Storm

Readers familiar with the biblical version of the Noah's Ark tale will be intrigued by author Napoli's inventive take on the material compared with the original, a subject that may spark some interesting discussions. For those who don't know the original and want to learn more, notes at the back offer details of different cultures' flood myths and the scriptural passages that relate to each section of Storm. In following Sebah's adventures, readers also will glean information about agriculture, animal care, and survival tips.

Sebah is determined, resourceful, a born survivor who adapts quickly to new situations. She's brave and creative in protecting her loved ones and cooperating with others. Biblical characters, particularly Noah and his family, are complex characters with real failings, from sibling rivalry to lust for other men's wives, and it's often unclear whether Noah is a dedicated holy man or completely insane. Despite the tensions, they find ways to survive and help one another. 

Humans (including Sebah and two different men) have sex (or "mate," in Sebah's term) often, but there's little detail. Animal sex, especially between bonobos Queen and The Male, is constant, gleeful, and explicit: "Queen licks The Male's chest. She doesn't glance at the woman, not even quickly. She moves her head lower down The Male's torso, licking, licking. The Male makes a loud moan. Ham's wife gasps and covers her mouth." Noah has forbidden any sex on the Ark, causing much tension and strife. Sebah worries about how her menstrual periods will affect the oversexed Male, and in one scene an animal explores her nipple. One human character is pregnant.