Sarah and the Big Wave: The True Story of the First Woman to Surf Mavericks by Bonnie Tsui (review)

Sarah Gerhardt began surfing in Hawaii, where eventually she found her crew, a right-sized board, and Mike, whom she married. When they moved to California, Sarah also defined a specific goal—to ride one of the huge waves (fifty feet was not exceptional) that rolled over the break at Mavericks—and on a “cold afternoon in February” she became the first woman to catch her wave and make the “hair-raising ride down its face.” Tsui is less than forthcoming with details; even the date of the main event is buried in an appended timeline, the sole offering of end matter. Apart from some remarks on the height of waves and the danger of Mavericks, the highlight here is Diao’s foldout digital illustration of Sarah’s ride, which is a sure bet to elate the storytime crowd. Kids who want the skinny on adventurous women may want to know basic information about her surfing career (no career; she never went pro) and what she’s doing now (teaching college level chemistry), but they’ll need to be guided elsewhere for that. Still, a determined young woman seizing the moment in vast, teal-blue ocean is a natural draw, and with the IOC adding surfing to its roster of events, librarians can expect extra interest when the next Olympic games are played.