Yearly floods have been getting worse, and Timna’s father has built a great ship. Noah claims to be guided by God’s Plan, and he has collected a great number of animals into the Ark, despite the derision of his neighbors.

The time on the Ark is an ordeal for all those aboard. When the floodwaters arrive, people who used to taunt Noah are now dashed against the sides and left to drown. The sheer mass of animals creates feeding, behavior, and sanitary problems. Almost worse for Timna, before the Flood reached the Ark, her brothers were directed to kidnap another girl to be her youngest brother’s bride in the new society her father envisions.

When Timna finds two orphaned children clinging to life, she must make a fateful choice. Will she obey her father’s—therefore God’s—will that all the “demons” shall perish, or will she show compassion to frightened youngsters?

Geraldine McCaughrean takes on a revered Biblical tale from a perspective rarely imagined: that of a teenaged girl. She evokes all of the senses in her descriptions of day-to-day existence in the floating menagerie. Gone are the fluffy images of a happy boatful of animals, and in its place a swill of misery is led by a man and his son, both of whom claim to serve God’s Plan.

While the story is primarily Timna’s, the author employs other points of view throughout the book. Other characters are given voice in some chapters, as well as some of the animals who are captive below decks. This helps to round out the story, and each time another POV is used, it is clearly labeled; however, there are moments where it is easy for the reader to lose track of who is narrating.

The hardest part to quantify is the meaning of this book for people of different religious or philosophical persuasions. If read as a purely fictional tale, this is an interesting take on an old story. For someone who believes in the literal value of the Bible, the portrayal of Noah and his sons will be offensive, as they are seen as fanatic, if not mad, in this account.

This review is based on the literary value of this book from a mainstream perspective. Overall, it is a well-told story that will draw readers in through Timna’s journey, as well as the reader’s senses. It shows the depth of human character in a tough situation, and is worth the read to anyone open-minded enough to give it a try.

Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
9/14/2006

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