Elizabeth Camuti, NJ Winner Level II (Grade 8)

Letter to Todd Strasser, author of The Wave

Dear Mr. Strasser,

I have always been a person who could be easily influenced by other people.  Whether it be conversations with my friends or a classroom discussion, my opinions and views were almost always swayed by what the majority felt was right.  My need to fit in got to be an obsession and I began to conform and sacrifice my individuality to fit in with my peers.  At what seemed like the peak of my striving to belong, I started reading your book, The Wave, for my eighth grade language arts class.

It was in The Wave that I saw myself through characters like Robert Billings and Amy Smith.  Characters who like me, had sacrificed their individuality to go along with the crowd, never questioning whether their actions respected their own personal values.  After realizing the startling comparison, I began to analyze the actions of the main characters as if I myself were a concerned parent or one of Mr. Ross’ colleagues, urging the cult members to change their ways and pleading for Mr. Ross to end the insanity.  Without even realizing it, I began to make changes. I felt myself slowly changing as I contradicted my peers in our literature discussions, where I was standing up for something I felt strongly about, my opinions on your book.  No matter what, I didn’t want to end up like the students in the Wave.  I didn’t want to find myself putting control of my life into the hands of others.

After finishing The Wave, I was both delighted and disheartened.  I had followed your characters so intently for the past month, and now I could feel their devastation when everyone found out it had all been a hoax.  And then, strangely for this same reason, I was happy for them.  I was glad that like me, they could now start to change their actions and make alterations in their own lives based on the newfound knowledge Mr. Ross’ experiment provided.

In conclusion, I found The Wave to be an unexpected learning experience.  Your book helped me realize the importance of my own individuality and the consequences of sacrificing it.  Since finishing the novel, I have found a confidence in myself I never knew I had and I am no longer so envious of other people.  Most importantly, I can now hold my head high and be proud of the person I am.  Thank you for telling such a touching story, and taking me on a journey I’m sure I will never forget.

Yours truly,
Elizabeth Camuti