Recognition and hostility

The novel The Wave by Morton Rhue shows how the desire for recognition plays a part in the students’ acceptance of the movement. Because of The Wave, the school's “outsiders” finally get the attention and recognition they've craved for so long. The character of Robert Billings most of all changes dramatically and at the same time suspiciously as a member of The Wave. From being the class loser, avoided by his classmates, he blossoms into an active member of the community and is suddenly unconditionally accepted and even appreciated by all Wave members: 

At lunch that day all The Wave members who were in the cafeteria sat at a single long table. Brian, Brad, Amy, Laurie, and David were there. At first Robert Billings seemed tentative about joining them, but when ...