Sarah and the big wave The true story of the first woman to surf Mavericks

This inspiring and exciting picture-book biography of Sarah Gerhardt, the first woman to surf the monster 50-foot Mavericks wave in Half Moon Bay, California, arrives just in time for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, which will include surfing for the first time. The story follows Gerhardt through her surfing career, beginning with her childhood in Hawaii, where she was often the only girl in the water, and documents the difficulties she had to overcome: boys-only attitudes, no boards or wetsuits in her size, holding her breath as she tackled bigger and bigger waves. The best part covers the day Gerhardt finally catches a giant wave: her ride is described in thrilling detail. The engaging story moves along briskly, and Diao's digitally created illustrations align perfectly with the action. The beginning of the book explains how Mavericks' legendary waves are formed during winter storms in the North Pacific; back matter offers a time line of women surfers (including a Hawaiian princess from the 1600s). The pictures capture the majesty of the waves, and the underlying theme of determination helps make this a timely and enjoyable offering. There aren't that many books out there about surfing, and this upbeat account fills that gap nicely.

Tsui's picture-book debut introduces young readers to Sarah Gerhardt, a pioneering figure in modern women's surfing. The text opens in 1999 with Gerhardt facing her first massive Mavericks wave (so named for the waves' location, a surf break in Northern California) and then jumps back in time to her childhood in Hawaii when women were not encouraged to surf, and surfing equipment for girls was not even available. The text is mostly very immediate and focused on Gerhardt's feelings and experiences, but it does take several digressions to give information on wave formation and size. Diao's expansive, breathtaking art is the showstopper here, with several spreads and one spectacular gatefold giving readers an idea of the size of the waves Gerhardt is surfing. The ocean in the illustrations shifts from glass green and inviting to stormy and intimidating, making the waves almost their own personified character. The timeline of women in surfing history is the only back matter; readers may find themselves left with unanswered questions and looking for more information about Gerhardt's feats. Laura KoenigJuly/August 2021 p.145(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Sarah Gerhardt is not afraid of heights or speed. Sarah, whose surname is not provided until the end, began surfing at a young age in Hawaii and quickly learned that she loved surfing big waves most of all, waves as high as 50 feet tall! She learned how to calmly hold her breath when she fell and to be patient finding surfing companions at a time when surfing was a male-dominated sport. Like many girls and women across sports, she had to wear gear and use equipment designed for boys and men. When she moved to California as an adult, she was determined to conquer the Mavericks surf break, and in 1999, she became the first woman to do so, demonstrating that victories can happen every day, not just at major competitions. Diao's illustrations are extraordinary. Emphasizing the breathtaking landscapes, they treat readers to mostly double-page spreads that allow them to feel like they are in the middle of the ocean with Sarah, who presents White. A stormy scene evokes Hokusai's Great Wave print. Tsui's present-tense text effectively conveys Sarah's determination as well as the excitement of the sport, occasionally ranging to provide needed context, such as the atmospheric conditions that make big waves. A concluding timeline of surfing provides tidbits of Hawaii's history and indicates that professional surfing is way behind in its quest for equality. (This book was reviewed digitally with 11-by-17-inch double-page spreads viewed at 41.2% of actual size.) A sunny surf vacation from start to finish. (timeline) (Picture book/biography. 5-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.