Covering death, suicide, self-harming, school shootings, earthquake and tsunamis, forbidden love, homosexuality, and family traditions. Overwhelmingly shocking, catching you unaware at times.

Pham has written a creative and moving story using the particularity of two women to address the universal dangers we face in today’s world. Her writing is powerful, spare, and beautiful. Her sense of the psychology of her characters brings them into our reality. This is a fine book that I recommend wholeheartedly.

Hoa Pham's achievement is to have created something moving and evocative out of two tragic real-life events.

There are no heroes or villains  in this short novel. Wave’s message is both a fight for change, and a message of compassion and acceptance of an individuals choices, whatever they may be. External forces impact everyone’s lives and all anyone can be expected to do is make the best of the situation they find themselves in. Ultimately, we alone are responsible for our own happiness.

Wave explores the alienation of being an international student in Australia with great pathos and depth, told with Hoa Pham's characteristic compassion and lyricism.