Book Review: The Big Wave by Pearl S. Buck

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The Big Wave is another story meant for children that I felt was my duty to grab. It concerns two Japanese boys but was written by Pearl S. Buck, an American-born white woman.

Kino lives with his parents and sister on a farm close to the sea shore in Japan. His best friend Jiya lives on the beach with his fishing family in a house that does not have a window looking out onto the cantankerous ocean. After a catastrophic tsunami, Kino's family takes in Jiya and teach him about farming inland, but Jiya's heart still belongs to the sometimes angry ocean.

This was the first piece I ever read written by Buck, although I loved the 1930's film "The Good Earth," which was based on her novel. This story comes in at just under sixty pages, and could have probably been expanded to a full-length novel. The writing is simple and fable-like but not simplistic, accentuating its "life is stronger than death" morale without belaboring the point. Although it could have been expanded, it works very well in its present form.

I have not read of Buck's work being changed to appease woke readers, but it could be a real possibility. Despite Buck's residence in Japan and China, "modern audiences" are on the look out for this type of work, ready to save the world from such a savage inequity. This is a strong story with universal themes, published in 1947, and should be read for its message and entertainment value. It's unfortunate that I picked it up as a defense against the thought police, but I did discover an author I could continue reading if the situation arises.