“Lady of the Waves” by Sharon D. Sheltzer

Lady of the Waves

Sharon D. Sheltzer
12 Willows Press (2026)
ISBN: 978-1961905795
Reviewed by Lindsay DeRollo for Reader Views (06/2026)

Lady of the Waves: Love in the Time of Climate Change by Sharon D. Sheltzer is a beautifully written story about a girl named Aallotar, who loses her family in a devastating tsunami while on vacation in Thailand. Desperate to find her mom, she ends up as a beggar on the streets in order to stay with a local who takes her in. She meets a boy from San Francisco there who is on a missionary trip to help traumatized orphans, and he is immediately drawn to her. Years later, destiny brings them together again at a global climate summit, which they are both a big part of. Aallotar has grown into a strong, capable young woman and gradually opens up her heart, realizing that perhaps there’s still room for love after all.

What a powerful story! It showcases how resilient the human spirit is and how it’s never too late for new beginnings and finding love again. Aallotar is such a strong but relatable character in that she has to grow up quickly to get through a traumatic event, all while trying to cling to the little hope she has left. She is admirable with her determination, perseverance, and dreams of making a difference. Her character development is impressive, and she later learns to refocus her energy on changing her story around through educating herself and others on tsunamis and how to detect them and hopefully prevent them from destroying lives. She also goes back to her love of skiing, learning how to deal with initial setbacks from a lack of practice while she was gone.

The worldbuilding in this story is rich and full of life. The atmosphere and descriptions of the natural environment made me feel like I was there in the story alongside the characters. Each character has an important role and connection to both Aallotar and her cause. They felt authentic and relatable, just like people you would meet in real life. They also grow in their character just like Aallotar through becoming educated about the environment while dealing with their own heartache.

I truly enjoyed learning about tsunamis and find them fascinating. It’s amazing how far the population has come in understanding how tsunamis happen and what people can do to help stop them from damaging lives. I believe that everyone will benefit from reading this book and learning not just the science of it, but also to experience firsthand how it can affect people emotionally.

I highly recommend this compelling story for teens and adults of all ages to enjoy and find inspiration from that will stick with them forever. Lady of the Waves would also make the perfect gift or addition to a library or bookstore.