Timna

Book excerpt: Timna is the wife of Shem, one of Noah’s sons. As this story by Lucille Travis for 9-to-14-year-olds open, the family has loaded the ark with animals and supplies as God has ordered, and they are ready to shut the doors. Soon the Flood will begin. Along with two enchanting and mischievous dogs named Thief and Mangy, Timna seals herself into the ark. She doesn’t know what to expect, only that she is obeying—and trusting—God. “Timna is a juvenile chapter book about the wife of Shem, son of Noah, and her fears and struggles with belief in God while floating in the Ark for 40 days and nights. Timna will appeal to teenage and tween-age female readers especially, with its explorations of the role of women in Biblical times and early Hebrew culture. The breathless wonder of beholding the promise of God in the rainbow after the terrible Flood is unforgettable, and the reality of attention to daily details in animal husbandry is also well grounded. Timna is an excellent resource fiction narrative for juvenile readers of faith literature.”—Children’s Bookwatch