Waves symbolize the change of life in the novel. In particular, the great wave of the tsunami washes away Kyle’s old life and leaves him more mature and braver than he was before. Kyle is less confident in himself and mostly reliant on his parents before he endures the earthquake, fire, and tsunami waves. He isn’t sure if the tsunami is really coming or not and has significant doubts about his decisions. When Kyle sees the tsunami, he knows “there was no point in us running into the woods now; the wave traveled far more swiftly than we could” (101). Just like the wave, the change that came into Kyle’s life is unavoidable. The wave spurs on Kyle’s coming of age because his doubts have been banished with it. As the tsunami wave leaves and returns to the ocean, Kyle’s worries about his choices leave as well. He becomes more self-assured.

Kyle’s sea picture serves as a symbol for his ideal vision for his life. He gathers a variety of materials on the beach to create an image he’s proud of and includes seaweed, bird feathers, broken shells, and more. He believes his effort in creating the sea picture is one deserving of an image, and he regrets making it close to the shoreline where it will dissolve quickly.