The Wave

Max loves surfing, the beach, and the chilled-out island he calls home – though he doesn't love all the tourists that swarm his peaceful beach town every summer. When a warning comes that an unexpected tsunami is just hours away, Max is home on his own and he can't find his beloved dog, Ralph.

With precious time ticking away and people speeding past him out of town, Max is running out of time to get to higher ground. Ultimately, he will have to choose between trying to survive a tsunami on his own, or banding together with whichever strangers are left behind, even if they're tourists. And he'd better hurry, because the tsunami is going to hit any moment ...

Perfect for fans of Tristan Bancks and Katherine Rundell, this gripping novel explores courage, misplaced loyalty and survival in the face of disaster.

If you love suspenseful adventure, check out Sarah Armstrong's first survivalist thriller, Run – winner of the 2026 CBCA Shadow Judging and a CBCA Honour Book of the Year for Younger Readers!

PERFECT FOR:

• Kids aged 9–14 who love high-stakes adventure set in the real world.
• Readers who want high-stakes/high intrigue plots without too much grit or violence.
• Fans of suspenseful novels such as Tristan Bancks's Scar Town and Bren MacDibble's The Dog Runner.
• Book clubs, teachers and educators wanting a page-turner that also has meaningful themes for discussion.

PRAISE FOR RUN AND THE WAVE:

• ‘Like Gary Paulson's Hatchet series and Bren MacDibble's The Dog Runner, The Wave is a survival/adventure story that inspires the reader.’ – ReadPlus on The Wave
• ‘Brilliant and original! Gritty characters, a wild setting, action, suspense – I was hooked from the start.’ – KATRINA NANNESTAD on Run
• ‘A wild survival story that treks along at a cracking pace – I read this in one sitting.’ – BREN MACDIBBLE on Run
• ‘What a wild ride! I was on the edge of my seat until the end.’ – KAREN FOXLEE on Run