Clan Of The Cave Bear is a book set in prehistoric times and written by Jean M. Auel. This author must have spent time hanging out with paleontologists. The main character is Ayel. As a five year old she has lost her family after an earthquake. She doesn't know how to hunt or which plants are good to eat. She drinks water from the river. One day she stumbles upon a lion protecting his children. The lion attacks her so Ayla hides in a small cave. The lion scratches her leg which become infected. After a day she leaves the cave. The lion family has moved on because they are disturbed by her smell. Eventually she falls unconscious on the ground because she is ill and starving to death. That is when the clan of the cave bear people find her. They are searching for a new cave to live in after the earthquake. The medicine woman wants to keep this child who they consider ugly because of her blond hair, blue eyes and the shape of her face. The clan are Neanderthals. Reluctantly the medicine woman is allowed to take her in. Ayla survives, learns the language and the culture of the clan, and finds love with her new mother. The magician in the group is deformed. He is missing an arm and on that side his leg is weak. He is missing an eye. He teaches Ayla words and math and comes to love her. Ayla reaches for him and hugs him and this is the first time anyone has done that to him. The son of the leader of the clan comes to despise Ayla. His hatred grows no matter what she does. I found this to be an interesting story about ancient medicines and foods, love and family.
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