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Rogue Wave: And Other Red-Blooded Sea Stories
This riveting collection of sea stories spans the oceans of the world and the decades of the twentieth century. Full of action and adventure, these page-turning stories offer a compelling portrait of the dangers, the challenges, and the lessons of life at sea. “Nobody writes sea stories like Taylor, and this collection of eight tales should satisfy his many fans.”-- School Library Journal
- GenresShort Stories
192 pages, Hardcover
First published October 31, 1996
About the author
Theodore Taylor
124 books110 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
September 17, 2015
"The Rogue Wave," a short story by Theodore Taylor, is an exciting adventure story of two teenagers out to sea when mishap happens -- a rogue wave. For such a quick-acting event, the story gets off to a rather slow start, full of nautical vocabulary that might put off young readers. However, Taylor keeps readers holding on with a creative use of perspective switches between the older brother, Sully, and his younger sister, Scoot. As the reader whiplashes between Sully's frustration and Scoot's deadly situation, the reader is left as breathless as a person trapped under water. All in all, "The Rogue Wave" is a worthwhile read.
September 24, 2015
"The Rogue Wave" is a very interesting book because it creates suspense like in a Harry Potter movie. This Harry Potter movie is called, "Deathly Hallows part 1" which ended in a cliffhanger when Voldemort took Dumbledore´s wand and made some sort of lightning and then it finished! This book is not very long, but it has a lot of details that make you feel that you are in the story because it has many little details. This book traps the reader like an angry gorilla inside the cage who´s very anxious and desperate to get out like us wanting to know what will happen next.
This book was a very good book and you´ll love it if you like adventure and suspense because this book has a lot of it! It´s like, "No!, but...she can, tan, tan, taaan!" This book has everything that you are looking for! Go ahead...read it!
This book was a very good book and you´ll love it if you like adventure and suspense because this book has a lot of it! It´s like, "No!, but...she can, tan, tan, taaan!" This book has everything that you are looking for! Go ahead...read it!
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September 30, 2015The Rogue Wave, also known as ¨The Killer Wave¨, due to the fact that it is an 800 feet high wave. During its route it has killed more than 15 people. Little did Sully and Scoot know, they will meet the wave during their peaceful sailing afternoon. Sully is Scoot´s 19 year old big brother, and Scoot is only a 14 year old short, and fit girl, Sully´s little sister. The two siblings were off to what they thought would be a peaceful and nice afternoon, but the rogue wave pardons, nobody.
As the afternoon went by Sully, who had sailed at least a dozen times, drove the boat, but when he went off for a rest, Scoot was left in charge. So she closed the galley doors and was off to her duty. As she manubriated the boat perfectly something spoiled her big moment as it crept silently behind her, when she turned around it was already too late, the rogue wave STRUCK! The Old Sea Dog ( their boat) . Sully, alarmed got out swimming as fast as if a shark were behind him, but when he got out of the water, he noticed Scoot wasn´t there and that their precious Old Sea Dog was tilted like an in process omelet. Alarmed, he screamed Scoot´s name again and again until she woke up with water on her lungs and reached out for air.
But since Scoot was inside she couldn´t hear her brother´s pleads. So she tapped the galley window twice and Sully tapped back, making sure they were both in perfect conditions. Relived that her sister was okay, he started shouting instructions to Scoot, telling her to reach for the skylight, and again she could not hear him. But her own instincts told her to reach for the skylight and break the top window, and so she did and was set free. After some waiting Scoot and Sully were finally rescued by a local fisherman.
It annoyed me so much when I noticed that we had to stop reading at the end of page eight, just in the moment I was stuck to the book like a mosquito to a spider web, maybe I read a few sentences more than I should have…. But at the end it was totally and completely worth it, that in those 24 more hours I had to wait, my brain, my whole body was anxious, nervous, and desperate to keep on reading. With this 2twosentences, I just simply tell you all, the much that I enjoyed reading The Rogue Wave, it was amazing, full of descriptions, that were so good you felt the way Sully screamed his sister´s name, the water in Scoot´s lungs when she woke up, even the pressure on the salty ocean air. I never thought I would say this but; thank you Ms. Nina for this homework.
As the afternoon went by Sully, who had sailed at least a dozen times, drove the boat, but when he went off for a rest, Scoot was left in charge. So she closed the galley doors and was off to her duty. As she manubriated the boat perfectly something spoiled her big moment as it crept silently behind her, when she turned around it was already too late, the rogue wave STRUCK! The Old Sea Dog ( their boat) . Sully, alarmed got out swimming as fast as if a shark were behind him, but when he got out of the water, he noticed Scoot wasn´t there and that their precious Old Sea Dog was tilted like an in process omelet. Alarmed, he screamed Scoot´s name again and again until she woke up with water on her lungs and reached out for air.
But since Scoot was inside she couldn´t hear her brother´s pleads. So she tapped the galley window twice and Sully tapped back, making sure they were both in perfect conditions. Relived that her sister was okay, he started shouting instructions to Scoot, telling her to reach for the skylight, and again she could not hear him. But her own instincts told her to reach for the skylight and break the top window, and so she did and was set free. After some waiting Scoot and Sully were finally rescued by a local fisherman.
It annoyed me so much when I noticed that we had to stop reading at the end of page eight, just in the moment I was stuck to the book like a mosquito to a spider web, maybe I read a few sentences more than I should have…. But at the end it was totally and completely worth it, that in those 24 more hours I had to wait, my brain, my whole body was anxious, nervous, and desperate to keep on reading. With this 2twosentences, I just simply tell you all, the much that I enjoyed reading The Rogue Wave, it was amazing, full of descriptions, that were so good you felt the way Sully screamed his sister´s name, the water in Scoot´s lungs when she woke up, even the pressure on the salty ocean air. I never thought I would say this but; thank you Ms. Nina for this homework.
September 25, 2015
“The Rogue Wave” was a story that I consider different. It was kind of exciting and boring at the same time. To be honest, “The Rogue Wave” defines a type of descriptive writing that contains facts that I consider boring. Also, in the text are some parts that it made me feel suspense, or part of the story… For example, when Scoot almost dies because of the accident being underwater, when she got out, I felt relieve.
I think the story was original, comparing the story with other stories, but I used to enjoy the other stories. Although I enjoyed the story, I didn’t enjoyed that much. I honestly love to read different books, about teenager life, and books that can make in me suspense, like what happened in “The Rogue Wave.”
The book was good and interesting, but it isn’t what I do enjoy to read. I would not recommend to a lot of people, maybe I can recommend to the people that do like descriptive writing. I feel like it isn’t my type of reading because I feel boring and I do not want to read, it made want to sleep.
My conclusion about “The Rogue Wave,” is a very good book, although I didn’t like it, it is good. I recommend this to adults and to teachers, but not to 7th grade students. I think some of my classmates understand what I mean, but all of us have different opinions. That’s what I think.
I think the story was original, comparing the story with other stories, but I used to enjoy the other stories. Although I enjoyed the story, I didn’t enjoyed that much. I honestly love to read different books, about teenager life, and books that can make in me suspense, like what happened in “The Rogue Wave.”
The book was good and interesting, but it isn’t what I do enjoy to read. I would not recommend to a lot of people, maybe I can recommend to the people that do like descriptive writing. I feel like it isn’t my type of reading because I feel boring and I do not want to read, it made want to sleep.
My conclusion about “The Rogue Wave,” is a very good book, although I didn’t like it, it is good. I recommend this to adults and to teachers, but not to 7th grade students. I think some of my classmates understand what I mean, but all of us have different opinions. That’s what I think.
September 27, 2015
Rouge Wave is one of the books that left me gaping. This book presents a story of two siblings aboard a ship called the "Sea Dog", but what they least expect is that a big rouge wave is coming at 20mph from Australia to California...
What happened when the rouge wave struck was that Scoot, the girl, got trapped in a cabin while the boy, Sully, was trying to help Scoot to come back. But the silent dripping of water wasn't convincing...
I loved this book, considering that it covers up most of the beliefs that short stories are usually lame and bad. "The Rouge Wave" clearly contradicts that. Its plot is a thing that left me shocked, so much suspense!
When our teacher, Mrs. Nina, assigned us to read "The Rouge Wave", at first I thought, "Oh! Another boring story..." But now I know that I should've taken that back...
What happened when the rouge wave struck was that Scoot, the girl, got trapped in a cabin while the boy, Sully, was trying to help Scoot to come back. But the silent dripping of water wasn't convincing...
I loved this book, considering that it covers up most of the beliefs that short stories are usually lame and bad. "The Rouge Wave" clearly contradicts that. Its plot is a thing that left me shocked, so much suspense!
When our teacher, Mrs. Nina, assigned us to read "The Rouge Wave", at first I thought, "Oh! Another boring story..." But now I know that I should've taken that back...
September 24, 2015
The"The Rogue Wave" is an action-filled story from the beginning to the end. This story is a thriller and leaves the reader with suspense after every sentence. It is a short book, which is appreciable so readers don't get disinterested in it. The "Rogue Wave" catches readers attention, like a bee to honey. This story can also be heartbreaking, but overall it is superb.
The "Rogue Wave" is extremely exciting. Throughout the book it is a very risky adventure and leaves everyone on the tip of their chair. The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who are evil,but because of those who stand there and don't do anything. This boy, Sully, proved this, but did make a change by helping his sister. This story is one you will never forget!
The "Rogue Wave" is extremely exciting. Throughout the book it is a very risky adventure and leaves everyone on the tip of their chair. The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who are evil,but because of those who stand there and don't do anything. This boy, Sully, proved this, but did make a change by helping his sister. This story is one you will never forget!
September 28, 2015
As I read through "The Rouge Wave" I immediately became immersed in the story. The story was surrounded by suspense, which engages the reader more and more. The struggle of the siblings was clearly described and you could almost feel the emotions. This is a very emotional, heart warming, and exiting story about the struggle one faces and the strength you'll need to survive.
The writer provides detailed situations in which the outcome could not be expected. In this book you learn what really happens in the sea and how your life can change in seconds. As the siblings are separated they find a way, through their love, to stay connected. You just don't know what the ending will be. This story is well written and captures the reader's attention since the beginning.
The writer provides detailed situations in which the outcome could not be expected. In this book you learn what really happens in the sea and how your life can change in seconds. As the siblings are separated they find a way, through their love, to stay connected. You just don't know what the ending will be. This story is well written and captures the reader's attention since the beginning.
September 24, 2015
The Rouge Wave is an amazing story that leaves people gaping. There were 2 siblings sailing on the sea for a special purpose, which is that the youngest of the siblings (Scoot), was celebrating her birthday. She was turning 14. Sully was the captain and Scoot was in the kitchen. Then this 48 foot wave came and sank the boat. Sully could make it out, but Scoot was still inside the kitchen. Sully tried as many times as he could to rescue his little sister, but he couldn’t because the kitchen doors were locked. Scoot was unconscious inside the kitchen. Minutes later she woke up and was able to get out. Then a fishing boat saw them and rescued them.
October 7, 2015
"The Rouge Wave" is an exciting adventrous story about a wave so enormous that it can kill people. In this story the rouge wave hits a desolate area of Baja California below Ensendada. On this story many daengrous things happen. Just so that you could picture it out, it was l little over 800 feet in length and measures about 48 feet tall.
As you read this story, in your mind you will think of terror and catastrophe about the wave hitting boats and people. So imagine you are fishing at the sea in a boat, and a monstrous wave comes by, that is what the story is about. Are you excited for an amazing adventure! If yes, in this book you will find tons of it.
As you read this story, in your mind you will think of terror and catastrophe about the wave hitting boats and people. So imagine you are fishing at the sea in a boat, and a monstrous wave comes by, that is what the story is about. Are you excited for an amazing adventure! If yes, in this book you will find tons of it.
October 12, 2015
The story “Rouge Wave” is an interesting short story with drama and adventure. This short story very boat-related which is a very common topic in movies, books, etc. For someone to be interested in “Rouge Wave”, that person must like suspense and to be curious about what’s going to happen next. Which personally I am. Why? Because “Rouge Wave” is all about a sailboat crisis and crisis equals to suspense. But what’s not so special about “Rouge Wave” is that you can find: movies, books, comics that will be of the same topic: Adventure, the sea, and disaster.
September 24, 2015
This adventurous, exiting story called "The Rouge Wave" has a theme which was amazing, it impressed me. Almost every scene in the story has a suspenseful meaning.For example,when it said a rouge wave travelled from Australia to California in a speed of 20mph killing 13 people while traveling all that distance. The story is like a horror movie, but only with suspense.I would really like to recommend it for someone else could feel those intense emotions.
September 26, 2015
This story is very exiting, it keeps you reading and wondering. Rough wave is a realistic story about rough waves and what they can do. On the story it explains how it travel 7,000 miles from Australia to California, it also explains that it killed 13 people on its way. This story is amazing and catching. Rough Wave is definitely an open eye story, it makes you think what will happen if you were in that situation. Rough Wave is definitely a story that leaves you wanting more.
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September 27, 2015I quite enjoyed this reading because it was unpredictable, meaning that you didn't know what was going to happen next. For example, we didn't know if Scoot and Sully were going to survive such a massive wave. I am used to read long books but, this short story captivated my attention. You know what they say, you should never judge a book by its cover. But, you know that us humans can’t understand that.
November 1, 2015
"Rouge Wave" was an interesting story, but it lacked suspense and excitement. Though "Rouge Wave" seemed very good, it was just a Baconator without bacon! I recommend "Rouge Wave" to people who read short- boring stories. "Rouge Wave" had its good moments though, like when they saw the wave or when the characters were trapped. I would rate "Rouge Wave" a 3.2/5 because of its lack of "good moments" and also because the author didn't describe the wave well enough.
September 23, 2015
"The Rogue Wave" one of the coolest small story's for reading. In this short story you can imagine yourself traveling in the open sea with your brother or sister you travel from your sofa or wherever you are to a fantastic adventure.
Honestly I give this book 4 stars because like I said later I traveled from my sofa to an epic adventure.
Honestly I give this book 4 stars because like I said later I traveled from my sofa to an epic adventure.
October 8, 2015
For me "Rouge Wave" was a story full of drama and it was very descripte. The author made sure you knew every detail in Scoot and Sully's adventure. As the title says, it talks a lot about rogue waves. Scince it was so descriptive, we could draw a lot of conclusions form the text. For example, that rogue waves are very big and dangerous.
October 19, 2015
Very good story. The rogue wave hooks the reader into wanting to read more due to it's exiting suspense. I personally like this story because right from the start, the characters were in danger and trying desperately to survive. I recommend the book for people that like suspense, danger and the sea.
August 7, 2025
I got this book because the short story after which the anthology is named (Rogue Wave) intrigued me. What I found was that although the writing itself is good, Taylor's characterization is bare bones. Too bare bones for my liking.
For example, his 'Rogue Wave' story starts out ominously and really pulls you in. Yet the characterization of the two siblings is sparse at best, and as soon as the main crisis is over, the story abruptly ends with nothing in the way of aftermath or getting into the psychology of the two main characters.
This is a shame because Rogue Wave is an excellent, taut, suspenseful read. And yet, at barely 14 pages, it feels like a great opportunity was missed. This story could have been lengthened and the relationship between the two siblings much more fully fleshed out.
For example, his 'Rogue Wave' story starts out ominously and really pulls you in. Yet the characterization of the two siblings is sparse at best, and as soon as the main crisis is over, the story abruptly ends with nothing in the way of aftermath or getting into the psychology of the two main characters.
This is a shame because Rogue Wave is an excellent, taut, suspenseful read. And yet, at barely 14 pages, it feels like a great opportunity was missed. This story could have been lengthened and the relationship between the two siblings much more fully fleshed out.
October 1, 2026
The name was changed for some reason to *Rogue Wave and Other Terrifying Sea Stories.* Anyway, my daughter got it as a free book from the local library. It has 6 short stories:
Rogue Wave—A rogue wave capsizes a boat, trapping the brother outside and his sister inside. Very intense. I’d give this one 5 stars.
Hauling Gold—A sea captain considers stealing bank gold. 3 stars.
Wingman, Fly Me Down!—Best story in the book. It’s based off a true story about a pilot blinded during a flight by his own blood. 5 stars.
Out There—A 17-year-old thinks he saw a giant eel, then a mysterious boat with no one aboard bumps into him. This one was rather anticlimactic in the end. 2 stars.
Hating Hansen—A man falls overboard and suspects attempted murder. Had a good moral to it. 3 stars
The Butcher—A man wants revenge against a shark that killed his father. 3 stars.
Rogue Wave—A rogue wave capsizes a boat, trapping the brother outside and his sister inside. Very intense. I’d give this one 5 stars.
Hauling Gold—A sea captain considers stealing bank gold. 3 stars.
Wingman, Fly Me Down!—Best story in the book. It’s based off a true story about a pilot blinded during a flight by his own blood. 5 stars.
Out There—A 17-year-old thinks he saw a giant eel, then a mysterious boat with no one aboard bumps into him. This one was rather anticlimactic in the end. 2 stars.
Hating Hansen—A man falls overboard and suspects attempted murder. Had a good moral to it. 3 stars
The Butcher—A man wants revenge against a shark that killed his father. 3 stars.
March 21, 2020
Breath taking, the kind of book that leaves you taking huge sighs afterward as you contemplate what you just experienced and how you’ll return to your present reality. Masterful writing that in short passages crafted memorable dynamic characters and intense plots that grabbed your attention and refused to let it go. Fantastic exploration of ethical dilemmas in every story. My personal favorites were Rogue Wave and The “O Tannenbaum” Affair.
September 27, 2015
The Rogue Wave had a lot of action. I love stories with action because every time I hear action, I hear "excitement". This story got me absolutely engaged with it because of the way events occur, they are so suspenseful. I even felt as if I was in the boat, that was very scary! " The Rogue Wave" is awesome!!
The Rogue Wave was also full of adventure. I also love adventure stories because they always hook me. Adventures in the ocean as " The Rogue Wave" are super cool; they even remind me of Christopher Columbus! " The Rogue Wave´s" adventure was actually very dangerous; that made me not want to look away!!! Sully and Scoot could have died, but fortunately they didn´t.
READ THE ROGUE WAVE!!
The Rogue Wave was also full of adventure. I also love adventure stories because they always hook me. Adventures in the ocean as " The Rogue Wave" are super cool; they even remind me of Christopher Columbus! " The Rogue Wave´s" adventure was actually very dangerous; that made me not want to look away!!! Sully and Scoot could have died, but fortunately they didn´t.
READ THE ROGUE WAVE!!
September 24, 2015
For me the story was very interesting, because who wouldnt be interested in a wave that can kill many people?This story talks about one sister and the brother who were attacked by a rogue wave, and live to tell the story.It was Scoots birthday, and theres nothing worse than almost dying on your birthday.At the end, the Old Sea Dog sinks and Sully and Scoot are rescued by a ship that passed by them.Then they tell the captain the whole story about the rogue wave.The story is also entertaining for the reader because when Scoot is trapped on the boat you want to see how she gets out and what she did.
November 16, 2015
"The Rogue Wave" is a short but exciting story by Theodore Taylor that makes you engage with the brief story, although its a short story all those little details shown on every sentence in every paragraph of every page, makes you feel that you are in the story like on page 6 the first paragraph when Scoot gets trapped on the old sea dog and Sully screamed but Scoot didn't respond.
The story shows friendship and brotherhood because Sully the big brother didn't let Sully alone when she was trapped underwater on the boat . In my opinion I would recommend this book to people that like suspense because there were lots of cliffhangers on every page .
The story shows friendship and brotherhood because Sully the big brother didn't let Sully alone when she was trapped underwater on the boat . In my opinion I would recommend this book to people that like suspense because there were lots of cliffhangers on every page .
October 13, 2015
The "Rogue Wave" was a really short story. It was like a rock on you shoe, that was how bad it was. I also felt bad for the characters in the story. It was like a baby crying all day, the book was frustrating. In the beginning of the book it was great but as it went on it got worst.
The book was about a killer wave that was 48 feet tall and 800 feet wide it was huge. It also killed a lot of people. When the people are in the boat it hits that boat and it sinks,and I don't want that to happen. At the end they survived and were rescued by a boat, that was the only part that I enjoyed.
The book was about a killer wave that was 48 feet tall and 800 feet wide it was huge. It also killed a lot of people. When the people are in the boat it hits that boat and it sinks,and I don't want that to happen. At the end they survived and were rescued by a boat, that was the only part that I enjoyed.
September 27, 2015
The story “The Rouge Wave” was a very attractive book in my opinion. I qualify it in this way due to the fact that a rouge wave, described as a killer wave, travelled 7,000 miles off the coast of Australia. On its way it killed 13 people, and it can be 48 ft. high. That’s the terrifying aspect about it. I would definitely recommend this suspenseful story to other people who enjoy reading this kind of stories.
Guillermo Alba
Guillermo Alba
October 11, 2016
Well, what can I say? It's just not good and it made me cringe. The beginning was okay but then it falls off from there. Everything in the book was predictable and cliche. In my opinion the worst part about this book was its characters. I know it's just a nickname but Scoot? Really? Scoot was one of the main reasons why I didn't like this book. Her actions make it look like she's trying way too hard in this book especially as the protagonist. Yeah, I'm done. :/
September 25, 2015
"Rouge Wave" is a marvelous story with great description and strong vocabulary. The story is so strong that it pulled me inside and made me feel like if I was there at the moment. The author used great, strong vocabulary and phrases to dig us into the story. At first I didn't want to read it but at last I kept reading and kept waiting for more.
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April 20, 2017dis book shsucks, it should be more shpoppin up in here
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