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64th out of 66 books
—
59 voters
Children of the Dawnland
The end of the Ice Age: A time of melting glaciers, mass extinctions, unpredictable dangers…and young heroes
Though only twelve summers old, Twig is a talented Dreamer. Sometimes she has spirit dreams—dreams that come true. But her mother has always discouraged Twig from exploring her powers for fear that they would turn her strange, like the reclusive witch-woman Cobia.
Whe...more
Though only twelve summers old, Twig is a talented Dreamer. Sometimes she has spirit dreams—dreams that come true. But her mother has always discouraged Twig from exploring her powers for fear that they would turn her strange, like the reclusive witch-woman Cobia.
Whe...more
Hardcover, 336 pages
Published
July 7th 2009
by Starscape
(first published May 18th 2003)
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Really interesting, a little condescending in places. Written about a time 12,900 years ago in modern-day northeastern U.S./southern Canada where Clovis peoples are dealing with the end of the ice age, extinctions, etc. Theory of a comet entering Earth's atmosphere and causing environmental mayhem on top of this. The main character, Twig, is supposed to be a strong female, but her younger male friend, Greyhawk, is portrayed as stronger mentally and physically.
What was compelling about this book...more
What was compelling about this book...more
Children of the Dawnland is set 13,000 years ago in the northeast corner of North America, amidst a landscape dominated icebergs and wild animals. Twig, our heroine, is the daughter of her tribe’s shaman (Spirit Dreamer) and an unnamed father. Greyhawk is her best friend who is training to be a warrior, but doesn’t feel like he’s very good at it. The story is about coming of age and the end of an era. Twig is a strong Spirit Dreamer, even without training, and sees a great disaster about to befa...more
This book was fairly deceiving, and as of the beginning of this post, I'm still not sure how I'm going to rank it.
First - I know this is a story for children. I get that. I think it is a great tool to teach children about our history, and the other cultures that existed in Pre-Columbian North America. And I feel that way because I started reading the People books when I was 12, and I'm still reading them (and actively looking forward to new installments) 16 years later.
However, a few things stru...more
First - I know this is a story for children. I get that. I think it is a great tool to teach children about our history, and the other cultures that existed in Pre-Columbian North America. And I feel that way because I started reading the People books when I was 12, and I'm still reading them (and actively looking forward to new installments) 16 years later.
However, a few things stru...more
I have yet to read a pre-history book that's not disappointing. That in itself is disappointing. I think they have the potential to be quite interesting. Both this and Clan of the Cave Bear focus heavily on fantastical spirituality. When you live so close to the land and the smallest things can have large effects on whether your clan survives or goes hungry, I can understand why such a group would be more superstitious, look for signs, and put great faith in both natural and drug-induced dreams....more
Nice read. Although this is YA, very similar to other books by the authors. The story is centered around the Clovis people and incorporates the science that speculates that a cataclysmic event occurred in North America around 13,000 years ago.
Parents who have an issue with religions other than Christianity might opt not to buy this for the younger suggested ages due to the prevalence of topics like spirit guides and possession, as well as some fairly gruesome descriptions of death and mutilatio...more
Parents who have an issue with religions other than Christianity might opt not to buy this for the younger suggested ages due to the prevalence of topics like spirit guides and possession, as well as some fairly gruesome descriptions of death and mutilatio...more
I think it's revealing that I'm so addicted and/or the Gears are such good story tellers that I was into the second chapter of this book before I realized that this was the Gear's first attempt at writing one of their pre-historic fables specifically for young readers. These two talented writers and archeologists should be now able to capture an entire new generation of rapt readers.
This is a great book for students especially 5th grade or older who find Native American History (or parts of American history) boring, it'll give it a more adventurous, realistic feel. The Gear's did a fantastic job with there first Childrens based book on Native American Culture!
The O'Neal-Gear team has always been a huge cut above the genre of "ancient" historical fiction what with their impressive backround and credentials. With this "J" series perhaps a new generation will be able to discard the false suppositions inflicted by an older generations self justifying rationals..
I was surprised to get an uncorrected advance reading copy from the library. The Gear's first YA book is almost like a short story compared to their other epic, historical novels. It was a fast read for me in that way and makes me want to dive into another of the adult novels, the First North Americans series and especially the Contact: The Battle for America series. Even though this is YA and is a lot less violent and no sexuality compared to their adult novels, it is still pretty violent. I wo...more
Please find my review at http://www.myshelf.com/reviews.htm
Good young-adult book to introduce young readers to pre-history fiction.
as usual a great story with a lot of personal and physical problems and triumphs, looks like a great series can't wait for the next book
I love first Americans literature and this one was a bit spiritual but still interesting.
i Loved it. need the rest of the trig.
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Born in Tulare, California, in 1954, Kathleen O'Neal Gear is one of six children. Her parents, Harold Arthur O'Neal and Wanda Lillie O'Neal, left Oklahoma and Arkansas during the Dust Bowl and moved to California. For most of Kathleen's youth, her parents owned and operated a small farm in the central San Joaquin Valley of California, growing primarily cotton and alfalfa. But at the same time, her...more
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