--- product_id: 5869748 title: "The Big Wave: A Japanese Novel About Two Friends Learning Courage and Hope After Tragedy for Children (Ages 8-12)" price: "₨6206" currency: LKR in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.lk/products/5869748-the-big-wave-a-japanese-novel-about-two-friends-learning store_origin: LK region: Sri Lanka --- # Tsunami & natural disaster theme Classic Nobel-winning story Ages 8-12 targeted The Big Wave: A Japanese Novel About Two Friends Learning Courage and Hope After Tragedy for Children (Ages 8-12) **Price:** ₨6206 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 🌊📖 Dive into bravery and friendship with a timeless tale that every young leader needs! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Big Wave: A Japanese Novel About Two Friends Learning Courage and Hope After Tragedy for Children (Ages 8-12) - **How much does it cost?** ₨6206 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.lk](https://www.desertcart.lk/products/5869748-the-big-wave-a-japanese-novel-about-two-friends-learning) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Timeless Courage & Hope:** Explore resilience through a Nobel Prize-winning narrative that transcends generations. - • **Authentic Japanese Setting:** Immerse in a culturally rich story set against the backdrop of rural Japan and its natural challenges. - • **Award-Winning Author Legacy:** Pearl S. Buck’s masterful storytelling offers depth and emotional intelligence for young minds. - • **Engaging Historical Fiction:** Ranked top in children’s classics and historical fiction, making it a must-have for thoughtful young readers. - • **Child-Friendly Grief Exploration:** Gently guides young readers through understanding loss and healing, perfect for meaningful family discussions. ## Overview The Big Wave is a celebrated children’s novel by Nobel laureate Pearl S. Buck, telling the story of two Japanese friends facing the aftermath of a devastating tsunami. Designed for ages 8-12, it combines historical fiction with profound lessons on courage, grief, and hope, making it an essential read for young minds navigating complex emotions. ## Description The powerful novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Pearl S. Buck, about two friends who must face the pain of losing everything—and how to face their grief with courage. Kino lives on a farm on the side of a mountain in Japan. His friend, Jiya, lives in a fishing village below. Everyone, including Kino and Jiya, has heard of the big wave. No one suspects it will wash over them, until the rushing water sweeps away the whole village—including Jiya's family. As Jiya struggles to overcome his sorrow, with the help of Kino and his father, he comes to understand that it is only in the presence of danger that one learns to be brave, and that even in the face of terrible tragedy, life and love are stronger than death. Review: accepting the grief after a tsunami - I read this book many years ago, and have been waiting for the right moment to read it to my child. This week, while we are absorbing the 12/26/2004 tsunami in South Asia, I deemed the moment right. The story is set in Japan at some time in the past, when the farmers and fishermen in the community are following the paths their fathers and grandfathers set. We see the story through the eyes of Kino who lives on a mountain farm, and learns about the sea through his friendship with Jiya, who lives "in the last house in the row of houses toward the ocean, and [whose] house [does] not have a window toward the sea" because, as Jiya tells Kino, "the sea is our enemy." Kino is relieved that he does not live near the sea, but his father reminds him of the great volcano, twenty miles away, and tells him that they "must learn to live with danger." The storyline is simple, almost inevitable. A volcano erupts under the sea and causes a tsunami, which sweeps away the fishing village by the sea. Many lives are lost. As the survivors slowly recover, and Kino's friend Jiya starts to accept life again, Kino asks his father all the questions that children need to ask after a natural disaster. His father's answers each question with patience and wisdom, in a manner open-ended enough so that the reader (or reader and parent) can pause and talk about their own beliefs and feelings. Or the reader can turn the page and stay absorbed in this well-crafted story. My only disappointment with my paperback edition (HarperCollins, 1986, ISBN 0-06-440171-5) is that it left out the famous woodblock prints by the 19th century Japanese artists Hokusai and Hiroshige. I pored over these illustrations as a child and immediately recognized them when I saw them in my library copy. Pearl Buck selected each individual print to allow her readers to see the beauty of Japan, and they form an integral part of the story. I would recommend you buy the Library Binding version by HarperCollins (1999, ISBN 0-38-199923-8) or check out a book with illustrations from your library. Review: Such a Beautiful Tale - Pearl Buck's "The Big Wave" was my introduction as a 3rd grader into a world that was not a fairy tale world. Buck tells the story of friends, Kino and Jiya. They live in Japan as a farmer's son and a fisherman's son, respectively. Kino is not as comfortable with the sea as Jiya is. But they swim together and go on outings together, enjoying their friendship and their families. When the tsunami strikes, Jiya loses everything in his life. This is the point that is unusual in a children's book. Buck takes Jiya through the grieving process. Kino's father has many wise things to tell his son about life and death and the way we must accept that death is part of life. A child of 8 could probably read this book on her own, but read aloud, it gives a chance to discuss the fears and issues. The knowledge that families go on and life goes on even after terrible tragedy is a beautiful lesson in this well-told tale. ## Features - The Big Wave By Buck Pearl S ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #183,085 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #741 in Children's Historical Fiction (Books) #1,580 in Children's Classics #3,339 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books) | | Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 906 Reviews | ## Images ![The Big Wave: A Japanese Novel About Two Friends Learning Courage and Hope After Tragedy for Children (Ages 8-12) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51O36G3686L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ accepting the grief after a tsunami *by G***T on January 5, 2005* I read this book many years ago, and have been waiting for the right moment to read it to my child. This week, while we are absorbing the 12/26/2004 tsunami in South Asia, I deemed the moment right. The story is set in Japan at some time in the past, when the farmers and fishermen in the community are following the paths their fathers and grandfathers set. We see the story through the eyes of Kino who lives on a mountain farm, and learns about the sea through his friendship with Jiya, who lives "in the last house in the row of houses toward the ocean, and [whose] house [does] not have a window toward the sea" because, as Jiya tells Kino, "the sea is our enemy." Kino is relieved that he does not live near the sea, but his father reminds him of the great volcano, twenty miles away, and tells him that they "must learn to live with danger." The storyline is simple, almost inevitable. A volcano erupts under the sea and causes a tsunami, which sweeps away the fishing village by the sea. Many lives are lost. As the survivors slowly recover, and Kino's friend Jiya starts to accept life again, Kino asks his father all the questions that children need to ask after a natural disaster. His father's answers each question with patience and wisdom, in a manner open-ended enough so that the reader (or reader and parent) can pause and talk about their own beliefs and feelings. Or the reader can turn the page and stay absorbed in this well-crafted story. My only disappointment with my paperback edition (HarperCollins, 1986, ISBN 0-06-440171-5) is that it left out the famous woodblock prints by the 19th century Japanese artists Hokusai and Hiroshige. I pored over these illustrations as a child and immediately recognized them when I saw them in my library copy. Pearl Buck selected each individual print to allow her readers to see the beauty of Japan, and they form an integral part of the story. I would recommend you buy the Library Binding version by HarperCollins (1999, ISBN 0-38-199923-8) or check out a book with illustrations from your library. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Such a Beautiful Tale *by F***D on November 26, 2012* Pearl Buck's "The Big Wave" was my introduction as a 3rd grader into a world that was not a fairy tale world. Buck tells the story of friends, Kino and Jiya. They live in Japan as a farmer's son and a fisherman's son, respectively. Kino is not as comfortable with the sea as Jiya is. But they swim together and go on outings together, enjoying their friendship and their families. When the tsunami strikes, Jiya loses everything in his life. This is the point that is unusual in a children's book. Buck takes Jiya through the grieving process. Kino's father has many wise things to tell his son about life and death and the way we must accept that death is part of life. A child of 8 could probably read this book on her own, but read aloud, it gives a chance to discuss the fears and issues. The knowledge that families go on and life goes on even after terrible tragedy is a beautiful lesson in this well-told tale. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A lesson in happiness. *by A***R on September 23, 2025* Tsunami have been a part of Japan's culture for as long as they can remember. The people face a catastrophic wave with characteristic pragmatism. Notable are the kindness and generosity of both the rich paternal town leader and the humble village farmer, who is especially wise. A glimpse into the world of human existence, common to all cultures. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.lk/products/5869748-the-big-wave-a-japanese-novel-about-two-friends-learning](https://www.desertcart.lk/products/5869748-the-big-wave-a-japanese-novel-about-two-friends-learning) --- *Product available on Desertcart Sri Lanka* *Store origin: LK* *Last updated: 2026-09-15*