Ark

by Elisabeth Sharp McKetta

"None of us is likely to forget the 'virustime,' but feisty, funny, resourceful, creative Arden (along with her quirky family and motley crew of rescue dogs) is a comforting and inspiring reminder that the worst of times can bring out the best in us. Ark will help young readers see how they, too, kindled their own light to find their way through a dark time."
— Lauren Wolk, author of Echo Mountain

"Infectiously hopeful." — Kirkus Reviews

Arden thinks the world has ended when her parents decide to trade their large house (where she has her own purple bedroom with a window seat!) for a small backyard guesthouse, built like a wooden boat. The worst it’s not big enough for their dog to come along. Things get even worse when her best friend moves away and a pandemic shuts school, leaving Arden’s family quarantined in very little space. Arden just wishes life would go back to normal.

As neighbors leave town, shut themselves away, and get sick, their pets are left behind, and Arden becomes the safe-keeper of all the abandoned animals. When the pandemic touches home, Arden must use all her creativity and courage to help those she loves—family, friends, and dogs!

Ark was inspired by author Elisabeth Sharp McKetta’s experience of living in a 275-square-foot tiny house with her husband and two children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like Arden, Elisabeth’s family learned to live large in a small space.

328 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2023

About the author

Elisabeth Sharp McKetta is a novelist, poet, biographer, teacher, and a mother of two. With a PhD on the intersections between fairy tales and autobiography, as well as a seven-year streak of writing weekly poems for strangers, she teaches writing for Harvard Extension School and Oxford Department for Continuing Education. She has authored ten books and co-edited one anthology. Her poetry and short work have been published widely, including in The Poetry Review and Real Simple; her work with myth and memoir has been spotlighted in Harvard Magazine. Her TEDx talk, “Edit Your Life like a Poem,” led to a personal growth guide to be published by Penguin Random House. Elisabeth lives with her sea-swimmer husband and her children.

Reviews

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Initially I was hesitant to read a book set during the COVID pandemic- a traumatic time that is still so fresh, but her writing makes it both relatable and cathartic. A gem of a read - heartwarming, yet truly human characters finding their way through change by way of the generosity, family and friendship.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ark is a wholesome account of a child navigating sudden, but relatable change. When Arden's school closes, her best friend moves to the other side of the country, and her family downsizes to a tiny house, Arden must find ways to process her frustration. By chance and circumstance, Arden acquires a small pack of rescue dogs, and she discovers what she loves, what she can do, and what the world needs; she provides a home for homeless pets.

Arden is an approachable, humble hero. Her family's tiny house holds her dreams, which are as wide as the foothills that surround Boise, ID, where she lives. Her story is a reminder that even with all of life's unpredictable moments, we can all find our way back to ourselves.

This novel reminded me of all that we learn from middle-grade literature. It also reminded me of all that we learn from fairy tales. No surprise: Elisabeth Sharp McKetta is a legendary teacher.

[Alicia Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes a traumatic situation and finds beauty in the everyday, goodness in people, and most of all hope to carry on through imperfect times. The protagonist is relatable, imperfect and real, and I found myself in her struggles time and again. The messages of imperfect progress, forgiveness of imperfections, and resiliency resonated with me. I can't wait to share this with my sons who were my companions in our Ark.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

As the ramifications of the pandemic on mental health are now becoming clear, this book is an important tool for processing what we went through. In addition to its accessible voice and enjoyable storyline, Ark shares a particular tiny-house pandemic experience that touches on broader themes of emotional resilience, dear friendships, and connecting to something bigger than ourselves.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book really captured the voice of the 11-year-old protagonist. Her emotional ups and downs really came through. ARC did a great job of capturing the challenges of Covid foe this family but also the silver linings that got them through With all the rich details, it felt like I was seeing a movie as I read!

[Brittany Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning, thoughtful, immersive portrayal of virustime through children's eyes. Elisabeth crafts a world in these pages that feels safe and homey amid times of tumult, just as her characters do, in their own unique ways. More McKetta books, please! :)

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set during the first couple of months of a global pandemic, protagonist Arden balances living in a tiny house with her family of four for the first time with the challenges of school moving online, parents losing their jobs, and collecting dogs abandoned by their owners.

[Lorelai Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast pace a little sad but a story about COVID 19

[Jeannie Standal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet, but not too sweet, story of a family and their move to a tiny house right before the Pandemic. The characters are good, but not perfect. Being cooped up and isolated gets difficult, but not impossible, and Arden and