Cover Image: IMAGINE... The Great Flood

IMAGINE... The Great Flood

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This was a really great twist on the telling of Noah’s Ark. Although I believe everyone of any age would enjoy this, I really think it is a great read for reluctant , young boy readers. It’s not an overly long book, and is pretty engaging with an adventure like time travel theme. This is a great read aloud, and would be beneficial for Sunday School classes, homeschoolers or families to read along side a Noah’s Ark Bible study. Highly recommend and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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This book is Geared towards a younger audience, but was still an enjoyable read for me. Matt Koceich took the Bible story of The Flood to a whole new level, giving you a new perspective on the event. I enjoyed being able to follow Corey as he witnesses and lives through this event. This was a fun and very quick read, I finished the book in one sitting.

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I first accidentally stumbled across this book earlier this summer and immediately thought of Munch. He is just as much a bookworm as I am and can spend hours reading, if there’s no electronics available. However, the summer dissipated into weeks with his Dad and time in California with his grandparents. I was alternating a day here or there with his Mom. Makes it hard to really dive into a book of substance. Before I knew it school was back in session and with his alternating weekends between Mom and Dad I was taking a random once a weekend a month or even a stolen day here or there. Not conducive to diving into a book of substance. Then I was working Saturdays and that gave me a scant one day of the weekend to spend with the Minions. Not really easy to dive into a book of substance. Suddenly it was months later, the next book in the series is going to be coming out, and I still hadn’t reviewed the book. I want to read the next book so I better get this review done, with our without His Munchness. The synopsis was intriguing and honestly I didn’t care it was a middle grade book, I wanted to read it!

There were times I found myself forgetting it was a middle grade book and not a young adult book. I found myself getting frustrated at the lack of detail in one thing or another. I found myself feeling it was too simplified. I think I felt that way partly because, as we are well aware, Munch is so far ahead of the curve. His reading level is anything. His appropriate reading level is not. Finding middle grade books (appropriate themes) that will also hold his attention and interest (off the charts intelligence) is difficult. Finding appropriate reading material for him that also interests him is HARD. All the quirky narrative aside, once I was back on track of middle grade thinking I think the level of detail is pretty close to amazing. Taking a simple Biblical truth, that even adults struggle to ‘get’ and cling to, and putting it in perspective for a younger audience is something this book did with amazing style and grace. Learning to trust God with everything. Learning to listen to God even when it doesn’t make sense. Kinda like Noah.

This story takes a young man, Corey, who is upset and worried and frustrated that his family has decided to move from the only home he has ever known in Texas to Florida. He has to leave his community, his neighborhood park, his friends! His mom tries to help him with the idea of this transition but it’s just not enough. What kid wants to leave it all behind, especially friends, for something so different and so unknown? However, with the bump to the noggin as he chases after his dog at the start of a rain storm he finds himself awake and meeting Shem. Shem and his brothers are gathering the animals for the ark that his father Noah had built. Shem had never seen rain. Had never seen clouds. Corey taught him that the clouds in the sky would bring the rain. Shem only knew that when God told Noah to built the ark, Noah built the ark. He trusted God. He trusted God when it didn’t make sense. He trusted God when it was hard. He trusted God with everything. Corey learned a lot about himself and faith and God during this experience. And when he woke up? He trusted God.

There were elements that I felt reached too far. The introduction of a dark wizard/sorcerer/whateverhewas in the ancient time. I don’t feel like it added a lot to the story in terms of Biblical accuracy. I do think it might embrace the concept that Satan is literally everywhere in any incarnation that can best lead the intended victim away from God. It just felt a little too much ‘Ancient Aliens’ for me. That aside I really enjoyed the story, I really think that when I have more than a minute with Munch that is not also wrapped up in real life like feeding him (geez, kids eat like 3 times a day and stuff?!?), and doing laundry, and feeding him (again!?!), and cleaning house and making even more food because yeah 3 times a day plus snacks, he will enjoy this story. If he has any words of wisdom I’ll let him come back and update them in. In the meantime this is a book, and potentially a series, that is definitely worth checking out for your middle grade reader. It’s interesting and contemporary while also drawing truth from the Bible in a way that is sure to be a re-readable hit.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

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Imagine the great flood author has done one magnificent job on retelling the story of Noah and the way that Inbetweeners and could fall in love with it and so could fall in love with it and also learn a lesson on other subjects too. I loved it when he arrived in the was time and there he was standing face-to-face with the lion and Lioness man was he scared and I would have been praying so hard just like he was and guess what happened well I'm not going to tell you – you have to read it for yourself. It is so worth it believe me .

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Great informational story about the great flood. Kind of like an I survived story.

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I'm always interested in books that retell stories from the Bible, hoping for an engaging account that sticks to the facts that are recorded. Yes, I know that's a tall order, but I'm forever optimistic. I found Imagine...The Great Flood to be quite engaging—but I found myself disappointed in my other criteria.
I found Corey's story quite easy to read, and well-written. Corey falls down and hits his head near his home in Texas, and when he opens his eyes he can't see his mother or dog anywhere. Instead, a lion was standing in front of him, along with a man wearing a long robe. Soon, he found himself in more danger than he had ever imagined before, and helping people he had only ever heard of in the Bible as Noah and his sons prepare for the Flood.
As far as accuracy, I'm just not sure. Noah and his sons are portrayed as going out to get the animals, whereas the Bible sounds, to me at least, as though they came to the Ark. Also, in this story, it was starting to rain as the loading of the Ark was being finished, while the Bible sounds like the family and animals went in, God shut the door, and then, after seven days, the Flood began.
I found the description of the Nephilim interesting. These were giants with superhuman strength. Their existence is hinted at in the Biblical account, but I've never read a story with them in it before. They added a lot of tension to the plot.
I appreciated the ending of the story; I really don't care for most time-travel stories, but this one was well-done. I also appreciated the encouragement, throughout the story, to trust in God, whether you're in danger or your life is being uprooted. This is an exciting story for preteens who like short, easy reads.
WARNING: There is violence, as the Nephilim try to harm Corey, and the inaccuracies noted above.

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This story is a book written through the eyes and life of a 10 year old boy. He is facing a BIG move in his life and learning the life lesson of I CAN TRUST GOD NO MATTER WHAT. This story takes him on a journey to be in the time of Noah and experience some of what was going on in the land at that time. Noah and his family were the ONLY ones following the One True God and this author paints quite the great read aloud picture of it. I definitely can’t wait to read more from this author and highly recommend this book to you.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and was under no obligation to post a review.

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Imagine...The Great Flood by Matt Koceich is a time travel tale for youngsters. Corey is walking his dog, talking with his mom about moving across the country when all of sudden he finds himself on a side of a hill facing two majestic, yet vicious lions. And with that 10-year-old Corey's adventure with Noah and his sons begins. Who are these Hulk-like giants? Who is Elizar with a staff that has wisps of blue light arcing from the top of it? Why does he want Corey to come with him? The story is not only action packed with scenes of boulders being thrown, lions attacking giants, and falling off cliffs but is also threaded throughout with the truths of God's Word. Truths that will teach children that when a hopeless situation comes along that God will make a way out, that God can be relied on and trusted...He never changes. Imagine The Great Flood is a great retelling of the Biblical account of Noah and the Ark. I am really looking forward to reading this with my grandkids and also for more books like this from this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

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I really liked the idea of a book that insirts young readers into the events of the Bible.
I liked that the author used Nephilim as a villainous presence in the story.
The writing style is geared toward the younger reader, and the plot is quickly paced.
I will probably be reading this aloud to my younger siblings.

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Corey was facing a hard reality, his family was moving from Texas to coastal Florida, and Corey had lived most of his life in Texas and did not want to move.
Corey goes for a walk with his Mom, falls and hits his head on a sharp object.
He wakes up and finds himself surrounded by lions! A man with a staff tells him everything is fine as long as he has his staff.
The young man's name is Shem, and he asks Corey to help him load the lions onto his Father's ark - Corey recognizes who Shem's father Noah is, and what they are doing.
Shem warns Corey about the Nephilim, (the Nephilim were Giants that are 10 feet tall with superhuman strength as they are the offspring of demonic angels and humans. Genesis 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, whenever the sons of God came to the daughters of men, and gave birth to them. Those were the mighty men of old, men of renown Tree of Life Version.)
The Nephilites try to stop Shem and Corey and Corey is lifted 12 feet in the air by one of the Nephilim, he then is reminded of his mother telling him to call on God, he does, but and then the lions attack the giants feet, he lets go of Corey and they all run to the Ark and are safe.
You will want to read this story for yourself to learn about Corey's adventures with. Shem, the Nephilim and an evil man who tries to stop them from finishing their task.
This is a great book for children and young teens, as an adult I enjoyed it too!

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