Author: Craig Alan Johnson

ISBN: 0-87743-707-6

The following review was contributed by: Jim  Curtiss: Click Here To Read More Of Jim’s Reviews

Through journaling, writers not only find and perfect their voice, they
also discover inspiration, which is apparently what happened to Craig
Alan Johnson. So valuable is journaling to Johnson that Wave Watcher,
his first novel, presents us with the journal of Ray, a gifted 11-year
old boy who is attempting to make sense of the patterns he believes rule
his life.

Together with his family, Ray lives on an idyllic Brazilian coast that
he and his younger brother (born with one lung, but nonetheless the more
vibrant of the two) explore and come to know as only children can come
to know a place. Ray's home life is nearly perfect: in addition to
living near a series of beautiful beaches, his parents are supportive,
creative, and provide the children with structure, balance and freedom.
Within this environment, Ray is able to develop his natural abilities to
their fullest, and with time he hopes to become just like his father, a
writer.

In Wave Watcher, Johnson is able to craft a lovely tale with moving
character sketches and deep insights into the human condition. Moreover,
his ample referencing of modern classics will help broaden his
readership's literary vista if they are keen enough to follow them up. 

But for the reviewer, there is a significant flaw in the book: the
device which the author employs - that the book is actually the journal
of a young boy - is tenable save for the dozen or so passages the
reviewer simply cannot fathom an 11 year-old boy writing, no matter how
gifted he might be. For example, when speaking about an important
evening in their lives, Ray writes about his father, "I listened to his
footsteps. The front door opened, and then it closed. Soon there was
only silence, but in my mind's eye I could see his footprints forming in
the sand as he walked along the gently lapping waves of our beach,
contemplating the weight of promises made."

For the reviewer, instead of serving as the lyric, thought-provoking
passages they were intended to be, insights such as these were instead
jarring, like a dissonant chord. And this is a pity, because when the
reader's suspension of belief is shaken, especially in a book that is so
deeply personal. well, that's not good. This is not to detract from Mr.
Johnson's storytelling abilities - he indeed has talent, and for the
most part the book's flow carries the reader along on a fine tale.

So while Wave Watcher is an enjoyable story, it is especially
appropriate for readers - teenagers, say - who are able to accept that
the central character is endowed with a wisdom far beyond his 11 years.