WAVE

Author Diana Farid delivers the verse of her novel with a slow, steady rhythm that mimics the waves that teen Ava surfs. The rhythm also heightens the strain Ava feels from repetitive fights with her mother about not wanting to become a doctor, interactions with a racist at the beach, sadness surrounding her absent father, and the expectations of the Persian community. As turmoil from her best friend Phoenix's recurring lymphoma and her own struggles with OCD comes to a head, Ava finds solace in singing and writing music. The pacing of the verse is too slow at times. Some dialogue-heavy scenes don't fit the lyrical format and can be difficult to follow without character distinctions in the narration. Nonetheless, anxious teens will find a kindred spirit in Ava. S.T.C. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2022]