The Waves (The Island #2) by Jen Minkman

The first memory I have of my grandfather is of a moment that we share together.
I’m sitting on his knee looking out over the harbor. Grandpa is smoking a pipe. He points at the horizon. “Look, Walt. Our ships are out there. And one day, another even more beautiful ship will appear at the horizon. A mighty ship to take us all away. And Annabelle will be at the front deck with open arms, inviting us all to join her on board.”
“Why don’t we sail to her ourselves?” I want to know.
“Because she promised she would come,” granddad replies. “And in that promise we trust. It’s only the Unbelievers who think they can do everything themselves. They have no faith in the Goddess.”

Walt lives in Hope Harbor, an island community that has put its trust in salvation from across the sea. The townspeople wait patiently, build their ships to sail out and welcome the Goddess, and piously visit the temple every week. Horror stories to scare their children are told about the Unbelievers on the other side of Tresco.
But not all is what it seems. Walt has questions that no one can answer, and when his best friend and cousin Yorrick is killed in an accident, he digs deeper to find out the truth about the origins of Hope Harbor’s society… and the secrets of the temple.

Return to the world of The Island and discover what Walt's life was like before and after he met Leia!

A few months ago, I read The Island and really enjoyed it.  A story about kids who are sent to a home when they are a young age to learn to live on their own.  The kids lived on an island and they based their beliefs off of a worn book of Star Wars.  

The Waves is a companion novel to The Island, only in this installment, the story is told through the point of view of Walt.  Walt lives on the other side of the island with his grandfather, who is a devout follower and believer of the Goddess Annabelle.   He knows that other's live on the other side of the wall, the 'Unbelievers', those that don't believe in the Goddess.  What he doesn't know is that those who live on the other side of the wall, those that believe in the 'Star War's' beliefs, call them 'Fools'.

Eventually, something happens to Walt's friend and he is determined to find out who killed him and get to the bottom of things, even if he has to go over the wall.  He isn't sure what to expect there, and he's a bit frightened, but one thing Walt is, is determined.

I found the Waves to be a great companion novel.  I really enjoyed getting to know more about the Fools and how the other side of the island lived versus those in the manor.  It was interesting to see their similarities and differences.  If you enjoyed reading The Island, you won't want to miss The Waves.  It really gives you a deeper look into the Island, as well as Walt.   

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.