Escaping the Giant Wave

BeeBee is Kyle’s younger sister and the inspiration for Kyle’s character growth throughout the novel. Without BeeBee, Kyle would not have as many responsibilities, and he would not have needed to exert his authority during the tsunami. BeeBee is a know-it-all, especially when it comes to money, and “it always bugs her when [Kyle] knows something she doesn’t” (20). She is extremely interested in all things finance, enjoys having financial reports read to her at bedtime, and named her stuffed bear Bill Gates. BeeBee serves as a source of income for Kyle as he earns money babysitting her. She demonstrates a sharp wit as she regularly engages in financial advisements and secures a discount for the family’s hotel room after learning they must move across the street to another hotel due to construction. However, in the event of a real crisis like the tsunami, BeeBee is reliant on Kyle for everything. Her dependency on Kyle pushes him to grow into his maturity. Without BeeBee’s total dependence on Kyle, his character would not have experienced growth.

Daren is the foil to Kyle: he has the opposite personality of Kyle, and this contrast reinforces the characterization that Kyle is good. While Daren is self-centered and cruel, Kyle is selfless and caring. Throughout the novel, Daren is interested in his own self-preservation, especially preserving his outward impression to others. He only wants to be seen as tough. When he wakes up after passing out during the fire, he denies what Kyle is telling him, continuing to say he did not pass out at all even though Kyle sees “no reason why he would contradict the truth” (61).

In Chapter 8, when the story is being told from Daren’s perspective, Daren thinks about how “didn’t want anyone to know that he had been overcome by smoke and rescued by that wimpy Kyle Davidson” (88). Daren’s priority is his image as a tough guy, which contrasts with Kyle’s image as a responsible and kind person. Daren’s bullying and negative attitude forces Kyle to stand up for himself at the end of the novel, illustrating Kyle’s character development. Kyle’s transformation is only possible with Daren’s character.

Mr. and Mrs. Davidson, often referred to as Mom and Dad, are parents to Kyle and BeeBee. They work in real estate and take Kyle and BeeBee along on vacation in Oregon for an all-expenses-paid trip because of Mr. Davidson’s winning Salesman of the Year. Before the trip begins, they already recognize Kyle’s maturity and decide he is responsible enough to begin babysitting BeeBee on his own. While they do not expect Kyle to ask for money, they are lighthearted and open-minded enough to hear Kyle out on his request for a raise in his allowance. Kyle’s parents are the standard by which he operates as he does the best he can to keep himself and BeeBee safe during the hotel fire and tsunami waves. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson are characterized by their open communication with their children and overall levelheadedness that Kyle looks up to as he faces his obstacles.

Norm and Josie are an elderly couple that helps Kyle and BeeBee go uphill and into the forest after the earthquake hits. They are both kind to Kyle and BeeBee and even offer for them to stay in their house once their family is reunited. After the first wave, Norm and Josie give Kyle and BeeBee a flashlight and tell them to keep running forward without them. Norm and Josie are the biggest contributing factor to Kyle and BeeBee’s survival. Without Norm and Josie, Kyle and BeeBee would not have had the support from adults to help them stay motivated and continue to flee to safety.

At the end of the novel, Kyle and BeeBee find out that Josie did not survive the second wave. This revelation provides the harsh truths that come with a natural disaster and increases the character development for both siblings as they are forced to acknowledge the level of damage caused by the storm. While everyone else Kyle and BeeBee knew survived, Josie’s death demonstrates the reality of natural disasters and their often-unhappy endings for many lives involved.