Boy of the Painted Cave by Justin Denzel

Their low status means they must frequently provide for themselves. Though he serves as the provider of Kala’s tent, he is not given the respect of that position within the tribe. Tao’s position on the outskirts of society contributes to his independence.

Adopted by Kala, a kind older woman who often takes in unwanted children, Tao survives but is never truly accepted into the clan in the role of a man and a hunter. Because of this, Tao survived, but his disability, his mother’s defiance, and his father’s disinterest in him ensured he was marginalized within his community. Like Tao, she was stubborn and guided by her own beliefs and moral code. His mother, who had been captured and claimed on a raid, would not allow it. Because Tao was born with physical disability, the traditions of his people dictated he should be taken into the wilderness as a newborn and left to be eaten by predators. All rights reserved.Fourteen-year-old Tao, the novel’s protagonist, is an independent, free-thinking, and highly ethical young man, who exists at the fringes of his society.

He lives in Clifton, New Jersey, with his wife, Josephine. Denzel is the author of many books for young readers, including the well-loved Boy of the Painted Cave, published in 1988 by Philomel. During World War II he wrote for Nature magazine and for Stars and Stripes. Denzels first professional writing experience came in Alaska, where he wrote and edited a periodical, The Alaskan. Later, while training for the Army in the days before World War II, he explored the mammoth underground caves of Tennessee. As a young man he worked at the American Museum of Natural History, where he studied prehistoric cultures. About the Author Justin Denzel has been intrigued with history and caves for many years. There, he befriends a wild wolf dog named Ram, and the mysterious Graybeard, who teaches him the true secret of the hunt.

And when the other clan members discover Taos secret talent, they cast him out into the wilderness alone. Whats more, Volt, the clan leader, violently despises Tao. But only Chosen Ones can be cave painters. Unlike the great hunters of his clan, Tao does not want to kill the wild bears or woolly mammoths of the hunt. A beautfully written story about a prehistoric boy.-Publishers Weekly. a strong plot with a wealth of well-researched details.-Booklist. About the Book Set in the Cro-Magnon era, this story of Tao, who longs to be a cave artist, features a boy whose talent is viewed as a curse, making it impossible to be one of the Chosen Ones.

Boy of the Painted Cave by Justin Denzel