How to Make a Wave - Softcover

Hurst-Archer, Lisa

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0889953953 ISBN 13: 9780889953956

Publisher: Red Deer Press, 2008

Synopsis

2009 Calgary Library Foundation Literary Awards: Best Child or Teen Book finalist

Delia keeps people away - she thinks she's ugly, she thinks her family is weird; her mom took off and went to India when Delia was a little girl. Delia keeps her distance from others though she has a good friend in Aunt Shirley who helps her to realize that all people have hurts and problems. Through her conversations with Shirley and her explorations in art class, Delia uncovers memories of a car accident, which lead her to discover a hurtful secret at the centre of her family.

Shirley is compassionate and honest, though she doesn't allow Delia to wallow in self-pity and anger. She shares with Delia her own hurts and disappointments and so does the art teacher, Ms. Murti. Delia discovers that she's been self-absorbed and has built walls to separate herself from others.

Gradually, she is able to accept truth, and to be honest about her pain. She is able to consider that life is full of terrible beautiful aching mystery and that sometimes a coincidence is more than coincidence, it may have to do with something greater, with the alignment of universal forces - with the making of a wave.

About this title

About the Author:

Lisa Hurst-Archer was born in Windsor, Ontario. Her mother's family came to Prince Edward Island from the British Isles and the island of Guernsey. Her father's people came to Waterloo County via Pennsylvania as part of a migration of Mennonites. Lisa loves to travel and share stories along the way but always likes to come home to the wide open skies of Alberta. She regards the Rocky Mountains and the rolling prairie as her good medicine.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 6–8—Delia, at the age of six, was involved in a car accident that left her face scarred and her parents' marriage in ruins. Ever since, she has kept to herself. Now 12, she is starting to question what really happened the day of the accident and why her mother left. A newfound interest in art, the power of a good book, and a few caring adults help Delia begin to heal. This novel does a fine job of using the changing nature of water to illustrate the changes in the girl. Delia is able to explore her feelings through painting and reading when she feels she has no other options. However, the power of this message is blunted by the stilted, present-tense narration and the lack of context for the conversations that take place between characters. A chapter from the point of view of Delia's mother heightens the disjointed feel of this first novel. Still, readers who are willing to persevere will find a few quiet, elegant moments in the story.—Melissa Rabey, Frederick County Public Libraries, Frederick, MD
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About this edition

• Publisher: Red Deer Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0889953953
• ISBN 13: 9780889953956
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224