• CSM Reviews <--
• Adult Reviews
• Kid Reviews

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that this is an unrelentingly horrific portrayal of what it might have been like on the Ark: many bodies, brutal behavior. The author also raises complex issues of morality and faith, and provides no answers. Those with strong religious beliefs may find the portrait of Noah and his family as fanatics bordering on lunacy offensive.

Families who read this book could discuss the realism of this view of life on the Ark. What would it be like to have creatures of every sort imprisoned together in a small space for months? How could they be fed and cared for? How would the humans survive? Is there any way that Shem can be seen as a good man, worthy of saving while the rest of humanity perishes?

Rate It!

Common Sense Review

Reviewed By: Matt Berman

This is not your children's Bible stories. Our predominant cultural images of the Noah's Ark story, brought to us in books, cartoons, songs, musicals, and toys, have always been of the gentle lions laying down with the adorable lambs, all in pairs, on a clean ship with good people for a miraculous journey. But author McCaughrean brings it to life as a real horror show. Until the end, this story is one of unrelenting horror and degradation of mind, body, and spirit, and the author pulls no punches.

The fetid mountains of dung, the fleas and lice and mice (none of which are just a pair for long), the constant noise and filth and especially smell, all are rendered vividly. But McCaughrean goes far beyond the undeniably realistic picture of the physical aspects of the journey to examine the psychological toll exacted upon the younger human passengers, forced to see the deaths of dozens (some as a result of their family's actions, many of whom could have been saved) and know that millions more have died. They don't share the fanaticism of their elders, particularly Shem, who, in his anger and certainty in his own righteousness, bears more than a passing resemblance to today's terrorists. This is a tough read, and not for the squeamish, but could push teen readers to think more deeply about familiar Bible stories.

From The Book

Ham's wife, Sarai, wasn't even allowed out of the tent during those last few days. She'll chatter, chatter, chatter to anyone. So Mother kept her close at hand and busy sewing sacks, making hay nets, curing fish, drying raisins -- anything to stop her from rushing off and starting a panic, telling the neighbors what lay in store for them.

Mother keeps me busy too. No shortage of jobs for any of us. The end of the world is a busy time if you mean to outlive it.

Plot Summary:

The voyage of Noah's Ark is related by the inhabitants, both human and animal, but primarily by Timna, an imaginary daughter of Noah. The story begins with the rains, and soon a giant wave sweeps over the earth. But not everyone drowns right away, and Ham and Shem must spend their time beating survivors away from the ship, an act that troubles Timna and her younger brother, Japheth.

Before they leave the family kidnaps Zilla to be a wife to 12-year-old Japheth, neither of whom are happy about it. So when they find a young boy and his infant sister clinging to the stern of the ship, saving them seems the only thing they can do to rebel against the horrific godliness of the rest of the family. But keeping them secret among the animals in the bowels of the ship becomes more and more difficult, as both humans and animals become increasingly sick in mind and body during their lengthy confinement.

Related Books:

Other Books by Geraldine McCaughrean
The Pirate's Son
One Thousand and One Arabian Nights
The Odyssey
The Canterbury Tales
Gilgamesh the Hero
The Kite Rider

Related Website
Author's Site
Teacher Resource Page

Rate It Now

OR