Skip to the main content

The Wave

Todd Strasser

History teacher Ben Ross can't explain to his class how ordinary Germans went along with the Nazis, so he tries an experiment. With a few rules, a slogan and a salute, the Wave is born, and soon the whole of Gordon High wants to join. Laurie Saunders begins to wonder whether anyone can still say no.

Length
About 35,000 words
To read it
About 24 days
Stage
Key Stage 3

Reading time at 1,500 words a day, the pace we start from until we know your child’s own.

Where it is taught

Why The Wave is on the list

  • Year 8, Core. The books most schools teach in this year. A good place to start.

Reading it here

What your child does with it

  1. 1

    Choose it and set a finish date

    You get a suggested target from the length of the book and your child's reading pace.

  2. 2

    Check in along the way

    A longer book has short check-ins every week or two, so it keeps moving and nothing is forgotten.

  3. 3

    Answer two questions

    When they finish: a review of the book, and a deeper question about how it works.

  4. 4

    Get it marked, and redraft

    Every answer is marked against the rubric for their year, with a reason for every score.