Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure by Allan Richard Shickman

May 29, 2010 Angelc rated it really liked it

Shelves: keepers, already-own-read

I really enjoyed Zan-Gah's story. This book is totally unique and I think it's great to see prehistoric men and women given a voice and a story.

The book was written almost like interconnected short stories. Each chapter was like a new adventure where we met a new character or entered a new battle.

The story is about survival and coming of age, Zan grows in many ways throughout the book. I liked how he handled physical problems better than emotional ones because emotions are so hard to deal with.

T ...more

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Feb 16, 2010 Misty rated it liked it

Shelves: juvenile-ya, historical, own, series, signed, read-in-2010, review-copy-accepted, ya-challenge-4

3.75 - 4
3.8

[Note: I am going to treat the review of both books ([book:Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure|6044486] and Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country) as one in most instances, since my likes and dislikes were the same in both books. When I am speaking of one in particular, I will make a note of it.]

I said awhile back that this is the summer of expanding my reading tastes and reading outside of my comfort zone (as seen in the Wild Things Challenge, which I really need to do an update on). Somet ...more

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Jul 14, 2010 Ashley rated it really liked it

Shelves: blog, signed, review-copy, own

Originally reviewed on my blog, a href=http://basicallyamazing.blogspot.com/... from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

I enjoy historical fiction. I love reading about a time period before my own because it gives me a little taste of what life was like for someone with very different experiences. And, I'd much rather experience it vicariously than permanently give up electricity and running water.

So, when I was contacted by Earthshaker Books to review a prehistoric adventure series following young Zan-G Originally reviewed on my blog, a href=http://basicallyamazing.blogspot.com/... from Bleh to Basically Amazing.

I enjoy historical fiction. I love reading about a time period before my own because it gives me a little taste of what life was like for someone with very different experiences. And, I'd much rather experience it vicariously than permanently give up electricity and running water.

So, when I was contacted by Earthshaker Books to review a prehistoric adventure series following young Zan-Gah, I was thrilled. It sounded like something that would be a fun read, and even if I didn't end up loving them, I have four younger brothers, and between them, one brother was bound to be interested. My initial feelings after finishing these two books? I'm keeping them (sorry bro... Maybe, if you're nice to me, I'll let you borrow it.)

The two books, Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure and Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country by Allan Richard Shickman were a lot of fun to read. When we first meet Zan, he is a young boy trying to determine his place within his tribe. He wants to be a man, with a man's responsibilities, but at such a young age, that's hard. Zan is a great character. Although he is young, he's already well on his way to becoming a remarkable man. He is learning the courage does not mean a lack of fear, but rather accepting those fears and facing them anyway. He goes with the men of his and the neighboring tribes to hunt the lion that has recently killed a child. He's the both the youngest and the smallest person involved, and he's scared. He refuses to let that hold him back and ultimately, he is the one who brings the lion down. Doing this earns him the name Zan-Gah as an honor.

After the celebration over the defeat of the lion, the narrative breaks away to tell us a little of Zan-Gah's past. Zan has a twin, Dael, who has been missing for about a year. Zan-Gah begins to have disturbing dreams that convince him his brother is actually alive. Now that he has become more of a man, Zan-Gah decides it is time to set out to find his brother, save him, and bring him back home. The search for his brother and all that happens to him as he travels is detailed in the first book. Zan-Gah meets many new people, makes friends and enemies, learns, grows, suffers and triumphs.

I was really rooting for Zan-Gah to find his brother and bring him safely home. Reading this, you really want Zan-Gah to succeed. Which, to a degree, he does. Zan finds his brother and brings him back to the family. It took Zan-Gah over a year to find and free his brother from captivity which means Dael has now been a prisoner for over two years. And his captors did not treat him well. Dael does go home, but he returns to his people broken and withdrawn.

The second book begins with what little humanity Dael regained after being set free fleeing, leaving him angry, bitter, broken and uncaring. He is so full of anger and hate, all he can think about is exacting his revenge on those who he believes wronged him. And that includes Zan-Gah. Zan-Gah cares deeply about his brother and it hurts him that Dael is in so much pain but masks it with these darker emotions and refuses to let anyone close. Although Dael's character angered me in the second novel, I respect that Shickman didn't sugarcoat anything here. Being tortured in captivity for two years damages a person. It is impossible to be the same after surviving something like that, and as much as he angered me, I can't really bring myself to blame Dael. He didn't ask to be broken.

I very much enjoyed the story told within these two novels. For the most part, the story was told very well and I thought the characters were wonderful and real. None of the characters felt like overused cardboard stock characters. Each character has their own personality and unique way of looking at life. I was impressed at how much life Shickman was able to give his characters. The differences between the various tribes we meet within the course of the story are also amazing. He gave them each distinct characteristics that definitively set them apart from each other.

There were times however, when the flow of the novel seemed slightly disjointed or abrupt. There were a few times when the story would be moving along at a good pace, and then I felt like Shickman backtracked to give us important information that would become relevant in a few pages, even though it had little, if anything, to do with the current action. But, it needed to be said before it was too late so he just kind of stuck it in. The transitions weren't always smooth.

While reading this, there were also times that I felt like I was reading a very well written history text. I actually enjoyed that aspect of the writing, and thought that it was exactly what this book needed. I think I would have found most other narrative forms awkward or overdone. However, I don't know how much a young reader would enjoy that and the book is marketed at children ages 11 and up. There are many scenes that involve the harsher aspects of life during the prehistoric era which might also be harder for a young child to understand and cope with. While I wouldn't keep this book away from the children (and do plan on asking my 11 year old brother if he'd like to read them) I think these are books that parents would do well to read along with their child (especially if they are a young 11 or so) or at the very least, be aware of the potential questions and concerns that might be raised by the reading of these books, and be available for questions.

Overall, I was very pleased to have read these, and am interested to see what Allan Shickman does next. ...more

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Jan 28, 2011 Faye rated it really liked it

Shelves: owned-books

Allan R. Shickman wrote a beautiful tale about a young boy named Zan-later to be known as Zan-Gah. It really is a marvelous story and I really enjoyed it. I recommend it to everyone, if you like YA, which I'm assuming you do and that's why your my blog follower. 'Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure' is told as a story about Zan-Gah who lived a long, long, long time ago. Mr. Shickman does an incredible job of describing what life was like back then and how wild not only the animals, but the people r Allan R. Shickman wrote a beautiful tale about a young boy named Zan-later to be known as Zan-Gah. It really is a marvelous story and I really enjoyed it. I recommend it to everyone, if you like YA, which I'm assuming you do and that's why your my blog follower. 'Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure' is told as a story about Zan-Gah who lived a long, long, long time ago. Mr. Shickman does an incredible job of describing what life was like back then and how wild not only the animals, but the people really were. It gives you an in-depth look into life as it was back then, in prehistoric times.

Zan and his kindred lived in that dim period when there was no safety but that supplied by strength and cunning, when there were no laws but those imposed by nature and by humankind's own fierce desire to survive. People faced a constant danger, and not many lived to be old.

Shickman really gets the point across about how dangerous life was back then and just the intense realism of it all. The story starts out with Zan, and the rest of his tribe, prepping to hunt a lion that has been tormenting them. Zan is very young and would not have normally been allowed to go on a hunt but his father agreed against his mothers wishes. The whole lion hunt scenario has an underlying meaning, at least to me. All of these opposing clans/tribes worked together and pulled all their strength to try and defeat a common enemy. That being the lioness that is killing their people. Despite the fact that they are enemies, they work together. So the message being exactly that, if you put your differences aside and work together, you can achieve anything.

Shickman wrote with so much description and passion that it was easy to envision everything as you read along. You can literally see what Zan sees and sometimes, it can be very gruesome. Which leads me into how amazing Zan-Gah is as a character. He is so brave! It's astounding. During the lion hunt scene, my heart was racing and I was anticipating the worst. But Zan-Gah never let his fear show and never even thought about defending himself. It was like second nature to him and he just knew what he had to do to survive, even though it was his first hunt. Oh, I should mention that in the beginning of the book Zan-Gah starts out as just Zan but through his bravery and amazing conquest he earns the name Zan-Gah. It explains it all in the book, read it and you'll find out!

I really liked reading about everything with the tribes/clans. It was interesting to see their perspectives on different things in their day to day lives. And I'm sure, that even though this is a fictional story, it's accurate. Like one thing that stuck out to me was to hear how scars were like sacred markings. They even go as far to use a special healing substance that has ink in it (almost like a tattoo right?) that preserves the scars and makes them stand out.

They rubbed Zan's wounds with an inky substance which would aid in the healing, but leave dark marks when the wounds closed.

I liked when Zan-Gah was talking to the great elder, Aniah, from a different clan. As the reader, I learned a lot of valuable information about the world they live in, about the different clans and why all these clans are at war with each other. After Zan-Gah visits with Aniah he continues on his journey. I love the fact that the gift Aniah gave him was completely precious. It was such a crucial part of life for them:

It was a kit for making fire, consisting of a straight, pointed stick, a strap, and two small blocks of wood, plus some very dry grass.

What a treasure!

I found myself becoming more and more intrigued with Zan-Gah the more I read. I loved reading about Zan-Gah's different encounters with not only the clansmen, but the dangerous animals as well. He was always very brave and is so grown up for how young he is. Even in the face of imminent danger or a threatening situation, he remains calm and thinks logically. He outsmarts his attackers by quick thoughts and actions even though he could be killed in an instant.

Besides Zan-Gah, my second favorite character in the book (at least to read about) was Chul, the giant, and his tiny wife, Siraka-Finaka.

Standing on her toes, her nose just reached to his navel! But if she was small in size, she was mighty in spirit.

Each chapter in 'Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure' is like it's own mini adventure. Zan going from place to place and confronting animals or people. There is always something going on in every chapter. There is not one dull chapter in the whole book! There's so much more I want to tell everyone about this book but, then I would spoil the book for you. ...more

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May 25, 2010 Heather rated it really liked it

In this new YA adventure story, a young boy living in a primitive era discovers the savage world around him and the budding humanity he carries inside. Zan is only eleven years old when his village goes out in pursuit of the terrible beast that has killed one of the village children. Despite his fear, Zan emerges from the hunt as the sole victor and is given the name Zan-Gah (Zan of the Rock) as a mark of the honor that he has won. But Zan's life is far from complete, for his twin brother has go In this new YA adventure story, a young boy living in a primitive era discovers the savage world around him and the budding humanity he carries inside. Zan is only eleven years old when his village goes out in pursuit of the terrible beast that has killed one of the village children. Despite his fear, Zan emerges from the hunt as the sole victor and is given the name Zan-Gah (Zan of the Rock) as a mark of the honor that he has won. But Zan's life is far from complete, for his twin brother has gone missing and has not been seen in the past two years. Feeling tremendously guilty for his possible role in his brothers absence, Zan-Gah goes in search of his missing sibling, finding danger, treachery and violence along his way. Will Zan ever see his brother Dael again? Will he even survive his desperate journey? Young readers will find themselves pondering all these questions while learning a plethora about primitive life in this thrilling and unusual tale of a brave boy's fight for survival.

I don't read many YA titles. I am not exactly sure why that is, but somehow I always think that I won't be able to relate to the characters of the story. Then an opportunity comes along to broaden my reading horizons and I begin to ask myself why I have arbitrarily been holding myself back from genres that I am unfamiliar with. Such was the case with this book. I went into the book expecting to find that the story and characters would be elementary representations of what I would normally find in adult literature, but what I found instead pleased me greatly.

First off, I really felt that Zan-Gah himself was a wonderfully crafted character. He was very believable and had some pretty complex emotional reactions to his environment. Instead of being a one-dimensional cutout, Zan wondered and deduced a lot about himself and the people he was living with, recognizing not only the flaws within himself, but lovingly understanding the ones he saw in those who surrounded him. A lot of his behavior in the later sections of the book were a direct result of the guilt that he was feeling about his brother having gone missing. I think a lot of young adult readers will relate to and understand Zan's feelings of guilt and its repercussions. I also think that the guilt that drove him was a plausible motivator in which to propel the narrative, and felt that it made Zan a really sympathetic character.

I also thought that the action/adventure aspects of the story were very meticulously plotted and developed. It didn't feel like the narrative was overcrowded with action but instead that it was paced more sparingly and believably. I think it would have been a mistake to assume that the book had to jump from action scene to action scene just to keep a younger audience enveloped in the story, and I very much appreciated the meat and thorough mix of background, action and character development that made up the narrative. Another thing I liked about the action scenes was the fact that they were very believable. There were not a lot of fantastical elements in this story. This made the story seem like it had a bit more gravity and relevance, which I also appreciated.

Though I have not read a lot of fiction set in the prehistoric era, I found that the author fleshed out his setting well and provided a lot of detail about the time in question. There were explanations of the ways in which food was gathered, hunted and cooked, and various facts about the way people lived their day to day lives. The topic of warfare between clans was also given much attention and the author necessarily included pertinent information about weapons and battle as well. I think that the most interesting aspects of life during that time was the look into the life of the women of the group. Though they were mostly separated from the men most of the time, they had a certain way of making their presence and opinions known. Ultimately, I felt that all aspects of this story were fully realized and explored with a lot of attention to detail.

I think that this would be a great read for young readers, but also for adults who might enjoy a look at prehistoric life. I think the author did a wonderful job with the characters and setting and I found the adventures that Zan went on to be full of interesting twists and turns. Reading this book was a pleasant diversion from some of the heavier books I have been reading lately, and though it was short, there was a lot packed into this tale. I would definitely recommend this book to a variety of readers and think that it might make a nice summer read for those looking for something a little different. ...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Vicki (The Wolf's Den) rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical, author-requested, the-wolfs-den-reviewed, free-read-own, realistic, young-reader

Thousands of years ago, before there were roads or fences or even languages like English, Latin or Hebrew, there lived a boy named Zan. For Zan and his people it is a time of unrest. The tribes are consumed in an on-again off-again war, and temporary treaties are only forged to battle immediate threats.

When a lioness attacks and kills a child, the tribes have no choice but to confront the danger together. Zan, though normally too young for such an endeavor, is included in the hunt and, much to e ...more

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Jul 11, 2010 Becky rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2010, disappointing, reviewed

This story is about a teen in pre-historic times, and his quest to find his twin brother who disappeared over a year ago. Zan-gah is brave and proud, and sure that if he starts his adventure, he will be rewarded in finding his goal. He encounters a lot of dangers and obstacles along the way, but never gives up hope.

I wish that I could say that I loved this book as I really enjoy adventure stories, but unfortunately, I had quite a few issues that I could not ignore. Overall, I thought it was OK, This story is about a teen in pre-historic times, and his quest to find his twin brother who disappeared over a year ago. Zan-gah is brave and proud, and sure that if he starts his adventure, he will be rewarded in finding his goal. He encounters a lot of dangers and obstacles along the way, but never gives up hope.

I wish that I could say that I loved this book as I really enjoy adventure stories, but unfortunately, I had quite a few issues that I could not ignore. Overall, I thought it was OK, but I thought the concept could have been great and I had hoped for more.

First, I felt that the writing seemed to talk down to the reader. I know that this is a children's/young adult book, but readers still want to be immersed in the story and see the events through the characters' eyes. This was a book full of events that were told rather than shown, and after just telling the reader what happened, we were then told, with italics or exclamation points, what the events or actions meant, as if the reader would not understand. Perhaps these little asides were intended to draw in the reader, but to me they felt a bit condescending and repetitive. I think that this was done more to clarify what was happening than to condescend, but I didn't feel that the reiteration was necessary. We should be able to gather from context what a particular action or scene signifies, and examine that scene in relation to our own experiences. If every event is explained, we have no need to look for any other meaning or significance to ourselves, and it's then harder to connect or identify with the character without that bond.

I felt that the characters were interesting and diverse, but I didn't really feel as though I understood any of them. I did root for everything to come out OK in the end, but I couldn't really identify with the characters regarding their lives or choices or actions. I kept being surprised by the decisions that Zan made, because they were different than the ones that I would have made in his place. In a way this is a good thing, because I do generally enjoy unpredictable characters, but I admit that it did make me feel as though I didn't know Zan at all.

The second issue I had was the language used. It felt modern and out of place with the setting. The character names are all seemingly appropriate, and certain words in the presumed language of the pre-historic people, but then we have a teenage main character using modern English words like "proficient" that obviously didn't exist then. It just stuck out and unfortunately didn't work for me. Again, I realize that this was probably done in an effort to make the story more accessible to younger readers, but it was distracting and took me out of the story.

The third issue that I had was that there was just too much I found unbelievable. There were close calls, sure, but every time there was the least amount of trouble, the characters would find an incredibly convenient way out of it with little or no effort at all. Yes, Zan-Gah is described as resourceful, but he didn't really show this quality - and when he did, it was not his resourcefulness that benefitted him, it was luck or someone else coming to his aid.

There is a theme of unity and working together and loyalty that appealed to me, however. Zan-Gah helps to facilitate between his clan and those of his neighbors. Although it was effected very easily, with little more effort than gathering the people and making a short speech, still, he enacted a change for the better, and I did like that. I also liked the fact that he did not give up hope of his brother, and went to try to save him, against all odds, and knowing that he may never return. I was proud of Zan-Gah for his bravery.

I think that this book is one that younger readers may enjoy. ...more

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Oct 29, 2010 L.A. rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-reviews

In the land of his people Zan, meant hunter. He is a young man in his early teens, preparing for a hunt that could bring more death to his people. It will be his first hunt, not one for hunger, but to keep their tribe
safe and for revenge of the death of a youngster. Once a lion has tasted of human they would not be safe while it still roamed. He would help to hunt it with his father, his uncle and the rest of the men of his tribe.

The hunt required them to create a large circle around the animal In the land of his people Zan, meant hunter. He is a young man in his early teens, preparing for a hunt that could bring more death to his people. It will be his first hunt, not one for hunger, but to keep their tribe
safe and for revenge of the death of a youngster. Once a lion has tasted of human they would not be safe while it still roamed. He would help to hunt it with his father, his uncle and the rest of the men of his tribe.

The hunt required them to create a large circle around the animal and make is smaller and smaller, thereby trapping the animal in such a way that he was attacked on all sides, more targets to confuse and annoy it. This lion immediately saw a weakness in the line, a line of tall straight unmovable objects but one. There was one weakness in that impenetrable wall. The lion leaped directly at Zan. With no recourse, Zen stood firm holding his
spear steadied by the ground. The lion was impaled, but Zan was marked by his claws. The cry immediately went up…..Zan-Gah, Zan-Gah. He had now just become a man, Zan the rock, immovable as a rock, solid in the face of danger.

As the celebration died down, Zan has made a life changing decision. He, who had been born one of a twin, had lost his brother the prior year. He did not feel that loss in his soul. Because this was so, he knows that his brother is not dead. Originally his family had thought that he too had been killed by one of the great cats, but with no success at finding his body, Zan was now sure he was lost, or taken by one of the many other tribes as a slave. With his newly found manhood, Zan has decided that his task has been set. He will follow the trail of his brother and not return home without him. A time of growth in a young mans life, of making a mark on the world. Will he reach his objective?

This is the story of Zan and his adventures in the prehistoric land of earth, living off the land, learning the customs of the others and searching for his lost twin.

In Zan-Gah, Allan Richard Shickman has given us a glimpse into the earth of long ago. He has described a time and place, rich with imagination, and believable in context. The country is described in detail and the descriptions bring the time to life. We meet different groups of cavemen and learn much of a culture that could have been how life really was on prehistoric earth. The weapons, and skins, as well as the face paintings are described in vivid detail. It is easy to visualize the meeting and fear of the most vicious of the groups.

Zan is a strong young man with a goal that he has set for himself. He will not let anything deter him. He has seen the ways of the world since he was a child and understands the dangers that he will face. He willingly accepts the challenge. He is extremely brave, and well tutored in the intricacies of dealing with others. Because there have been wars between the tribes for as long as could be remembered, there is knowledge of their ways as well.

The story is well told and the descriptions make it easy to visualize the time and place. This is a great book for the young adult reader, but also a fun story for anyone that would be interested in a story of bravery and courage. A story rich in life and adventure.

This book was recieved as a free copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own based of my reading and understanding of the material ...more

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Mar 29, 2010 Dwayne rated it really liked it

Reviewed @ Girls Without a Bookshelf

With the saturation of the YA market with futuristic and dystopian adventure novel, reading Zan Gah was a fresh distraction. When Earthshaker books asked me whether I wanted to review the book I could never have said no even if I wanted to. I'm an aspiring archaeologist, and the fact that Zan Gah features adventure with my archaeological weakness ... you get the point.

Zan Gah is a fast-paced, vivid and riveting read that excited my adventurous, archaeology-cra Reviewed @ Girls Without a Bookshelf

With the saturation of the YA market with futuristic and dystopian adventure novel, reading Zan Gah was a fresh distraction. When Earthshaker books asked me whether I wanted to review the book I could never have said no even if I wanted to. I'm an aspiring archaeologist, and the fact that Zan Gah features adventure with my archaeological weakness ... you get the point.

Zan Gah is a fast-paced, vivid and riveting read that excited my adventurous, archaeology-crazy self. The prehistoric landscape at which the adventures of Zan Gah was set was richly depicted and impressively pictured. Never was the description overpowering - it was just a delicate balance of the right words, which supported well the prehistoric setting. At certain scenes, I could almost see it as vividly as if I myself were part of Zan Gah's adventures and misfortunes; there were times I felt as if my ears have been filled with war cries and drum beats and my heart racing even though I was quite at peace reading on the lounge. Such is Allan Richard Shickman's talent in story-telling that I, a reader from the faraway future, almost tangibly experienced the adventure and appreciated, not to mention completely envied, the beauty of the unrestrained nature of Zan Gah's time.

Each of the characters in the book were well drawn and were given sufficient attention, so each of them grows to be relatable, admirable, individual and most of all alive. Personally it is this fact - that I found the characters so wholly described and personified that they take on life - that made the adventures in the book so engaging. I also vastly enjoyed each of the clans and the respective culture that is introduced to the reader as Zan Gah interacts with them. Best of all, I value the brotherhood that drives the hero - the bond he shares with his twin, Dael, but also with his family, friends, Rydl and Chul, and neighouring comrades.

Although the book starts off slow and have few and ignorable inconsistencies with its pacing, I found that the tension was set well and Shickman's ability to pull the strings together and let go of the tension at the most crucial point in the plot proves well to its readers. The writing style reminds me of Philip Pullman, the master story teller whose works I can only praise. Indeed, Shickman's Zan Gah is well suited suited for both the young and the old, and everyone else in between.

Having said that however, I must also mention that the cover completely deprives the book justice. One look at it and I would never have inched closer to it on a bookstore shelf. Such beautiful, award-winning book deserves more than the less-than-flattering cover. Although an important aspect of the plot, I think the lioness is not the definitive part of the novel, so I keep wondering why it is featured so prominently on the cover. More so, the cover makes the book look as if it is a children's picture book, which is completely misleading as it is very well capable of catering to the older generation.

Nonetheless, do not let the cover deter you! Zan Gah is an exciting adventurous read sure to entertain both the young and the old. ...more

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Dec 04, 2010 Heather rated it it was amazing

I received this novel from Earthshaker books to review. I am not being paid to review it and my review is an honest review of the book. That being said, I thought this was a great story! I don't know how realistic it was but it was easy to read broken down into small chapters and the story really was captivating. I'm a lover of history, prehistoric history included and though I'd never really heard of anything in this story except the Mastodon, who's bones Zan-Gah found, it was a very primitive I received this novel from Earthshaker books to review. I am not being paid to review it and my review is an honest review of the book. That being said, I thought this was a great story! I don't know how realistic it was but it was easy to read broken down into small chapters and the story really was captivating. I'm a lover of history, prehistoric history included and though I'd never really heard of anything in this story except the Mastodon, who's bones Zan-Gah found, it was a very primitive world.

The story begins with Zan's brother having been missing for a year already and Zan feels guilty because he wandered off when the two had a fight. Before that they had been inseparable. But Zan can't worry about that at this point because the next day, for the first time, the five clans are getting together to hunt down a lioness who killed a child. She has to be taken down before more children are killed. It is an uneasy alliance between the clans who fight usually, but they've called a truce. Out of sheer luck, Zan kills the lioness when she looks for a weak spot in the circle that is closing in around her and sees him, a young boy. She heads for him and he holds his spear steady. She dives right into it and kills herself. He is named Zan-Gah, Gah being the rock where he killed her. This is not a big part of the story.

The majority of the story is his search for his missing brother. They are twins and he has dreams every night that his missing brother, Dael is still alive. He fights with his parents over it but in the end, he goes after him. He discovers many things about the world her lives in and his enemies. He creates a new weapon purely by accident. He is captured by the same people that captured his brother for a time. But his brother isn't with them any longer. He suffers in the desert and almost dies. But he continues his search for his brother because he loves him and believes he is not dead even when he believes he, himself is dying.

The landscape is harsh, the people are harsh. Food is scarce, water is scarcer and you can feel the dryness of the desert, the heat on your back, the ache on your sore bare feet as you walk with Zan-Gah in search of his twin. You can feel the joy when he finds water and food and feel his desolation when he is so thirsty that his mouth is like chalk. You can also see the mind of a great leader forming, planning, and beginning to take over what one day will be his nation.

I totally recommend Zan-Gah to anyone, especially teachers, teaching about the hardships faced in prehistoric times. There is violence in the book, as there would be during that time period. I'd say fourth grade and up. It's definitely an easy read at 148 pages so maybe some reluctant readers would enjoy it. I hesitate to allow my ten year old to read it because it's a signed copy, but if he keeps it at home, maybe. For all you librarians out there, I'd keep this one in mind. Elementary school teachers should also keep this one in mind as well.

There is a follow up novel that I'm reading next call Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country. I'll be reading it next.
...more

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Apr 26, 2010 Donna rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult

Reading this book was like trying a new food: your tongue doesn't really know how to react to it. It's neither good nor bad. It's definitely not bad but your tongue hasn't decided if it actually likes it yet. It might need a few more tastes to adjust.

This book is by far unique to anything I've ever read, in YA or not. How many books out there tell a story from the point of view of a kid living 10,000 years ago? It's a world we know very little about and all of his experiences are entirely new wh Reading this book was like trying a new food: your tongue doesn't really know how to react to it. It's neither good nor bad. It's definitely not bad but your tongue hasn't decided if it actually likes it yet. It might need a few more tastes to adjust.

This book is by far unique to anything I've ever read, in YA or not. How many books out there tell a story from the point of view of a kid living 10,000 years ago? It's a world we know very little about and all of his experiences are entirely new while his emotions are ones that transcend time. Wanting to find a missing brother, playing the opossum when you know you should, stepping up to the plate when it's your time to hit. All of those raw emotions are there without being supplemented by cars, iPods or lockers. It makes it interesting, like a new spice you're not used to yet.

I'd say the only deterrent for me was the voice of the book. It was a little stilted but at the same time, just what is the voice of a 15 year old that could tell you what a Sabretooth tiger tasted like? He's not going to sound like us, he's not going to relay information the same way. Hell, he doesn't even wear shoes! So there is a distance there but at the same time it doesn't make Zan-Gah unattainable. I was able to connect with him on his entire journey.

It was very interesting to read but I still don't know if I like it. It hasn't swished around in my mouth long enough, I guess. It's weird. I read through it pretty quickly. I was compelled to keep reading by the story. I guess because it's so different that it's kind of hard to digest. That doesn't make it a bad thing. It's just . . . interesting.

As I said, the only real turn-off for me was the voice. Other than that, it told a good story filled with suspense, action, hope and love. You get to look into the lives of people that no longer exist, in a time long past, and you get to see just how raw it all was. It's like reading the Natural History Museum in book form but with personality and life. In order to read this, though, you'd have to be really willing for something different. Like getting up the nerve to try sushi for the first time. Or frogs legs. It's an acquired taste. Not that it tastes bad when you first try it but the flavor doesn't really develop until you sit and think about it. This isn't your standard historical fiction, that's for sure.

But I am looking forward to reading the sequel. It's all about Gael, Zan-Gah's twin brother, who was kidnapped by these crazy people and then sold into slavery. He's got some real PTSD issues to deal with and it's just interesting looking as psychology 10,000 years ago. The notion of a broken soul that they use is just amazing. ...more

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Jul 06, 2011 Wayne Walker rated it it was amazing

Would you have the courage to hunt a lion with only a spear? Zan is a teenage boy, much shorter than other young men his age and not very handsome, who lives in prehistoric times with his father Thal, mother Wumna, uncle Chul, aunt Siraka-Finaka, cousins, and other members of his clan. The five clans of the neighborhood sometimes are at war with one another and other times work together. As the book opens, they are united in seeking to destroy a lion who had slaughtered a child. When the hunters Would you have the courage to hunt a lion with only a spear? Zan is a teenage boy, much shorter than other young men his age and not very handsome, who lives in prehistoric times with his father Thal, mother Wumna, uncle Chul, aunt Siraka-Finaka, cousins, and other members of his clan. The five clans of the neighborhood sometimes are at war with one another and other times work together. As the book opens, they are united in seeking to destroy a lion who had slaughtered a child. When the hunters close in around the beast near the great rock Gah, it leaps out, and Zan happens to be at the right place and the right time to kill it, thrusting his spear into the lion’s neck. Aniah, the great warrior and leader of the northern clan, names him Zan-Gah.
Zan has a younger twin brother, Dael, who had just disappeared about a year before. Zan is sure that Dael is still alive, so he determines to go in search of his brother. After he starts out, he kills a snake and uses the skin to invent the sling. After passing through the Hru clan, he comes to Aniah, who tells him that his brother was probably captured by the wasp people, the clans’ age-old enemy. After entering the wasp people’s territory, Zan himself is captured by them, mistaken for Dael whom they think had escaped from the Noi people to whom they had sold him, and made a slave for a year, during which time he pretends to be dimwitted and learns many of their secrets. Escaping with help from Rydl, a young boy whom he has befriended, he goes on to the Noi and rejoices to find Dael. However, to get home they must escape the Noi and then pass back through the wasp people. Can they make it? Or will they be recaptured and maybe even killed?
It is interesting to read a novel for young people set in prehistoric times because I have not come across very many such books. Zan-Gah did a good job of holding my attention. The plot moved along nicely, and various aspects of the story tied together well to make a unified whole. There are a lot of excitement and suspense for readers with a sense of adventure. Some people may object to the killing of animals and the savage behavior of people, but the events are set in a time and place where killing and the threat of being killed were a part of everyday life for both humans and animals, and no graphic or gruesome descriptions are found. However, the book might not be appropriate for smaller children or those with especially sensitive natures. Teenagers and adults too will appreciate Zan’s passage from the uncertainties of boyhood to the strength of manhood. I certainly found it a satisfying read. There is a sequel, Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country.
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May 02, 2010 Audrey rated it liked it

So going into this book, I really expected nothing. It was my first go at a prehistoric novel, and I was glad it started off with a bang or else my attention would have wavered. The lion hunt really set up the whole premise, with really cool details and introducing an unique setting. I like the way the hunt was described, with the tribes and the traps.

The plot itself was well done, I enjoyed reading about Zan’s adventure and “quest” to find his twin brother. I thought the obstacles he had to get So going into this book, I really expected nothing. It was my first go at a prehistoric novel, and I was glad it started off with a bang or else my attention would have wavered. The lion hunt really set up the whole premise, with really cool details and introducing an unique setting. I like the way the hunt was described, with the tribes and the traps.

The plot itself was well done, I enjoyed reading about Zan’s adventure and “quest” to find his twin brother. I thought the obstacles he had to get through in order to find Dael were well written and unique. At the beginning, I was worried I would get all the names mixed up (like I do for fantasy novels) but the author made it easy to remember them.

I’m not sure how I felt about the ending, it was a bit too nicely wrapped up, but I was happy with what happened. My favourite parts of the book would be the dramatic action scenes which I thought the author wrote wonderfully.

However, somewhere along the novel, I felt the pacing began to waver. One of the things that bothered me was that after such a big build-up to significant events, it was like “One year passed..” which left me kind of disoriented if you can say that. I thought that while some scenes were described in vivid detail, other ones were just pushed aside.

The characters themselves could probably have been developed better, but I don’t really have anything bad to say about them. I did feel the interactions between characters felt forced. The relationships between the characters I couldn’t really identify with (probably because it was prehistoric…) especially between Zan and Lissa-Na. I thought his feelings were bipolar at times. Zan himself is strong and determined, and generally a likeable character. You can’t help but cheer for him as you read about his struggles and triumphs. I do wish Dael was a bit more fleshed out though.

Lastly, I thought the writing was decent. It provided an amazing insight to prehistoric times, and the novel was rich in details—sometimes a bit too rich. Things felt a bit over-described at times, but some other times it was just perfect. It was a bit of a hit-and-miss for me, some times I felt engaged, and sometimes I didn’t.

2.5/5- because I thought it had a good action and plot but characters weren't developed very well. I wish the writing was a bit more engaging. It felt like a lot of telling, not enough showing. The general plotline will keep you (hopefully) hooked because it is usually fast paced and filled with very unique events.

I would recommend this to people looking for a fun, fast read in a very unique genre! And it is probably more appealing to tween and teen boys, but warning: there are some violent scenes/bloodshed if you’re feeling queasy. ...more

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Mar 11, 2010 Blodeuedd Finland rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, historic-adventure

Genre: YA adventure
Pages: 160
Published: 2007

The hero, Zan-Gah seeks his lost twin in a savage prehistoric world, encountering suffering, captivity, conflict, love, and triumph. In three years, Zan-Gah passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a position of leadership among his people. Themes: survival, cultures, gender roles, psychological trauma, nature's wonders and terrors.

I wanted to read this book in order to really read a book and think about those it was meant for ...more

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May 18, 2010 Jessica rated it really liked it

Zan-Gah is a new taste for my literary palette, and I admit that when I first finished reading it I wasn't sure exactly what I thought. My head was still reeling from all the action that I had just encountered with Zan and his counterparts, but as I didn't have anything else to compare this book to I wasn't sure how it rated in my mind. Finally, I decided that this book is just in its own realm. A new and amazing type of fiction that cannot be compared to anything else because it is so unique. T Zan-Gah is a new taste for my literary palette, and I admit that when I first finished reading it I wasn't sure exactly what I thought. My head was still reeling from all the action that I had just encountered with Zan and his counterparts, but as I didn't have anything else to compare this book to I wasn't sure how it rated in my mind. Finally, I decided that this book is just in its own realm. A new and amazing type of fiction that cannot be compared to anything else because it is so unique. Truthfully, I loved this book!

The story opens with action right away, throwing the reader straight into a lion hunt with Zan and his clan members. A lion has killed a child, and now sadly must be killed. I was impressed that Zan was so stoic and rigid under the threat of attacking such a fast and fearsome creature. It was from this point that I knew he would be a character I would enjoy following through the story. Intelligent, strong, and a leader. Zan is a character who you can watch grow and feel invested in.

Allan writes with a depth that is truly intense. Each and every scene in the book is written in such vivid detail, that those of you with good imaginations will find yourselves walking the same paths as Zan does. There were times when I was so involved in this book that I didn't hear my phone ring. That's pretty amazing! The one thing I felt was lacking in this department was more description of the other characters. I learned so much about Zan and enjoyed his company, but I felt like the other characters were hidden behind his epic character.

Zan-Gah is a perfectly paced book for young adults, always giving enough action to keep the reader going but never pushing too much. What caught my attention most while reading this book however, is how much you will find yourself learning while you read. It's not often that a book can teach and entertain at the same time, and as an educator that is something that I strongly look for. Allan Richard Shickman has woven a beautiful and unique tale with Zan-Gah. I see this not only as a young adult story, but as a story that people of all ages would in fact enjoy. ...more

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Jul 01, 2010 Cynthia (A Blog about Nothing) rated it liked it

After Zan kills the lion that he was hunting with his clan he is honored by them and the neighboring clans and is given his new name Zan-Gah which means Zan of the Rock. But Zan is not completely happy, he misses his twin brother that disappeared a year before after they got into an argument. Zan makes up his mind after having dreams about his twin Dael, and convinces his family that he is going in search of his brother.

At first it took me a while to really get into the book, it is totally diffe After Zan kills the lion that he was hunting with his clan he is honored by them and the neighboring clans and is given his new name Zan-Gah which means Zan of the Rock. But Zan is not completely happy, he misses his twin brother that disappeared a year before after they got into an argument. Zan makes up his mind after having dreams about his twin Dael, and convinces his family that he is going in search of his brother.

At first it took me a while to really get into the book, it is totally different from anything else that I read and that's why I decided to give it a try, it was definitely different. There's not a lot of dialogue in the story which kind of bothered me at the beginning but after Zan-Gah leaves his family to go in search of his brother I started getting into it more. The book is mainly told from a narrator's pov with really detailed descriptions that helped me picture everything a little bit better. Zan is a great main character, brave and very intelligent. He's willing to risk his life to find his brother or at least find out what happened to him. He goes into an adventure filled journey where he meets the other clans, goes through captivity, finds himself in a lot of dangerous situations, and befriends some interesting characters.

When Zan finds his brother he realizes that he is not the same boy he used to know. Dael is deeply disturbed, depressed, and he seems violent at times. Neither Zan nor the reader know what really happened to Dael but one can only imagine that he had suffered a lot after being imprisoned in a small cage for a long time and taken from one clan to another. It was definitely a great story of strong family love and courage, there's a lot of details on the different cultures and beliefs of the clans which I found very interesting and fun to read. Even though I liked this book I think in my opinion is more of a MG than a YA which is what the book says it is. I would definitely recommend this one to middle grade boys as I think they would enjoy it a lot more. ...more

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Jul 19, 2010 CorLostForWords rated it liked it

I gave this book a 3.5 star rating.

Zan is in a highly exalted position after he has killed a man-eating lion. He earns the new name Zan-Gah; "Gah" being "of the rock". His tribe celebrates their victory over the demise of the lion. Zan-Gah, however, still feels responsible for his twin brother's disappearance well over a year prior, so he decides to embark on a journey to find Dael. Along the way he befriends several people, and makes enemies of others. Nevertheless, he will not give up until h I gave this book a 3.5 star rating.

Zan is in a highly exalted position after he has killed a man-eating lion. He earns the new name Zan-Gah; "Gah" being "of the rock". His tribe celebrates their victory over the demise of the lion. Zan-Gah, however, still feels responsible for his twin brother's disappearance well over a year prior, so he decides to embark on a journey to find Dael. Along the way he befriends several people, and makes enemies of others. Nevertheless, he will not give up until he has found Dael, and will do everything in his power to bring him home.
I found that this book was quite similar to Jean Auel's Earth Children series, in the sense that they are both set in prehistoric times. There is not a lot of literature set in this particular era, and I found the book quite captivating. The people, and dwellings, as well as the cultures of all of the different tribes proved fascinating. The imagery was painted vividly throughout the story, and it didn't detract from the storytelling. Zan-Gah is a unique individual himself, as he overcomes obstacles and he puts everything he has learned to good use. He is extremely bright, and manages to grow into a formidable young man.
One thing that younger teens, and tweens may not enjoy is Dael's emotional and emotionless killing. The scenes, though vivid, are written in such a way that the reader knows that they are set apart from the story. The storytelling itself was done remarkably well, and I found that the plot never really dragged. It meandered while Zan-Gah was searching for Dael, however several years would fly by before the end of the next sentence.
All in all, an insightful read set in prehistoric times. Some violence and graphic scenes, however they were few and far between. Captivating, interesting, and empowering. Many teens, and tweens will enjoy this book.

Many thanks goes to Bonnie from Earthshaker Books for sending me this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Oct 18, 2010 Daisy rated it liked it

Shelves: own

Summary: Set in prehistoric time, Zan is a boy in his early teens, who by a stroke of luck manages to kill a lioness that killed a child, in a hunt with the rest of the clansmen. He is then named Zan-Gah, which means Zan of the Rock, in honour of this.
Zan-Gah is troubled, his twin brother Dael has been missing for a year and though everyone has given up him, Zan believes he must still be alive and sets out to search for him. But times are hard and the different clans aren't united. Zan must bat ...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fiction, young-adult

Zan is not your typical boy. He lives in a cave with his family and tribe. He hunts with a spear. He sounds pretty scary...especially when a youngster goes missing and neighboring tribes get together to kill the enemy...a huge lioness. Zan is raring to go but everyone says no. Like your typical child, Zan disobeys and goes anyway. Then he kills the lioness all by himself. It's then that he gains the respect of all the tribes in the area, especially his own. A highly respected tribal leader from ...more

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May 03, 2010 Ella Preuss rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2010, from-publisher

When I was first asked to review this, I visited its website to see if I'd be interested in reading it.
I'd never read a book about prehistory, so I said yes, and then I started reading it.

Although I thought the beginning was a bit slow, once you get to the middle it does get good!

I love everything that has to do with past and lost cultures, and the description that Shickman gave us of Zan's people's beliefs and customs was incredibly believable. I was thrown into this lost and supersticious worl ...more

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Oct 19, 2010 Amanda (Good Choice Reading) rated it really liked it

To see complete review, visit http://anotherbookjunkie.blogspot.com

Zan-Gah is a powerful story about a boy who goes on a treacherous journey in search of his twin, who has been missing for some time. Along this journey, Zan-Gah is forced to fight for survival on many different occasions. There is action from beginning to end, though for a middle grade novel, I would have liked to see more dialogue. But given his circumstances, it wasn't really a possibility.

When Zan-Gah finally reaches his desti ...more

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Feb 17, 2011 Jessica rated it really liked it

This story was full of excitement and adventure! Not my usual read, I was hesitant to sit down with it. However, my son and I read it together and we both really enjoyed it. I liked that the writing was basic and easy to understand so my son could enjoy it without constantly interrupting to ask what certain words meant.

The story was about Zan and his missing twin, Dael. After fighting against a lion with the tribes and being the one to actually kill her, Zan becomes known as Zan-Gah. Zan dreams ...more

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Nov 26, 2010 M.A.CHASE rated it really liked it

This book is a signed copy sent to me by EarthShaker Books to read and review. It's about a boy anxious to be a man. He's ready to grow up and be part of the men in his tribe, so he goes on a Lion hunt. His world changes the minute him and the lioness meet eyes. The Lioness pounces Zan and in a second he killed the lion. He got scars on his arms. The head of the north tribes Aniah gave him the name Zan-Gah as honor. From then on he thinks himself as a man and so do the rest of his people. He the ...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Kai Charles(Fiction State Of Mind) rated it really liked it

The hero, Zan-Gah seeks his lost twin in a savage prehistoric world, encountering suffering, captivity, conflict, love, and triumph. In three years, Zan-Gah passes from an uncertain boyhood to a tried and proven manhood and a position of leadership among his people. Themes: survival, cultures, gender roles, psychological trauma, nature's wonders and terrors Good Reads

Zan-Gah is a very enjoyable Young Adult novel set during prehistoric times. We are introduced to Young Zan as he and his tribe are ...more

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Nov 24, 2010 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Zan-Gah was a boy anxious to become a man, so when the need arises to hunt down a lion that had killed a child, he insists to his father and mother that he is going, sharpening his spear, he is ready for the hunt. With bravery, skill, and luck he kills the lioness, becoming a respected person among all of the clans.
He starts having dreams about his twin brother, Dael, who had been missing for over a year and presumed dead, and because of a quarrel the brothers had Zan-Gah blamed himself. After ...more

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Feb 07, 2011 Once rated it really liked it

The book starts off with Zan, a young boy who goes on a quest to find his missing twin brother, Zael. Everyone in his tribe feared Zael dead, but Zan thought otherwise, or should I say “felt” otherwise. Zan thought that since they were twins they had a special connection that no one else had and he felt that his brother was still alive. Through his journey he travels to different tribes and some are noble and welcomed him, but others aren’t as hospitable. He sets out on this journey as a young b ...more

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Jul 19, 2010 Rhiannon Ryder rated it really liked it

Sent to me by the kind people over at Earthshaker books, Zan-Gah is the story of one boys exploits, growing up in prehistoric times. After killing the man eater lioness plaguing their home, Zan sets out to find his lost twin Dael. To find him, Zan must commune with the other tribes despite their historical animosity, he must trek through unforgiving, unknown lands, and most importantly he must grow into the man that killing the lioness has made him.

Despite the less than promising covers, Zan-Gah ...more

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Oct 29, 2010 Orchid rated it really liked it

Shelves: own

Zan-Gah: A Prehistoric Adventure was the first time that I had ever read anything set in that time period, so I was quite surprised at how much I enjoyed read this book.

At first, I wasn’t too sure of what to make of the MC, Zan, but I soon came to enjoy reading about his trials as he searched for his missing brother. The reason I liked the MC, Zan-Gah, was because he was persistent in going after what he wanted, no matter how foolish the rest of his tribe thought he was. It was also interesting ...more

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Jan 06, 2011 Mary Brebner rated it really liked it

I have to admit, I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I accepted the publisher’s offer to review these two novels but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. The prehistoric world is an unusual setting, and this story immersed the reader in the harsh world.

Zan-Gah, who earned the “Gah” addition to his name when he killed a lion, decides, now that he’s a man, he needs to set out and search for his twin brother, who disappeared several years ago. Zan-Gah is certain ...more

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Jun 07, 2010 Nina rated it really liked it

When Bonnie of Earth shaker Books asked me if I wanted to review these books I immediately said ‘yes’. I only read one book about the prehistoric, and it was a text book. So not a lot of fun there. I took the book with me on the train and read it on the rides to and from college. I am so glad that I said yes to the opportunity to read and review these books, because the first one is fun and enjoyable.

Zan-Gah is a very brave little boy. He’s desperate to find his lost twin brother and goes on thi ...more

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