The Girl and the Wave

By Elizabeth Werden Chayes

In The Girl and the Wave, thirteen-year-old Omano survives the Japanese Tōhoku tsunami-but it has swept her world away. Her mother is gone, and her father, overcome by illness and grief, can no longer care for her. Uprooted from everything familiar, she's sent to live with a family friend in Sea Cliff, a sleepy coastal town far from the radiation-scarred region she still calls home.

Alone and uncertain, Omano loses her sense of direction-until she meets Mick, a brilliant but reclusive neighbor whose half-forgotten inventions clutter his lab. There, buried in the dust, she finds Eko: a mysterious, shapeshifting artifact unlike anything she's ever seen. As Omano forms new friendships and learns to trust herself again, she begins to discover that even after great loss, healing is possible-and magic can be found in the most unexpected places.

The Girl and the Wave is a coming-of-age adventure infused with emotional depth, subtle wonder, and a touch of magical realism. Perfect for readers who love the spirit of Studio Ghibli, and A Monster Calls, this is a story about resilience, belonging, and the transformative power of finding your place in a changed world.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FJ1PG1NP
• ISBN13: 9798999010810
• Release Date: July 2025
• Publisher: Liz Chayes
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"