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Adam's Ark
From the moment that Oscar entered the house, the change in Adam was evident... they hit it off immediately, which was strange - for Oscar was a cat.
There seems to be no hope for Adam. Heedless of all attempts to communicate with him, he remains withdrawn and unresponsive, locked in his own world. But when he is given a cat as a companion, a remarkable improvement begins to take place.
What no one realizes is that Adam has discovered that he can 'think-talk' with Oscar, and it is the cat who helps him reach out to the world around him. But Oscar is not the only animal Adam can talk to. As he grows up he meets many other animals, from the hedgehogs in his garden to the elephants in the zoo, and all with a sad tale of how their species has suffered at the hands of humankind.
And all the while Adam struggles to understand why he alone has this ability. What can it mean? But before he can discover the answer, he and Oscar must confront a very real evil that's far too close to home for their comfort. This is an outstandingly original and powerful story about a boy and the animals he loves from a remarkably talented writer.
There seems to be no hope for Adam. Heedless of all attempts to communicate with him, he remains withdrawn and unresponsive, locked in his own world. But when he is given a cat as a companion, a remarkable improvement begins to take place.
What no one realizes is that Adam has discovered that he can 'think-talk' with Oscar, and it is the cat who helps him reach out to the world around him. But Oscar is not the only animal Adam can talk to. As he grows up he meets many other animals, from the hedgehogs in his garden to the elephants in the zoo, and all with a sad tale of how their species has suffered at the hands of humankind.
And all the while Adam struggles to understand why he alone has this ability. What can it mean? But before he can discover the answer, he and Oscar must confront a very real evil that's far too close to home for their comfort. This is an outstandingly original and powerful story about a boy and the animals he loves from a remarkably talented writer.
240 pages, Paperback
First published October 25, 1990
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About the author
Paul Stewart
217 books918 followersPaul Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers – from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. Together with Chris Riddell he is co-creator of the bestselling Edge Chronicles, which has sold more than three million copies and is available in over twenty languages. They have also collaborated together on lots of other exciting books for children of all ages. The Far-Flung Adventure series includes the Gold Smarties Prize Winner Fergus Crane, and Corby Flood and Hugo Pepper, both Silver Nestle Prize Winners. Then there are the Barnaby Grimes books, two Muddle Earth adventures, and the sci-fi Scavenger and fantasy Wyrmeweald trilogies. For younger readers there is the Blobheads series, while for the very young, Paul has written several picture books, including the Rabbit and Hedgehog series, In the Dark of the Night and, his latest, Wings.
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
Other authors by this name disambiguation Note:
Paul Stewart - business and management books
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 26, 2010
Loved loved loved this book. I cannot say enough. It was one of my go-to reads when I was a kid. My dream was always to talk to animals, and Stewart's portrayal of an autistic child who can do just that is extraordinarily moving.
September 5, 2013
I have read a lot of Paul Stewart's books, around 30 of them, so having just found this, his third released novel - I feel a little behind.
I wish this was known to me earlier, when it was released would have been nice. It is such an excellent, indeed important book, I could have shared it with a lot more people growing up.
This is a book to make an environmentalist or a naturalist out of the reader. Not by twisting your arm, but by genuine and heartfelt arguments, mixed up in a compelling fantasy tale. Some of the basic devices of the fantasy are a little far-fetched, particularly towards the end, but it does work for the most part.
The book follows a boy called Adam, he is diagnosed autistic and in his early life, does not converse at all and shows little acknowledgement or response towards people. This changes when he acquires a little furry friend, a kitten named Oscar; a female, though whoever named her was not a good judge of such things. For some reason, Adam can speak to Oscar, conversation without confusion or sounds: think=speaking.
Oscar brings Adam in to the real world, being a bridge of understanding and awareness that breaks him out of his solipsistic shell. His mother is dumbfounded, but delighted, his father can't really cope with Adam and is, well, highly unpleasant. Adam's father is a scientist, he works for a local MoD facility called Dimwell's, which is an animal testing laboratory.
Adam grows up with Oscar and eventually discovers he can speak to other animals too and he comes a really long way from the silent child he was. The animals are only too glad to have a human to speak with, but their tales are mainly of woe, suffering at the hands of the humans. What can Adam do about it?
The book obviously has elements of Doctor Dolittle, though from quite a different angle - I find it has more in common with Plague Dogs by Richard Adams (of Watership Down fame, indeed it shares some of the feel of that book too), though targeted more at a younger audience. The animals'-eye view of the history of the world, particularly of the folly of man and how it destroys their world is very well done. The only irritations are that even the very young animals seem to be degree educated in zoology, but that aside, it does work.
I am left thinking that I need to find a number of copies of this old tome to scatter in the direction of children I think could do with an epiphany. Though tears may well be expected in some chapters.
I wish this was known to me earlier, when it was released would have been nice. It is such an excellent, indeed important book, I could have shared it with a lot more people growing up.
This is a book to make an environmentalist or a naturalist out of the reader. Not by twisting your arm, but by genuine and heartfelt arguments, mixed up in a compelling fantasy tale. Some of the basic devices of the fantasy are a little far-fetched, particularly towards the end, but it does work for the most part.
The book follows a boy called Adam, he is diagnosed autistic and in his early life, does not converse at all and shows little acknowledgement or response towards people. This changes when he acquires a little furry friend, a kitten named Oscar; a female, though whoever named her was not a good judge of such things. For some reason, Adam can speak to Oscar, conversation without confusion or sounds: think=speaking.
Oscar brings Adam in to the real world, being a bridge of understanding and awareness that breaks him out of his solipsistic shell. His mother is dumbfounded, but delighted, his father can't really cope with Adam and is, well, highly unpleasant. Adam's father is a scientist, he works for a local MoD facility called Dimwell's, which is an animal testing laboratory.
Adam grows up with Oscar and eventually discovers he can speak to other animals too and he comes a really long way from the silent child he was. The animals are only too glad to have a human to speak with, but their tales are mainly of woe, suffering at the hands of the humans. What can Adam do about it?
The book obviously has elements of Doctor Dolittle, though from quite a different angle - I find it has more in common with Plague Dogs by Richard Adams (of Watership Down fame, indeed it shares some of the feel of that book too), though targeted more at a younger audience. The animals'-eye view of the history of the world, particularly of the folly of man and how it destroys their world is very well done. The only irritations are that even the very young animals seem to be degree educated in zoology, but that aside, it does work.
I am left thinking that I need to find a number of copies of this old tome to scatter in the direction of children I think could do with an epiphany. Though tears may well be expected in some chapters.
August 4, 2017
Paul Stewart - if you're reading this, thankyou for writing this, you changed my life for the better.
I don't know who bought it me / acquired it for me, but at the time, I was a squinting, fidgety socially anxious girl who always looked different and boy, did I feel different.
All I remember from this book is being massively entertained and thinking the relationship between Adam and Oscar was perfect. And so obvious to me.
Long story short....
I ended up studying selective mutism and working with young children with both autism and aspergers amongst many other conditions. Not only did this book GIVE me confidence I guess to just be the 'different' me, back when I was 10/11yrs old, but also inspired me to understand and be compassionate towards all people like Adam.
I am now a leading hypnotherapist running my own business, working with adults and children with all different conditions, learning needs and mental health issues! Everyday I work to help minimise, communicate or express confused feelings, emotions or worries.
Seriously, it literally changed my life for the better. It's taken me until tonight writing this (August 2017) to have found this wonderful wonderful book again. I will share it far and wide now. Thanks deeply, Shauna
I don't know who bought it me / acquired it for me, but at the time, I was a squinting, fidgety socially anxious girl who always looked different and boy, did I feel different.
All I remember from this book is being massively entertained and thinking the relationship between Adam and Oscar was perfect. And so obvious to me.
Long story short....
I ended up studying selective mutism and working with young children with both autism and aspergers amongst many other conditions. Not only did this book GIVE me confidence I guess to just be the 'different' me, back when I was 10/11yrs old, but also inspired me to understand and be compassionate towards all people like Adam.
I am now a leading hypnotherapist running my own business, working with adults and children with all different conditions, learning needs and mental health issues! Everyday I work to help minimise, communicate or express confused feelings, emotions or worries.
Seriously, it literally changed my life for the better. It's taken me until tonight writing this (August 2017) to have found this wonderful wonderful book again. I will share it far and wide now. Thanks deeply, Shauna
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews