1. The Wave
Movie Trailer

2. Setting Gordon High School (Fictional school)
Based on a real school in Palo Alto, California
1969

3. Major Characters

4. Laurie Saunders Smart Outgoing Senior
Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper The Gordon Grapevine
She is a student in Ben Ross’ class
She is against the wave, but she struggles with peer pressure

5. Ben Ross History teacher Intelligent
His students like his enthusiasm and how easy he is to talk to
He creates The Wave as an experiment to show his students how fascism can be embraced by the masses.
He creates an experiment to see what it would have been like in Nazi Germany during World War II.

6. David Collins Senior Captain of the football team
Student in Ben Ross' history class
The most idealistic about what The Wave can achieve.
He is also Laurie's boyfriend.

7. Robert Billings Senior
Outcast who can’t live up to his brother’s standards
Weak and shy
The Wave gives him confidence and social status
He finds acceptance from other kids when he is part of The Wave

8. Minor Characters

9. Mr. Gabondi A French teacher at Gordon High School.
Amy Smith Laurie Saunders' best friend and a student in both Mr. Gabondi's French class Ben Ross' history class.
Brad A student in Ben Ross' history class who has a history of picking on Robert Billings.

10. Jeff Billings Robert Billings' older brother, who is never seen in the story but whose outstanding qualities as a student and athlete haunt Robert mentally in his daily life.
Brian Ammon A student in Ben Ross' history class and the quarterback of the Gordon High School football team.
Principal Owens The principal of Gordon High School, he becomes the voice of the wider community in the novel.

11. Carl Block Gordon High School student who is also the investigator reporter for The Grapevine.
Alex Cooper Gordon High School student who is also the music reviewer for The Grapevine.
Christy Ross The wife of Ben Ross, as well as the music and choir instructor at Gordon High School.

12. Betty Lewis A friend of Christy Ross who plays tennis with her.
Eric A student in Ben Ross' history class and member of the football team.
Deutsch A junior who is the second string quarterback, he wishes to replace Brian Ammon.

13. Midge Saunders The mother of Laurie Saunders, concerned about The Wave and its influence.
Mr. Saunders The father of Laurie Saunders and husband of Midge Saunders, he is initially more complacent about The Wave than his wife.
George Snyder A student in Mr. Ross’ History class and member of The Wave.

14. Norm Schiller Biology teacher and football coach.
Elaine Billings The mother of Jeff and Robert Billings.
Unnamed Jewish Boy Harassed by members of The Wave and called a “dirty Jew”.

15. Angry parents Complainants to Principal Owens.
Unnamed Rabbi The Rabbi for the unnamed Jewish boy.
Adolf Hitler The German dictator who instigated World War II and is responsible for the Holocaust.