Reading Rainbow Book Review

Clan of the Cave Bear

Have you ever wondered what it was like to live in the times of the cave man many

millions of years ago? Find out in Clan of the Cave Bear, by Jean M. Auel. In this novel,

we follow the life of Ayla, a "modern" homo sapien, among a clan of Neanderthals in

ancient Europe.

The book begins with an earthquake where Ayla loses her natural family. She runs

in fear, through woods and past the mountains, where she lays down to die. She is found

soon after by Iza, a member of the Clan of the Cave Bear and a notable medicine woman,

while the Clan is in search of a new cave for their home. Iza cares for her and brings her

back to health. After the new cave is found, Ayla, a five-year-old girl with no memory of

her past, is made a member of the group.

Her entrance into the clan is not taken lightly by all. Broud, the leader's son and

future leader, becomes Ayla's biggest enemy, something that causes her trouble

throughout the book. But to others, she is seen as a sign of good luck.

No matter what you see her as, it is impossible to not see her differences from the

Clan. They are short and strong with only gross motor skills, while Ayla grows to be

taller, thinner, and capable of fine movement. She has blonde hair, and can laugh, cry, and

speak. The dark-haired Clan can do none of this.

But deeper differences soon arise when she begins exploring outside of the Clan's

set-in-stone traditions. To find out what happens, you'll have to read The Clan of the Cave Bear.