DNF.

I struggled to get in to this one.
I just found myself disengaged and not bothered and I've went weeks without picking it back ip - I actually forgot i was rerading it and just went to look for something to read and saw this and I couldn't tell you a thing about it, however I appreciate that this may be more a me thing than the book, hence the higher rating.

I was so invested in the lives of Norah and Adam that I sped through this book. Although it is a children's book it was well-written and didn't shy away from difficult issues like homelessness, poverty, bullying, and illness. We need more books like this!

Lovely kids book!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Norah has a tough life. She knows her father cares for her but is not in a fit position to actually 'care' for her. Norah uses her time and energy to ensure she looks happy enough to pass muster and not get her father into trouble. She comes across as a child of her age, as she understands most of the things that happen around her while not understanding everything.
Adam is a recovering patient. He wants to get back to some form of normal, but his parents are not on the same page as him. The two lonely children end up meeting over a nest of birds and bonding over things that they only partially understand themselves. There are some heavy topics discussed in this book, not limited to bullying and depression or addiction. Given the topics dealt with here, I am not sure exactly what age I would recommend this book to, but it is one that covers a lot of ground.
The children do have an imagination, but they end up learning a lot of things about the people around them and about how the world works as well.
I liked the recalibration in Norah and Adam's minds as they learn new things about their parents and sometimes give in to their own impulses to behave a certain way. It is only when things are addressed that actual resolutions are sought and worked through.
The only reason this was not a five-star read for me was the extremely simple ending on Norah's end. It seemed too grand (can something be both simple and grand? this solution definitely was), given the ups and downs of all the things she goes through for the bulk of the narrative. I will not go into further details about it, but suffice it to say that if it had been a little more down to earth, I would have definitely given this book a full five stars.
I would recommend this to younger readers, with parental discussion as to the age appropriateness of the content.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

"Norah's Ark" by Victoria Williamson is a heartwarming story of resilience and hope in the face of adversity. Williamson's storytelling is touching, as the characters embark on a journey of healing and newfound purpose. A poignant and uplifting read.

I absolutely loved this middle grade book about two kids who both have difficult stuff going on but for different reasons. Norah is homeless and her dad is really struggling with money, but she also loves animals and wants to save them all. Adam has survived cancer but can he survive his mum's overprotectiveness? Gorgeous gorgeous book

Two very different lives. One shared hope for a brighter future. No time to waste. The flood is coming...

Eleven-year-old Norah's only friends are animals and insects she rescued. She is poor and is made fun of. She doesn't have a permanent residence, no mum and has to rely on a food bank.

Adam is recovering from leukemia and is under restrictions. He lives with his parents in a nice house with a big garden and has everything a kid can ask for.

They are brought together by a nest of baby birds and what follows is an emotional, empathetic story. A story that shows how a turn of events can impact life, how kindness is what the world needs and friendship can bring rainbow colors to life. A person to share small things with.

This was heartbreaking at the same time, filling me with abundance of love. This pair of eleven-year-olds have a lot to teach you and how both of them hide their true selves in fear of another person not wanting to be their friend is something I feel all of us have gone through at some point in life.

I just don't know how to express myself while writing this review, I am feeling too much. How sometimes we forget there are people around who don't have even 5% of what we have, how blessed we are and how passing the blessing to others will send more our way. How everyone around us has something to teach. Irrespective of your age bracket, this middle grade book is for everyone and getting the experience of reading this is one I wouldn't forget.

I just love this book and urge everyone to read it.

★ ★ ★ 1/2 (rounded up)
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S NORAH'S ARK ABOUT?
This is a book about a couple of eleven-year-olds in the English city of Hull who bond over their mutual attempts to help animals. Starting with a nest of baby birds who've been orphaned by a hungry cat, these two overcome various barriers (largely in the form of their parents) to various stray and abandoned animals they encounter. Along the way, they end up helping each other through some of the bigger challenges they've faced.

NORAH (AND HER FATHER)
Norah's father lost his job a few years ago, which led to them losing their home. Since then they've bounced from one temporary housing situation to another, barely scraping by on his benefits and whatever short-term and low-paying jobs he can get. They attend a church regularly—and gorge themselves on the post-service snacks. They also use a food bank from time to time—but it's hard for her father to swallow his pride and deal with the judgemental looks they receive when they do (how many of these looks are only in his mind, it's hard to tell—but some of them are real).

Norah has some learning disabilities, too—and she's never in one school long enough to really get the help she needs. Which leaves her open to being bullied while she falls further and further behind.

Norah loves animals and would do anything for a pet. Because she can't get one due to their housing situation—well, other than the spiders she keeps on her window sill—she does what she can for whatever strays she finds like the aforementioned birds. She takes care of them for a while until one day they're missing. They and their whole nest—what could've possibly happened?

Then she sees some rich boy on the other side of the fence carrying that nest. It's not fair—he has so much already, a great house, a big yard, a treehouse, fancy clothes (that fit!), and whatever he wants to eat (he is a little overweight).

ADAM (AND HIS PARENTS)
Adam and his parents moved from London to Hull a few years ago to help him get the specialized treatment he needed for leukemia. It's in remission now, but his mom has become overprotective following his diagnosis. Since she had to leave her job to care for him (and hasn't thought about going back to work), his father has to work harder than before and really has no time for anything else—even Adam.

He can't go anywhere without her. He can't go back to school—even if the doctors say he's not as immunocompromised as he once was, his mother still insists on a private tutor. He can't go swimming—he'd dreamed of going to the Olympics before he got sick—again, because of all the exposure to germs, people, and other things that could hurt him. His treatments and lack of exercise have left him out of shape. He's lonely. All he wants is a friend and to do something outside his home.

When he discovers that the neighbor's mean (at least to him) cat has eaten the mother bird, he takes the nest up to his treehouse (without his mother noticing and panicking about the filthy animals). He notices a girl on the other side of the fence quickly riding off on her bike—what a great life she must have—able to go wherever she wants!

THE GRASS AIN'T ALWAYS GREENER...
Soon, the two actually meet and decide to work together to help the birds get to safety.

They learn more about each other—both discovering the struggles the other has gone through. They have unfortunate encounters with bullies and thieves—and discover their parents want them to have nothing to do with each other.

But neither of them has really had a friend in a long time and they're unwilling to lose their new one. So they do what they can to keep that friendship—even if that means being disobedient. Both kids soon have to deal with new problems with their parents and need someone to rely on.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT NORAH'S ARK?
That's a really good question, one that I've been chewing on for a few days now.

I do have a few concerns. For example, both Norah and Adam (Adam is a bit more prone to this) can be too mature and understanding for their ages when it comes to their parents and what motivates them. Most of the time, Williamson gets them right—unreliable narrators (not because they're dishonest, but because they're 11 and don't get everything the adults are doing) who are doing their best to make it in the world and cope with the information they have, with the impulsivity and insufficient emotional control you'd expect. But occasionally, they're too perceptive, too wise...basically, they sound like they've sat through a decent amount of therapy and have internalized it. Which would be fine if they'd been in therapy, or were in their twenties. But they're a decade and change away from being fully believable on some of these fronts.

The other thing (and I'll get into vague spoilers for the rest of this paragraph, so feel free to skip it) that has bugged me since before I finished it—the ending is a bit hard to swallow. It's too easy. It's too unearned for my tastes. It's like Williamson took a page from Wayne's World and went with the "Mega Happy Ending" and just imposed it at a certain point. Please, don't misunderstand me—I want Adam and Norah to get happy endings. I like where the book puts them in the last chapter—I'd have been displeased if they didn't end up where they did. But...it would've felt more real if it didn't go that way. Or if it took slow, incremental work for them to get there—with a few big jumps along the way, sure. To use a bad illustration—you know how in some movies the uncoordinated guy goes through a training montage and suddenly can do all sorts of things they couldn't before the song started? Well, it was like that—but Norah and Adam skipped the montage and went from clumsy to ready to win the dance/singing/martial arts contest.

Now this is likely just me—I'm willing to bet that most readers in the target audience aren't going to have those issues. But I'd quite like to ask a few about their experience reading the books, particularly the ending.

Ignore all that for a moment (as I've said over and over again—it takes many more words to explain a problem I have with a book than to say all the good things I want to say). This novel nails the struggles for both these children and their parents—who are clearly trying their best (even if the kids don't always see that)—no one in this book has an easy time of it. They're all in extreme circumstances, with the cards stacked against them—and everyone is just trying to get through it as intact as they can for themselves and their family.

I loved, loved, loved that someone wrote about these situations in a Middle Grade book—you just don't see enough things like this (or at least, I don't, I shouldn't suggest it doesn't exist). I remember when I was in that audience, and Wooly Mammoths roamed the earth, that I got seriously excited when I came across a book that dealt with things like this, even if it made for hard reading. Since then, I don't see it too often.

It's impossible to read this without feeling empathy for Norah or Adam—or their parents—and to extrapolate that empathy and sympathy toward non-fictional people in similar circumstances. I'm not saying that this book is going to fix all sorts of prejudices that a child might have and fill playgrounds everywhere with mini-Brené Brown clones. But it should make it a little easier for them to put themselves in someone else's shoes, to understand that peers—or strangers—could be going through something.

If you've read and enjoyed When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald, you're going to want to check this one out. If you haven't—read both books. I think readers young and old will find a lot to admire and commend in these pages. I feel strange saying you'll enjoy a book about so much suffering—but you will, particularly when the characters find a moment of joy or peace. It's very effective—and affective—to watch these two become heroes and get different endings than either expected for most of the book.

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Neem Tree Press via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

The innocence of childhood is unrivalled in sparking joy in all our hearts. Norah’s Ark shows the lives of two children who whilst leading diametrically opposite lives, are very much alike.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I even managed to read it all in a day whilst home for the week, it was such a quick read and the chapters were short enough that I found myself flying through it. I really loved the two main characters, Norah and Adam, and loved seeing their friendship blossom. Their lives are completely different, yet they both care so deeply for animals, and bond over the baby birds. I enjoyed the pacing of this book. It never felt like it was dragging or rushing too much, having a perfect balance throughout. I think the way the story progressed was excellent as well, especially as more animals were introduced. It was so lovely to see Norah's deep passion for caring for animals, from your everyday household pet, to tiny (or rather large) Boris the spider! My favourite animal companions were Lady and Bingo, the cat and dog introduced in this book, and I thought they really helped the focus of the story.

Norah and Adam's lives couldn't be further apart, and yet their friendship is so beautiful, and both understand each other's situations, that I couldn't help but love them! Each of them judges the other initially by what they look like/where they live or how they speak, and to see them go beyond this was lovely.

This book is full of friendship, both human and animal, and differences, and how people can change. It was beautifully written, and a book that will stay with me for a very long time. If you've not added this to your TBR already, I'd highly recommend you do.

Thank you to The Write Reads, the publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a free e-book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions contained within are my own.

You may have noticed that I haven’t been around much lately. Life outside of my favorite hobby has gotten hectic and the stress levels have skyrocketed these days. I’m still reading, but there are days where I can’t even get up the energy to do that! So, when I picked up Norah’s Ark and felt that spark that makes me want to keep reading, I knew this was gonna be a great read.

The novel follows two eleven year old kids just trying to navigate difficult situations. Norah is a young girl who is, essentially, homeless. She bounces from one living situation to another with her father, who is struggling to find employment. She’s ostracized at school and, though she loves animals, can’t have a pet of her own. Adam is a young boy who is recovering from leukemia. Even though his doctors say he’s in remission and can start doing some of the things he used to do, his overprotective mom refuses to let him leave the safety of their yard. Though they come from different worlds, both Norah and Adam wish from one thing desperately: a friend.

It’s been a minute since two characters in a book have captured my heart so quickly. I absolutely adore both Norah and Adam and it was fascinating watching this story unfold from their eyes. They have both dealt with far more than such young children should have to face and like that it really informs how they react to problems. It makes them such nuanced, interesting characters which, in turn, makes it easy to love them. Bonus points: they’re both animal lovers! I truly enjoyed watching their love of animals bring them together and cement their friendship.

I also appreciated that this book shone a spotlight on the topic of poverty and homelessness, especially how it affects young children. This novel doesn’t shy away from how tough it can be for Norah as her and her father try and navigate their situation. It doesn’t shy away from how all this affects Norah both mentally and physically. I think this an incredible, accessible way for both kids and adults to learn about an issue that affects so many people. And, when it comes to Adam, we get a little insight into how a serious illness might affect a young kid’s mental health, as well. I do love a middle grade that talks about real issues in a way that makes sense for the intended audience, but also doesn’t seem like it’s talking down to them. Norah’s Ark definitely accomplishes this!

Overall, this was an incredible story that kept me hooked. If I hadn’t been in a weird reading funk, I probably would have finished this in one day! I looked forward to reading more from this author.

This cover manages to be simultaneously fascinating yet ambiguous as to what the story is really about and that made me even more excited to see what was going on. Thank you to The WriteReads for having me on the blog tour and to the lovely people at Neem Tree Press for sending this beautiful copy my way.

Norah lives with her dad in temporary accommodation and they move around regularly. They never have any money and rely on foodbanks. She has never had a mum or a friend but she often has small pets and is happy as she can be. When Adam got sick, his parents kept him inside. His world shrank and his Olympic dreams faded. Now that he’s better, his mum still insists on keeping Adam’s world small but he’s desperate to get back outside. That’s when he meets Norah.

An important message that this story delivers without being heavy-handed about it is not to judge others until you know them. It’s a recurring theme within the book and it’s a lifelong lesson that young readers need to learn and older readers regularly need to be reminded of. It’s done beautifully several times and I loved it.

Both Norah’s and Adam’s stories are heartbreaking and I desperately wanted to help both of them. Norah really wants a true friend and the fact that she is so impermanent to pretty much everyone she meets is really cruel. I know that her situation is reality for lots of kids and that realisation is really hard to have. She manages to stay kind and calm through everything that she goes through and for such a young child, it’s so commendable that she manages that. In many ways, Norah felt like a Jacqueline Wilson heroine and I don’t think I could possibly give a higher compliment than that.

Adam is being kept as prisoner by his mother and I was so frustrated at the way she was behaving towards him. I understood her fears that his cancer might return but she was wholly irrational about it. His body, his lifestyle, his education and his dreams had all changed dramatically and rather than help him get back to those things, she pushed his old life further and further away. Overprotective, anxious parents really are the worst!

Norah’s Ark is a heartwarming, hard-hitting middle-grade contemporary that celebrates friendship and finding it within those who you may not usually come across. It’s also about looking after animals and the planet that we all come from as well as extending that compassion and love to everyone around us. A gorgeous, pretty special children’s book.

I recently read and loved The Pawnshop of Stolen Dreams (reviewed here) by Victoria Williamson, so I was keen to read her new book.

The two books could not be more different but they are both superb in their own way.

Review

Norah and Adam live totally different lives…but neither is perfect.

Neither of them want the other to know their own realities, they do not want each other’s pity, just friendship. They also do not want their parents finding out about their friendship. This leads to a lot of wrong assumptions and unknowingly saying the wrong thing. However, their common interest in each wanting a friend, wishing for a pet and trying to look after random wild or feral animals brings them together.

The alternating chapters from Norah and Adam’s points of view are really effective in telling this story.

Norah’s Ark covers a lot of themes; bullying, poverty, homelessness, child illness, climate change. Separately they are all huge, heavy themes in themselves, but the author brings them together in this story with a deft hand, making it accessible for children to read and build awareness.

She adds in a measure of how each character perceives themselves and others, their lack of awareness of how keeping things to themselves makes it worse for everyone and how piling those secrets and lies up is bound to come crashing down around them at some point.

Williamson has written a beautiful story about awful situations that opens up space for discussions about the different themes in an accessible way.

Books are a window or a mirror for the reader. Or, in the case of this book, with so many different elements, it can be both. Whichever this is for you, use it to be more understanding of the situation of others or know that you not alone.

Thank you to @NeemTreePress and @The_WriteReads for an advance copy of the book in order to provide this review.

In a Nutshell: A sweet little middle-grade novel about two animal-loving friends who, through their personal struggles, learn to empathise and support, and along the way, rescue some animals as well. Loved its wholesomeness!

Story Synopsis:
Eleven-year-old Norah does her best to ensure that she isn’t taken away from her father and sent to foster care. The two of them live in temporary accommodation and take assistance from food banks. However, this doesn’t stop Norah from lending a helping hand to any animal in need.
Eleven-year-old Adam has lived a sheltered life ever since he was diagnosed with leukaemia. Though he is now in remission, he isn’t allowed out of the house, nor can he do anything deemed “risky”.
The two kids bump into each other over a nest of orphaned baby robins. Initially apprehensive of each other, they soon realise that they have plenty in common, despite their drastically opposite circumstances.
The story comes to us in the alternating first-person perspectives of Norah and Adam.

Bookish Yays:
😍 What adorable lead characters! Both Norah and Adam are vulnerable enough to make me want to give them a tight hug and say, ‘Don’t worry. Everything will be fine soon.’ At the same time, they don’t allow circumstances to defeat them. I rooted for the duo throughout the book. Norah especially won my heart. Many of her circumstances reminded me of the father-son duo in Will Smith’s ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’, and I felt equally emotional reading about Norah and her dad.
😍 Despite the contrasting situations of the kids, their friendship is strong and based on a genuine connection and understanding than on flimsy reasons such as popularity or wanting to fit in. Their behaviour highlights many important values of friendship such as being there for each other in times of need or lending a listening ear when required. They make mistakes as well, but these are learning opportunities for them as well as for the readers.
😍 The two children's love for animals is clear throughout the book, and courtesy their fondness for rescuing animals in need, we get to see many animals throughout the story. Bingo was my favourite, though Lady came pretty close.
😍 The title must have reminded you of Noah’s ark. This book takes some elements from Noah’s story and gives it a wonderful, contemporary spin. I loved how the author wove the biblical story into this novel without referring to Noah even once and without making the story feel like a typical retelling. So if you know the original, you’ll see the commonalities. If you don’t know the original, no harm done; you can read this as a standalone without any gap in comprehension.
😍 The book covers plenty of hard-hitting themes such as homelessness, poverty & unemployment, bullying, health issues (through Adam’s cancer), and climate change. But even beyond these, it highlights some pragmatic problems that kids face: the pressure of keeping parents happy with their behaviour/actions, the trouble of balancing what they want vis-à-vis what their parents want from them, the problem of making yourself heard in a new school,… It also shows how presumptive we can be about both rich people and poor people, how we judge based on appearances, and how the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. So many opportunities for productive discussions here!
😍 The learnings aren’t limited to kids. The book also indicates issues in parental behaviour through common mistakes such as hiding secrets to safeguard the kids emotionally, being too overprotective (especially after a health scare), not communicating enough, not listening to what the kids have to say,… This middle-grade book has plenty of thought-provoking content for adults as well, especially on the importance of maintaining open communication with their kids.

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Through Norah’s perspective, we get to see some of the troubles the homeless and the unemployed face in the UK (the story being set in Hull), and the inadequacy of the bureaucracy in handling issues related to housing allotment, job allotment, and foster care. I applaud the author for tackling what are usually considered adult topics, in an MG work. These ills are a part of society, and children must be aware of them at least to some extent so that they can be more empathetic of others. At the same time, I also feel that some of the content might be too much for younger MGs to process independently. Moreover, there’s mention of betting dens, gambling, alcoholism, and post-partum depression, which would also be better suited to a slightly older age range.
😐 While I liked the happy ending (I strongly believe that all MG books must have satisfying endings - don't leave kids crying!), I felt like this book smoothened out things too much. For such a realistic story, having every single element in perfect alignment at the end felt farfetched. I would have loved the ending better if it were more hopeful than fully resolved.

Bookish Nays:
😟 This is the first time I have read a middle-grade novel with two first-person perspectives. Though the situations of the two kids are different, their voices sound somewhat similar, creating minor confusion at times about who is the “I” speaking. I’d have preferred both perspectives in third person, especially considering the age group it is aimed at.


All in all, this is a great book for older middle-graders and even those above this age range. There are a few nerve-wracking scenes but the issues are resolved happily. At the same time, some of the content may be a bit too severe for sensitive readers. It’s not as light-hearted as typical middle-grade fiction is. I would still consider this a must-read story with realistic issues, but with the topics being overwhelming at times, do proceed with care, parents/teachers/guardians.

Definitely recommended. This isn’t my first book by Victoria Williamson, and it won’t be the last!

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Neem Tree Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of “Norah's Ark”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Content warnings: poverty, hunger, homelessness, bullying, cancer (though this is in the past and there’s no hospitalisation or emergency), parental death, animal death (A pet spider counts as an animal, right?), mention of betting dens and gambling, mention of alcoholism and post-partum depression.

Norah's Ark is a very hard book to read. It's beautiful and it's very accessible, so it's not that. It just deals with some very difficult subject matters that make it an incredibly moving, powerful story. Like all of Victoria's work, it's filled with empathy and everything is dealt with in a caring, sympathetic way and I highly, highly recommend it.

I think what made it so powerful for me is that one of the central themes of the story is helplessness. The world is a scary, often overwhelming place and at times it can really feel like we're helpless to change what is happening to us.

For Norah, she feels helpless with her living situation, forced to move on from temporary accommodation to temporary accommodation without ever really having anywhere to call home. She feels helpless at school, struggling to keep up in lessons and at the mercy (or lack thereof) of the local bullies. She feels helpless with her dad, very aware of many of the problems he is facing but not able to do anything to alleviate them other than struggling along with him, and hiding her own problems from him, lying about the bullies, pretending she's not hungry when there's not enough food to go around, and doing her best to smile through the bad times they share.

Adam is in a very different situation to Norah. He has food and a nice home and both parents around, but he too feels helpless. He's recovering from cancer and his mother is keeping him trapped in the house for his own safety. He's being kept away from school and from friends, from swimming and from the park and although he keeps trying, he feels like there's nothing he can do to change his mother's mind.

It extends beyond this though. The adults in the story also experience similar feelings of helplessness. Norah's dad keeps trying his best, but the world is not set up to help people like him. Jobs are zero-hours and don't last long, housing is basic and temporary, and the benefits people seem to be constantly sabotaging his best efforts and giving him less money than he expects and needs. I really felt so deeply for him and for Norah, trapped in an uncaring system they just can't get out of. It was truly heartbreaking to see. And throughout it all there's this threat of social services coming to separate them, something neither of them could accept, something they both fear.

For Adam's parents, the circumstances acting against them don't come from the government, but it's just as painful to watch a parent terrified of losing their child, to read about them sitting by his bedside when he is in hospital, powerless to do anything to intervene, and then to have him him, seemingly cured but to still be beset by these fears that something else can come along and take him away. Adam's mother comes across at times as overly fearful or as controlling, but it's clear to see how strongly she's driven by love and fear.

It sounds really bleak, but it's also a book driven by hope and optimism. I loved Norah and Adam both making lists of what they want in life, and how simple, how basic those wishes were in both cases, and despite their very different circumstances, how similar their lists were. Everything seems to work against them, but they never give up, and that's really lovely.

One strong message to come out of the book is that the answer to feeling utterly helpless in our own lives is to help others. The story is initially driven by both Adam and Norah trying to help some abandoned robin chicks, and as it progresses we see how much joy and comfort they can find in doing what they can to help people and creatures who need them, no matter how much they themselves need helping.

Norah's Ark is emotional and heartbreaking at times, but ultimately a gorgeously optimistic book.

So this book reminded me of a lot of my own childhood books (namely those of a certain Jacqueline Wilson) in the best kind of way. (No really, it has a similar vibe to Little Darlings, but with a WAY more plausible storyline than "we have the same famous dad.")

Norah's Ark is a sweet book about friendship in unlikely places, and looking past surface appearances. Norah lives in temporary accomodation, has very little food, and struggles for resources to wash her clothes. Adam has a big, cosy house, but has an overbearing mother and is perpetually lonely after recovering from cancer. The author writes both characters in such a well-researched, compelling way that I was on the verge of tears a few times whilst reading it.

My own job is working as a TA in a primary school, and I work primarily with children like Norah, so it really did tug at the heartstrings. It's so important that children are exposed to stories like this, both so that they can see themselves, and so that they can develop empathy for people with very different lives, and I am really grateful that this book exists.

One of the most important things I saw in Norah's case is that they are struggling through no fault of their own. It's so easy to sit and believe the media (and, ah, older members of my family) that people on benefits are lazy, are wasting resources, but like. The government are shit. They make it so difficult for people to actually manage to climb back out of poverty that they perpetuate their own stereotypes in the media. And I don't actually think any of the books I read as a kid, even the ones that were set on council estates (again, Jacqueline Wilson) properly, explicitly said no. It is not their fault.

In Adam's case, my heart hurt because certain parts of his character were things I could relate to. Relationships with our parents are funny things, and in the same way that we need to have conversations about absent parents, we also need to have conversations about overprotective parents because (and this is a rant) this is something I also see in my job, and it is so absolutely, horrifically unfair on a child to make them think that they can't do things.

There are children out there who have the potential to be such happy, well-adjusted members of society, who end up wasting away because parents don't know how to let go, and because we don't educate children to be able to stand up to their parents. It's always seen as "disrespect" or "attitude", when half the time, the kid is making an actual, valid point about their own life.

Having Adam sit down with his parents at the end of the book, and take control of his life, was important to me in ways that I don't have the words to describe. Not just because I wish I'd had that kind of representation as a kid, but for all of the kids that I currently teach.

In all honesty, the only reason I've given this 4 stars instead of 5 is because I felt that the first third of the book was slow. It took a long time for the story to get going, and although we did get a lot more set-up of both characters, I know a lot of kids who would be bored by the time Norah and Adam finally meet.

But I'm glad I persevered, and I would encourage any child reading this to keep going if only for the lessons on empathy.

The EMPATHY.

Oh my god, the scene where Norah and Adam finally tell each other what their deal is and just...get it? There's no huge blowup, only a bit of confusion on both sides as they wrap their heads around the other one's circumstances. And then that's that. They're friends.

God, that's what I hope for in the future. It's what we need more of.

Norah’s Ark is an emotionally complex novel and really hits home whilst still managing to make you feel joy and delight at the same time. It's a wonderful Middle Grade novel about friendship that raises some pertinent talking points that need to happen with younger children. Issues raised include poverty, childhood illness, friendship, the care system and homelessness, and wanting to know your identity, animal care and environmental issues. But this is all tackled at an age appropriate level and with sensitivity so it’s perfect.

Norah and Adam live in very different worlds, despite living in close proximity. Adam comes from a wealthy background but is recovering from a serious illness and limited in what he can do. Norah Is experiencing poverty and doesn’t not have stability of a home or parenting in her life. Both children have one thing in common - they need a friend!

It was delightful to follow their developing friendship and how it was nurtured through their love of animals and the environment. There are some beautiful moments between the two of them, often poignant and emotional but also a joy to read about.

This is such an important and powerful story and is a pleasure to read. It’s difficult to describe just how wonderful it is and as an adult - it made me think deeply about what I appreciate and take advantage of.

I cannot recommend this book enough!

"Norah's Ark" by Victoria Williamson is a heartwarming tale that explores the friendship between Norah and Adam, two individuals facing unique challenges in their lives. Williamson's writing style is both beautiful and accessible, allowing readers to form a strong connection with the characters. The story's ability to balance poignant moments with uplifting elements adds depth and emotional resonance to the narrative.

Victoria is highly skilled in handling complicated subjects for young readers. She has the ability to take us, adults into the hearts and minds of children. And that's why I enjoy reading author Victoria's books! As a person, she is sweet, compassionate, and obliging. She has helped me too, once, personally.

In Norah's Ark, I witnessed the lives of Nora and Adam from two different households and problems of their own, brought together by their passion for animals. Brilliant observers, both Nora and Adam are very well aware of their parents concern towards them and try their best to not trouble them, but they also follow their heart and find happiness in recusing animals, and comfort in the company of each other.

Victoria has carved two strong protagonists who at first seem vulnerable but gain the courage to stand up for themselves and for each other. Norah's Ark is brilliant and a must read for parents no matter where they live because as a mother of three children, born, raised and living in Chennai, India found it relevant and appealing.

Thanks to Victoria and Neem Tree Press for the eARC. All the very best!

A heartbreaking story about living through homelessness as a child.

Victoria Williamson has done it again! This is a superb book which gets right to the heart of the issues. Told through a dual narrative, Norah and Adam live close by but worlds apart.

Norah’s dad has had a string of zero hours contracts, interspersed with periods of unemployment. This means that their income is sporadic and unpredictable, which results in them moving around a lot, living in a B&B or a homeless shelter. She is bullied at school and lives in fear of social services taking her into care.

Adam lives in a big, posh house overlooking the park, where he is a virtual prisoner. In remission from cancer, his parents are fearful of him coming into contact with germs so he spends all his time at home and is taught by a private tutor.

Both children are desperate to find a friend, so when their paths cross accidentally, an unlikely bond forms between them.

This was hard to read, especially from Norah’s perspective. It made me realise how desperately hard it is for children in her position and how much of her time is spent worrying about money, food and where she will be living. It is a tragedy that so many children find themselves in a similar position. Hopefully, children reading this will be encouraged to be kinder and more accepting of those in their class who might be in a similar situation.

Many thanks to Victoria Williamson for sending me an advance copy.