Sarah and the Big Wave: The True Story of the First Woman to Surf Mavericks

by Bonnie Tsui, Sophie Diao (Illustrator)

Overview

This stunning nonfiction picture book tells the inspiring story of Sarah Gerhardt, one of the first female big-wave surfers.

Have you ever seen a big wave? One that’s twenty, thirty, forty, even fifty feet tall? Here’s a better question: Would you ever surf a big wave? Sarah Gerhardt did—and this is her story.

Sarah and the Big Wave, a tale of perseverance and indomitable spirit, is about the first woman to ride the waves at Mavericks, one of the biggest and most dangerous surf breaks in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250239488
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	05/11/2021
Pages:	34
Product dimensions:	8.91(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.37(d)
Lexile:	AD1000L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Bonnie Tsui is a debut children's author and a writer for The New York Times. Her books for grown-ups include Why We Swim and the award-winning American Chinatown. She lives (and surfs) in the Bay Area.

Sophie Diao is an artist in San Francisco and illustrator of the picture book I Am the Wind. As research for Sarah and the Big Wave, she surfed a wave that she's pretty sure was over one foot tall. She loves illustrating natural wonders and is the talent behind many a Google Doodle.

Editorial Reviews

"A determined young woman seizing the moment in vast, teal-blue ocean is a natural draw, and with the IOC adding surfing to its roster of events, librarians can expect extra interest when the next Olympic games are played." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

2021-03-17
Sarah Gerhardt is not afraid of heights or speed.

Sarah, whose surname is not provided until the end, began surfing at a young age in Hawaii and quickly learned that she loved surfing big waves most of all, waves as high as 50 feet tall! She learned how to calmly hold her breath when she fell and to be patient finding surfing companions at a time when surfing was a male-dominated sport. Like many girls and women across sports, she had to wear gear and use equipment designed for boys and men. When she moved to California as an adult, she was determined to conquer the Mavericks surf break, and in 1999, she became the first woman to do so, demonstrating that victories can happen every day, not just at major competitions. Diao’s illustrations are extraordinary. Emphasizing the breathtaking landscapes, they treat readers to mostly double-page spreads that allow them to feel like they are in the middle of the ocean with Sarah, who presents White. A stormy scene evokes Hokusai’s Great Wave print. Tsui’s present-tense text effectively conveys Sarah’s determination as well as the excitement of the sport, occasionally ranging to provide needed context, such as the atmospheric conditions that make big waves. A concluding timeline of surfing provides tidbits of Hawaii’s history and indicates that professional surfing is way behind in its quest for equality. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 41.2% of actual size.)

A sunny surf vacation from start to finish. (timeline) (Picture book/biography. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews