[i]The Clan of the Cave Bear[/i] is the first in Jean Auel’s [i]Earth’s Children[/i] series, and it’s an exciting way to begin. The book is a coming-of-age story for a young girl, Ayla, living during the Ice Age who is orphaned during an Earthquake. Ayla is adopted by The Clan of the Cave Bear, although she clearly is not “Clan,” as she looks, acts, and communicates very differently. The story is clearly a work of fantasy, as there are obvious factual inaccuracies; however, the quality of Auel’s writing makes it easy to become absorbed in the story and forget reality.

Ayla’s tale is on of moving from childhood to adulthood, Auel masterfully weaves vivid details about the setting, while keeping the reader engaged in the plot. Each character in the novel goes through his or her own individual struggle because of Ayla’s difference, yet because of the Auel’s writing style, it is easy for the reader to understand why each character is faced with difficult choices, rather than automatically siding with the main character. There is also depth to the descriptions that Auel uses, which makes it easy to understand the love between Ayla and her adopted parents—Creb and Iza—the intensity of Broud’s hatred toward Ayla, and the heart wrenching pain that is inflicted upon her.

Overall, the book is a fairly easy, but very captivating read.

I read a lot of books and this was one of my favorites. The story stays with you for many years. It is rich in detail of how the earth was after the ice age. The rest of the books have great discriptions also. All in all, it's a great series of one woman's struggles and journey to find her people.

best series I have ever read

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The best book in the whole series. Reading about Ayla and how she copes with being abandoned is a wonderful story. The parts discussing the making and usage of tools as well as the art of crafts delighted and enlightened me. I wish the others had been along the same vein, story plus insights into the culture and rituals of the tribes.

I have read hundreds and hundreds of books over the years, yet I have not found a single heroine that I love and identify with more than Ayla. She is breathtakingly beautiful (though she doesn't know it), courageous, smart, and a woman way ahead of her time. I love that she tries to fit in with the clan, but constantly questions the rules and beliefs of the society that surround her. The accuracy and detail of the landscape and spiritual beliefs, bring this story to life. The reader feels as if they are immersed in a prehistoric world and a participant in the story, instead of a bystander. The Earth Children's series gets marks that are off the chart! Jean M. Auel is in a class entirely to herself. I have read this series probably 5 or 6 times over the years and each time I pick it up, its like reading it for the first time.

For those of you that watched the movie... it does not do this book justice.

**I'm offering all 5 books in the series for 2 credits**



This story is set way back to the dawn of modern humans.
A young girl named Ayla's journey begins here when, after an earth quake and a lion attack she is found near death by the clan of the cave bear. Her life is a challenge since she is of the Others and not clan but this girl has a power all her own. She must learn clan ways and survive the abuse of a jellous young man who will one day be leader.

This is the first book in the Earth's Children Series.

Not a big fan, I found hard to read at times.

Theres to much discriptive sex in it. i read the 1st book when i was 10 and loved it. I wont ever read it again because of that reason though. Im a firm believe that if you wouldnt let you children read it, than you shouldnt eather.

Excellent. IT kept me totally entertained.

amazing storyline, and well written, but long winded.

I LOVE THESE BOOKS... This book is the first one of the series.

It was good, although at some points it dragged a bit

The first book in Jean M. Auels series of the Earth Children, Ayla a child of about 5 is found by the Clan people (cave dellers) and raised as there own. She was beautiful and blonde and they looked like cave people of old. I don't want to write more it would ruin the story, sorry.

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