The Killing Sea by Richard Lewis

Subtitled, a novel about the tsunami that stunned the world, The Killing Sea was written by a American son of missionary parents who lives in Bali, Indonesia. He volunteered in Aceh after the 2004 tsunami and wrote this novel. I was concerned it would be too graphic for elementary students, but although it describes vividly the destruction and loss of life, a mature fifth grader could handle it. The story opens with a teen age Indonesian boy, Ruslan, who lives in a seaside village with his father, a mechanic. An American family who is sailing the world on vacation comes ashore for help with the engine on their sailboat. They have a teen-aged daughter Sarah and a younger son Peter. When the tsunami hits, the American children manage to escape the waves by hanging on to a tree. Ruslan escapes by breaking through the roof of a house. Then they both begin a journey to get help, eventually meeting up and traveling with a small group of survivors, Ruslan looking for his father, and Sarah seeking help for her brother who fell ill after swallowing dirty water in the disaster. The adventures and experiences are real, heartbreaking, and, in the end, hopeful. There is an interesting side plot near the end of the book of the Press Corps that arrive and are more interested in the Americans' story than the suffering of the native peoples. Overall it is a powerful book. The Killing Sea: a novel about the tsunami that changed the world by Richard Lewis. Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers, 2006.