Escaping the Giant Wave

Kyle is the protagonist of the novel, and the sequence of events is seen through his perspective (apart from Chapter 8). At the beginning of the novel, Kyle writes down his goals for the summer and the goal centered around his bully Daren shows Kyle’s ability to reflect on who he is. He thinks: “I dislike confrontations of any kind, and I avoid physical conflict most of all” (4). During the novel, Kyle proves that he knows his strengths and his weaknesses, making it possible for him to take charge and make decisions. Even though he has doubts about his decisions, he knows that his parents trust him, and that’s enough reason for him to push his doubts aside. Kyle works past his insecurities because he must care for BeeBee and knows what he is capable of.

Kyle’s strong moral compass and maturity only grow stronger throughout the novel. These traits are illustrated as he doesn’t add to the school litter while cleaning out his locker on the last day and waits until he gets home to dispose of his trash. After earning the chance to babysit his sister, he negotiates for a raise in his allowance, and he devises fun rules that he and his sister can follow while they’re home alone, such as eating dessert first.