cover image Shiva

Shiva

J. H. Brennan. J.P. Lippincott, $14 (184pp) ISBN 978-0-397-32453-8

In this novel set in prehistory, Shiva, an orphaned Cro-Magnon girl, encounters Doban, a Neanderthal boy, while hunting for food. While the two groups--known as ``Ogres'' and the ``Weakling Strangers''--have avoided each other for generations following a battle for territory, the disappearance of Shiva and Doban brings them together again. Shiva's unusual psychic power separates her from her tribe and draws her to Doban. It is this bond that averts tragedy when a battle between the tribes seems imminent. Comparison to Jean Auel's The Clan of the Cave Bear is inevitable, but Brennan's tale comes up short. Even for young readers, Auel's novel offers far more adventure, and Brennan's characters have little depth. Shiva's adventure is a minor one, and children eager for a glimpse of the lifestyles of these prehistoric people will have to look elsewhere. Ages 10-up. (Oct.)