More than a century before Cape May, New Jersey, became a Victorian seaside resort, it was home to colonists and frequented by the Lenni-Lenape. Whaling was waning, and agriculture began to prosper. This historical fiction story is an account by Willa Thyer, a young girl, and the oldest of her siblings. Waves of Independence offers a glimpse into the lives of farm families, plantation owners, slaves, and Native Americans who walked the shores, hunting and harvesting from both land and sea in the late 1700s. As murmurs of Revolution were heard in meeting places like the Memucan Hughes Tavern, they gradually turned into outcries for rebellion. Through a child’s perspective, Waves of Independence unfolds the story of how ripples of dissent grew into rolling waves calling to our Founding Fathers to sign the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This book celebrates the 250th anniversary of that milestone and the role that Cape May played in leading to the historical event.

Inga Buccella, author and illustrator, continues to be inspired by history and nature. When not working on writing or illustrating, she can be found writing reviews for Reader’s Favorite or creating art with her grandchildren.