Written in the first person, it vividly depicts what it's like being the only daughter trapped on Noah's ark. Imagine a family where your dad's always right even when he sometimes seems cruel to you, where girls are less important than boys, where your elder brothers seem to veer from devout to fanatical, where kindness is seen as weakness and your mum does't seem to care what happens to you. Imagine you're responsible for trying to keep alive sharp toothed, sharp clawed wild beasts in a constantly moving, stuffy dark space where there isn't enough food - where you and some of the other inmates ARE FOOD. And imagine what you would do, when the flood comes and your friends, relatives, acquaintances, strangers the young, the old and the desparate beg you to take them on board when your dad forbids it because it's been foretold that these people have bought about their own destruction. Think about it.

This is a brilliant book that shouldn't be confined to kids. I bought it for my 11 year old niece but having started it in the afternoon, soon found myself so caught up in the dark, fetid, frighening atmosphere of the ark that I read through the night to be with Timna, the girl narrator right to the end.

I was appalled by the injustices, enraged by the cruelty and found myself choking back tears at the acts of kindness. At almost every page, you'll ask yourself 'what would I do?' Forget what you think you know about Noah's Ark and read this incredible, brilliant book by Geraldine McCaughrean.


Wonderful   August 26, 2005
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

This book shines a completely new look at the story of Noah's ark. I was amazed that this was a children's book as the issues that the book deals with are quite dark at times, such as the violence of some of the brothers. But such an enjoyable read that raises a lot of moral and religious questions. Don't be put off that this book has been classed as a children's book as adults will love it as well.