Bright Summaries - The Wave by Todd Strasser (Book Analysis): Detailed Summary, Analysis and Reading Guide

At Gordon High School, the history teacher Ben Ross waits for his senior pupils to arrive, but feels frustrated by their apparent disregard for punctuality and their homework. He is teaching them about the Second World War, and has decided to show them a documentary about the concentration camps. Afterwards, the pupils all wonder why ordinary Germans did not do more to stop the atrocities. Ben explains to them that The Nazis might have been a minority, but they were a highly organized, armed, and dangerous minority (p. 12), but the students seem unconvinced. He wishes he could have explained things better and looks for a clear explanation, but he cannot find the answer written anywhere (p. 28). He then devises an experiment that will help them to understand what happened.

Some students, like Laurie, are still shocked by the film. Her boyfriend David reassures her: It happened once and the world learned its lesson. Itll never happen again (p. 21).

When the students come to class the next day, they find a slogan written on the blackboard: Strength through discipline (p. 29). Ben explains that the lesson will be about success and power, which catches everyones attention. He gives them examples such as sports, dance and art, where results can only be achieved through long years of discipline, hard work and training.

He then shows them the posture that they must adopt, and most of the students imitate it. Next, he asks them to move around the classroom before returning to their seats. Their first attempt is chaotic, but he makes them repeat the exercise until they can complete it in an orderly fashion. He then further complicates the task by making them all line up.

He establishes new rules and holds up Robert, who a social outcast and struggles with his schoolwork, as a positive example. Robert then becomes more popular and begins acting as a kind of bodyguard to Ben.

Ben explains to his students that they are united by discipline and community, and that they are part of a movement. He makes them repeat their slogan and even chooses a logo: a wave that is supposed to represent change, direction and movement. The Wave is also adopted as the communitys name, and he teaches them a salute. The students are overwhelmed by a feeling of power and unity (p. 43).

Ben is surprised as his classroom gradually turns into a place of calm and discipline. Some students, including Laurie and Brad, are initially reluctant but eventually follow the rest of the group. Lauries boyfriend David tries to get her to share his enthusiasm, but she is still not fully convinced. She tells her parents about the experiment and her mother is concerned: she thinks it is dangerous to let a teacher manipulate his students like this, and even wonders if The Wave is actually a cult.

After the class, the boys usually go to football practice, but their team keeps losing. They decide to explain the principles of The Wave to their teammates, with positive results.

The Wave gradually spreads beyond the classroom as more and more people join the movement. To his surprise, Ben is getting through his lessons more quickly and the students are coming to them better prepared. At home, he discusses the experiment with his wife, Christy, who teaches at the same school. She is concerned about the communitys size, as it has begun to spread beyond the history class, but Ben is enthusiastic.

In class, he gives his students membership cards. Some are appointed as monitors and tasked with overseeing the group and ensuring the rules are obeyed. He also adds another word to the slogan: Action. He asks them to act like a well-oiled machine (p. 59), meaning that they must work together, follow the rules and help one another. The students enjoy this new sense of equality. Laurie is increasingly uncomfortable with the experiment and discusses her doubts with her classmates, but they will not hear a word against the group.

In view of the movements growth, Ben is summoned to a meeting with Principal Owens, who demands an explanation. Ben believes that as long as he is the leader, The Wave will remain manageable, but the principal is sceptical and warns him about the danger of losing control.

At the school newspapers editorial meeting, the editors ask Laurie to write an article on the movement. When she gets to the newsroom the next day, she finds an anonymous letter recounting the experience of a junior who was intimidated and threatened by members of The Wave.

A Wave rally is organised with the aim of recruiting other students. Laurie does not want to attend, and when David suggests going together, she refuses. He is surprised by her response and tries to convince her, but she tells him: Youre so intent on creating some kind of utopian Wave society [] that you dont see it at all (p. 88). David accuses her of distancing herself from the movement because she wants to be different from everybody else. They end up breaking up. She throws herself into her work for the newspaper, and is soon joined by Carl and Alex, who have noticed that the school is starting to feel more like a military training camp. They suggest holding an emergency meeting to finish the current issue.

Ben gradually starts to feel overwhelmed as the students begin acting on their own initiative and issuing orders. For example, they name Ben the ultimate leader of The Wave (p. 84).