Review: AWESOME READ
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 8, 2013
I was actually really excited to read this book. I don't read much historical fiction, actually, I can say I don't think I've read anything historical fiction since high school but I was immediately drawn into Neima's world. Almost everyone in Western civilization (and beyond) has heard of Noah and his ark but this book took Noah's story and made it more real.It never really occurred to me that people might have thought Noah's was a lunatic. I forget, even though I was raised Catholic, that there was a time when Christianity was thought to be absolutely ridiculous. So seeing Noah through Neima's (his granddaughter) eyes was interesting and amusing. Neima allowed us to see how her family was treated because of her grandfather, and also the less than awe-inspiring side of Noah. I also just loved Neima, although she lives in a time where speaking your mind and disobeying your elders is seriously frowned upon and pretty much unheard of, she doesn't allow herself to be a complete doormat. I respect that about her. She's also real and honest, things that a lot of YA heroines are lacking today. I especially love when she defends herself against her cousin, Keenan, who is an absolute pig. Brownie points for pulling a knife, girlfriend.The whole story, to me, was magical. It's always nice to see a YA author who takes their time with their story and doesn't add really outlandish details. For example, Parent uses creatures that would actually be found in the area Noah is from. This means there aren't giraffes or monkeys running around on Noah's ark, because let's be honest, it's highly unlikely Noah would know what a monkey is or even miss it when gathering the animals to take aboard. I also love her writing, it's pretty much flawless and she gives just enough detail to keep you hanging on to every word. I didn't want it to end but alas, all good things must eventually end, especially at extremely climatic places.I would seriously recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and won't be offended by Parent's take on the classic tail. This isn't a religious book, although written about a religious icon, and shouldn't really be taken in that context. So don't let the "religious" part steer you away - it's an awesome read!