Charlotte Prentiss

The Children of the Ice by Charlotte Prentiss is a speculative historical novel set in prehistoric times. It follows the life of a young woman, Laena, who, with her younger sister, has to learn to survive on her own when their people are first attacked by enemires and then are lost due to bad leadership. The girls meet a wandering healer who allows them to travel with her, and they eventually decide to settle with the Fisher People who live at the side of a large river.

Laena and her sister become part of the new tribe, and even though Laena chooses a husband, marries and has a child, she always feels a little different from the others. She has dream-visions that warn her of dangers to come, and one vision reoccurs that seems to be showing her a new land, a land of warmth and plenty. There comes a time when one of Laena’s danger visions occurs and she must now use her determination and courage to lead a small group of survivors to safety.

Children of the Ice is this author’s tale of how some of the first people came to cross the land bridge that connected Asia to North America at the end of the last Ice Age. Although not marketed as a YA story, it has a YA feel as the writing seemed simplified. I did enjoy this adventure story although it felt that the author had been strongly influenced by The Clan of the Cave Bear. The Children of the Ice is the first book in a series, but I doubt if I will continue on.… (meer)