The Movement

Authors Note: I chose to write a literary analysis because I feel that I am best at writing them. They are one of my strengths in writing and I enjoy writing them. I chose to write this literary analysis on "The Wave", because it was a great story and I wanted to share what I thought about it with others.

Walking through school, being afraid to say anything. You don’t agree with what they’re doing but if anyone finds out you could get hurt. All of your friends have abandoned you and joined the troops, as if they’re in a trance. It feels like you’re all alone and no one even cares anymore. This experiment has just went too far. History teacher, Ben Ross, wanted to create a movement that was just like the events that occurred during World War II. The students at Gordon High School get too involved and the experiment goes way too far. “The Wave”, written by Todd Strasser, is an interesting true story that captures your attention.

History is supposed to be just an average, everyday, high school class. Ben Ross likes to get the students involved in any way he can. As the year rolls along, they come across the unit of World War II. Mr. Ross shows a video about Adolf Hitler, the Nazis, and concentration camps. The students were stunned by what they were shown and they didn’t understand why the Germans didn’t stand up to the Nazis for what terrible things they were doing. Mr. Ross tries to explain as best he can but no one in his class seems satisfied. Then, he comes up with the idea to try and recreate something similar to what happened during World War II. When you read this book, you will be very interested in what will happen next.

While being interested in this book, a lot of things may capture your attention. As Mr. Ross begins his experiment, his students don’t get into it until they have the desire to do what he tells them. Their motto is “Strength Through Discipline, Strength through Community, Strength Through Action.” They come up with a salute for their club, and call this movement, The Wave. It spreads throughout the entire school and almost everyone joins. The students that don’t join are  disgrace to everyone who is a member of The Wave. They get so serious about other students joining The Wave that people start to get hurt. It is unbelievable that something like this could actually happen. It caught my attention when I realized that you can recreate something that happened in the 1930’s.

When I was in shock about how something like this could come true, I just needed to know what Mr. Ross was going to do. The entire school was out of control and only Laurie Saunders and David Collins could see it. It had gotten so out of control, that parents were getting worried, and Mr. Ross might even lose his job. He realizes that he needs to do something before someone gets seriously hurt. He tells the principal, his wife, and Laurie and David that he has a plan and they just have to trust him. In this book, you learn that you shouldn’t always go along with what everyone else is doing, but to do what your heart says is right.

An interesting true story that captures my attention is “The Wave”, written by Todd Strasser. This book is very intriguing and will astound you. You should never do anything just because other people do it, but because it is what you decide to do.