The Clan of the Cave Bear (with Bonus Content): Earth's Children, Book One

The Clan of the Cave Bear is the first book in Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children series. It is set during the Ice Age and follows a young girl named Ayla who becomes separated from her people after a natural disaster. Ayla is found by a woman of the Clan of the Cave Bear, a group of people different from her own kind. With her blond hair and blue eyes, Ayla appears strange to them—she is one of the Others, people who have moved into their ancient homeland. Though Ayla looks peculiar and ugly to the Clan, Iza cannot leave her to die and brings her along. Iza and Creb, the old Mog-ur, come to love her. As Ayla learns the Clan's ways and Iza's healing practices, most members accept her. However, a brutal and proud youth destined to become the Clan's next leader views Ayla's differences as a threat to his authority. He develops a deep hatred for her and is determined to seek revenge. This edition includes the full novel text plus a sampler of chapters from other books in the Earth's Children series and a Q&A with the author about the series. The novel was nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read.