape or anything like in some other "junior high lit" books)

[annettemarie]

Oh, there's a movie too? That could be good. Thanks for your input! I'd actually never heard of it, but it was recommended in Story of the World but had a little parental advisory warning.

[AFWife]

Originally Posted by annettemarie

Oh, there's a movie too? That could be good. Thanks for your input! I'd actually never heard of it, but it was recommended in Story of the World but had a little parental advisory warning.

There's light violence (I remember a guy shoving a girl to the ground) but it's resolved...I think the advisory would be for the theme...brainwashing and the parallel to Nazis.

Yeah, we watched the movie AFTER the book (duh lol) partially for the visual and for the comparison factor. We also did a day where we mimicked some of the book (having to file into class silently in a certain amount of time, standing to ask a question, etc...) just to help it sink in.

[PGTlatte]

We watched it in 7th grade.

http://www.thewave.tk/

There is a link to watch it on Youtube.

Amazon also has it:

The Wave by Alexander Grasshoff (DVD - 2008)

I thought it was very good.

[LaLaLaLa]

When I was teaching eighth grade, we read this book with our classes as part of our Holocaust and WWII studies. It's pretty tame, but still compelling. Todd Strasser really toes the line as far as language and violence and stuff; I think he is very concerned with writing books that will not be banned or censored. I don't remember there being anything remotely offensive (aside from the basic theme of the story, of course) about this book.

[annettemarie]

Just an update-- he started it today and really likes it. He's actually spent the past hour reading it. That's two hits in a row-- he just finished All Quiet on the Western Front. I'll be interested to see what he thinks of Diary of Anne Frank, which is his next book.