Ivory and Bone by Julie Eshbaugh

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Publication date: 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 371
My rating: 4 stars
Ages: 15+

Kol's clan is worried about their future--with no girls of marrying age, there is no way to continue their clan. Then Mya and her clan appear on their beach after five years. Kol is instantly drawn to Mya, but Mya doesn't want anything to do with him. There are secrets from the past that complicate things even more, especially when Lo shows up on their shore. The truth is harder to take than Kol imagined.

This is one of the best books I've read in months! A great debut for Eshbaugh and hopefully a look at good things to come from her.

I was really nervous about this book, being set in "prehistoric" times--I had no idea what that meant. Cavemen? No talking? A simple and naive society? Fortunately, none of my fears came true. Instead, I was introduced to an interesting and complex society, one that seemed almost ideal. There was equality and acceptance, religion and government, even science.

I really liked having Kol be the main character and narrator. Too often we are given male characters who are meant to be tough and "masculine," making them one dimensional. Kol had emotions and complicated feelings. He was influenced by the people around him. I think it's important that we have male characters like that, who aren't persecuted for being that way.

This is also a great, loose, retelling of Pride and Prejudice.

No language or sex.

*I do not receive compensation from Amazon.
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