Napoli, Donna Jo. Storm.

Napoli, Donna Jo.  Storm.  Simon & Schuster  2014     368p  $17.99  ISBN 978-1-4814-0302-3        hs  Historical fiction  E-BN

Napoli has provided insight into classic folk tales by asking “what if” questions and postulating a background to the tales.  This time she tackles the flood and life aboard the Ark with Noah, his family, and the many animals.  Since details of life aboard ship are sparse in Genesis and Jewish literature, Napoli is free to let her imagination fly.  This tale centers on the life of Sebah, who manages to climb to higher ground when the flooding begins.  The grisly opening scenes become slightly gentler, but this story of mental and physical survival is not for the faint of heart.  After drifting on a raft, Sebah encounters the Ark and manages to climb aboard with the help of two bonobos (apes).  Living in the animal cages and secretly observing Noah and his family as they come to feed the animals, she realizes that a taste of freedom is required not only for herself but for everyone on board, animals included. Sebah’s keen observations, her cunning, and her sixth sense about animals will fascinate animal lovers.  The attention to detail, both physical environment as well as mental duress, is superb.   This is a novel for action/adventure and animal lovers, as well as an intense look at the human condition.  It makes for compelling reading, yet without significant religious overtones.  This book includes an appendix with a timetable of the events described in  Genesis as well as a list for further reading.    

Summary: This is a captivating, tense drama/action/adventure story based on the flooding spoken of in Genesis and Jewish literature.  This book contains grisly scenes of survival juxtaposed with amazing acts of compassion as Sebah becomes a stowaway on the Ark. Gr 8-12.

Biblical tales-Fiction, The Flood-Fiction                   --Lois McNicol