The Ark, the Reed, and the Fire Cloud

                                             
The Ark, the Reed, & the Fire Cloud  is a book written by Jenny L. Cote. She takes stories from the Bible and brings imaginations alive with the adventure of the main characters and their mates: two dogs, Max and Kate, and two cats, Liz and Al. They all embark separately on a journey of Faith, following the fire cloud after they all hear the Maker calling to them. They soon meet each other and together forge a friendship that is inseparable. They go through many countries and past many waters following the cloud, but also discover that they are not the only ones. Liz, the expertise on many things, notices that two animals from all over the world have been called, and struggles with her faith of the impossible. Meanwhile Max has a fear of water, and when they reach their final destination he discovers it is an Ark. After all of the animals are finally loaded, flood waters rise and the rains come down for forty days and forty nights. During the time of waiting to reach dry ground, Max has been declared a hero, and when things get out of hand Liz suspects one of Max’s friends, and in discovering this she could end her friendship with Max. Will Max be able to understand the importance of what is happening, or will he ignore the evidence?

   The story is very exciting and involves the reader. The author writes in a very unique setting, many of which are not used a lot. Jenny L. Cote brings her characters alive and the details make you feel as if you are a part of the story. For example, in one scene she shows how when the animals step into their stalls, the animals’ natural habitat appears with everything they need, from waterfalls and rain forests, to deserts and ice.

  In the end the main characters learn to not be prideful and to trust God, not trying to logically solve everything. Max learned to conquer his fears and not be prideful, like the waters from the flood, and to give he glory to God instead of himself, while God showed Liz how all things are possible with Him, like the ark stalls transforming into the animals natural habitats.

10 out of 10 stars.