Waves

Waves
By Sharon Dogar
Library Standing: We don’t have this but we could ILL it for you!

WAVES tells the story of the Dittons, a family in England struggling to come to terms with the events of a tragic accident that took place one summer at their beach house. Sixteen-year-old Charley, the oldest daughter, was left in a coma following what was believed to be a surfing mishap. The book starts with the family preparing to go back to the beach house for the first time since Charley's accident. The narrative shifts from its primary protagonist --- Hal, Charley's 14-year-old brother --- who feigns indifference at Charley's situation when he really, desperately wants his sister back, and Charley, trapped in a body that no longer responds to her commands.

Both teens sojourn back and forth in time, their present day minds touching one another on occasion, leaving Hal convinced that someone witnessed Charley's accident --- someone who could have helped her but didn't. Both Hal and Charley search their memories for answers, but at the same time seem incapable of transcending the unfolding events of the present.

Complicating matters for Hal is Jack, a girl his age whose family also owns a beach house nearby. Hal gets his first taste of romance with Jack, which distracts him from his quest to learn the truth about what happened to Charley. To make matters worse, Jack is the sister of Pete, the "surfing god" Charley was hanging around before the accident --- making him a prime suspect, in Hal's mind. The mystery slowly unfolds, and Hal, with "help" from Charley, moves closer to understanding what happened that fateful night.