Learning Jiya's decision, Kino's father begins paying Jiya wages for his work on the farm, and Jiya saves his money to buy a boat. When people begin rebuilding the village on the beach, the Old Gentleman insists they are stupid, but Jiya tells him that this is their home, despite the dangers.

He works on the farm and learns to live with the death of his family, but he never forgets them and often looks out at the sea. Time passes, though the big wave is never forgotten, and Jiya grows into a gentle, strong man. Kino and his family are happy that Jiya decides to stay with them, and Jiya begins to feel happy again as he is accepted and loved by this family of four who welcome him into their home as part of their family. The Old Gentleman offers Jiya a home also, wanting the best boy in the village to become his son however, Jiya refuses the offer because he already has a home on the farm. When Jiya awakens, he is stricken with grief at the loss of his family, but Kino's family offers him a home with them. Jiya faints when the wave recedes to reveal the empty beach.

Though Jiya's father had sent him up the hill to Kino's farm, Jiya's family is washed out to sea. When a storm hits their island, a big wave obliterates the fishing village on the beach. Kino does not understand Jiya's fear of the sea, but his father explains that people fear the sea because it is large and they do not understand it. Kino, the son of a farmer, and Jiya, the son of a fisherman, often play together in the ocean. The Big Wave is a heartwarming story that exemplifies the theme that life is stronger than death. When the big wave comes and takes Jiya's family, Jiya is raised by Kino's parents, but he must make a life decision when people begin rebuilding the fishing village on the deserted beach. Buck is a short novel for children about two young boys who live in Japan.

Pearl buck the big wave