Prehistory Brought to Life for Young Readers

(from Maiah)

Marjorie answers:

Dear Maiah,

Many people have made the same discovery that Dar and his clan made: caves are cold and damp and often hard to locate. Tents made from wooden poles and skin and leather are flexible, can be made and taken down quickly, and can house as many people as you want (the Pacific Northwest Indians had huge tents holding hundreds). Dar finds many inventions (such as the spear-thrower) that he will introduce to his own clan when he returns. This kind of adopting other ideas from other cultures has been going on for thousands of years, and we’re still doing it. Think of how rapidly music travels around the world, such as Cuban, South American, African drumming and dancing, and on and on. Humans are forever searching for new and good ideas (computers, cell phones, and warm synthetic clothing) and this will never stop. I hope this answers your question, Maiah.

Marjorie Cowley

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(from Edward, age 10)

Marjorie answers:

Interesting question, Edward. I read many “informative fact books” in high school and college, but many of them (not all!) failed to fuel my passion or high interest. I believe that humans need stories to inform, to enchant, to give meaning to the big questions of life—such as why and how did we evolve, what kept us on the paths that led us to where we are today. These are important puzzles that scientists have devoted their lives to trying to answer them with plenty of flat-out argument and broken hearts along the way. Because my novels have stories I’ve created that are embedded in factual information I found in books, in university classes, at lectures, and yes—on the computer—I believe that a judicious combination of fact and fiction offers a richer picture and understanding of different cultures both ancient and modern. Both approaches can be beautifully written, exciting or boring, or difficult to follow. But historical fiction is my preferred way to go, a decision I made many years ago.

Thanks, Edward. I’d love to be sitting around a table discussing these issues with you!

Marjorie Cowley

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(from Edward, age 10)

Marjorie answers:

Dear Edward,

Thanks for the feedback re: the ending of “Dar.” The novel begins with Dar having a pretty low opinion of himself. His uncle Kenok is totally critical of him, Kenok thinks his interest in carving animals in wood is a waste of time, and Kenok feels he’s not spending enough time (as Bowan is) on becoming a skilled tool-maker, vital for prehistoric hunters . In addition Dar is short for his age and worries he will not be able to become a competent hunter. The only thing he and his uncle agree upon in that the morning fires he makes every daybreak never fail to offer clan members a welcoming warmth to start their day. This idea came to me from my husband doing the same thing on our family backpacking trips in upper Yosemite (our family still remember this with gratitude). Dar slowly begins to find his own voice and build up his courage. Going to Toreg’s clan alone is an example of this, but there are others when he uses his head, gets himself out of danger, makes a friend of Toreg and his great uncle Seelan, a master carver. He turns down an invitation to live in Toreg’s clan and work with Seelan’s to begin an effort to learn the demanding art of carving in ivory and wood. However Dar decides to return to his clan to help his loving grandmother live a well-cared for old age to repay her for the love and comfort she has given him. Remember, Dar is an orphan). Together Dar and Bowan go through a difficult initiation ceremony, with Dar helping Bowan through it; a new friendship is the result. Dar sets out to return to his clan and meets Kenok in the Pine Forest. They have a hard conversation, with Dar having the courage to confront his uncle for the first time. Both are changed by this encounter and “the two men (big hint: Dar has entered his manhood) walked out of the forest headed for home.” The new relationship of Dar and Kenok will benefit both of them and the entire clan.

Edward, I really hope this helps you and your class!

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(from Mary, age 8 )

Marjorie answers:

Good question, Mary.

When Dar first sees Toreg in the Pine Forest, he realizes instantly that he is no match for this fit, older, and well-armed stranger. He quickly ducks behind a tree and hopes he will not be seen or heard, but his spear scratches against the bark of a tree and Dar knows he has been heard. He steps away from the tree, his spear clutched in his hand with the point down to let the man know he is not in a throwing stance. The two males quickly find out they do not speak the same language, so he must make a peaceful gesture. He opens his backpack and offers the man a piece of the deer meat he was saving for his next meal. The stranger smells it, nods, and returns it to Dar. He opens his own pack and removes a piece of wood with a grove down its center. He tries to light a fire with it, but mist prevents the fire stick and dried fungus from catching fire. Dar takes out his sunstones, starts a fire, and the man is amazed.
He clearly wants the sunstone, opens his pack and removes a slim rod with a horse carved on one end of it. He attaches it to his spear, points to a target in the distance, and throws the spear with force and speed. Now it’s Dar’s turn to be amazed. They each want what the other has—two inventions superior to anything they have in their own clans. The stranger introduces himself as Toreg and draws a map in the dirt to indicate the location of his clan. Dar knows he will return to make a trade, and once he has the spear-thrower, Dar feels his short height will no longer keep him from becoming a skilled hunter. Hope this answers your question, Mary.

My best wishes, Marjorie Cowley

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(from Vernisha, age 11)

Dear Vernisha (I like your name!),

You’ve asked me an interesting question. Dar starts out in my story as a boy without a great deal of confidence and Kenok, his difficult uncle, doesn’t help. Kenok puts him down for not being a good tool maker; for letting a baby fox go free from a trap when its fur could have been useful; for starting out for Toreg’s camp without letting him know when and where he was going; for showing no interest in learning how to hunt; and for making carved animal figures around the morning fire that he thinks are a waste of time. Gradually Dar demonstrates skill (carving with Seelan); makes up his mind to go off to find Toreg’s clan to find out if he can trade his sunstones for the wonderful spear-thrower; recognizes how good his grandmother has been to him and feels he must go back to his clan to take care of her. The finest thing Dar does is reconcile with Kenok in the Pine Forest which if good for both of them and for the clan as a whole. Hope my answers are of some help.

Sincerely,
Marjorie Cowley

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(from Sabrina, age 12)

Marjorie answers:

Dear Sabrina,
Your question kind of plunged a dagger into my heart because I’ve been happy with the way that “Dar and the Spear-thrower” ends. To me, the last chapter (22) brings everything that the story has been directed toward to a conclusion. Dar and his uncle Kenok have had a difficult relationship since Dar’s birth. Kenok’s brother and closest friend is Dar’s father, killed by a mysterious animal, the saber-tooth cat that is close to extinction. Kenok blames himself for not being able to prevent his death and he’s been an angry and guilty man since this incident. In the chapter you must find unsatisfactory, Dar is returning to his clan instead of staying with Toreg and Seelan which would have been his preference. He returns because he feels an allegiance both to his clan and to his aging grandmother who has been loving to him throughout his life. He meets Kenok in the pine forest on his walk back to his clan. Dar at last tells him how hard their relationship has been for him; his uncle starts to defend himself and his tone suddenly changes. Dar discovers that Kenok was starting out to find him in spite of injuries. Dar is moved and surprised, and the two “men” (big hint here) head for home with Dar now able to take his place in the adult life of his clan. The novel, in short, is a coming-of-age story which may help you be less dissatisfied with the point of chapter 22.

Thanks for your question, Sabina.

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(from Jared)

Marjorie answers:

Dear Jared,
If you go on the web and look up “the purchase of a spear-thrower and iron pyrite (called “fools gold” by miners), I think you’ll find many possibilities. I did several years ago and I hope you will too.

Sincerely,
Midge Cowley

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(from francisco, age 11)

Marjorie answers:

Dear Francisco,
I love your enthusiasm about me writing a sequel to “Dar.” But here’s the problem. I’m a slow writer, and by the time I finish a sequel those who want a continuation of “Dar” would be in college. But I cherish your note asking me to consider it!! I’ve written other books that you might consider reading. Check out my website for more information.

My best to you,
Marjorie Cowley

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(from Ariel, age 11)

Marjorie answers:

Dear Ariel,
Your question is a good one because I think it’s based on your understanding that what opens a novel has a significance, a clue, for the theme of the entire book. In this case,
Dar is introduced to the reader as an insecure young boy whose harsh and unloving uncle, Kenok, his dead father’s brother, declares him a tool maker without skill and incapable of becoming a good hunter. These abilities are vitally important for a male growing up in a prehistoric hunter-gathering society. The only thing Dar loves is carving wood animals when he is alone by the morning fire which he has been charged with making every day before the clan members wake up to a cold dawn. And Kenok rejects this passion, declaring it a waste of time. I got this idea for the fire from watching my husband on our summer backpacking trips get up before the rest of our family to light our morning fire before the day warmed. Unlike Dar, he would prepare hot cocoa for us all, and none of us have forgotten this kindness. The book poses the question of how Dar will meet the challenges of growing into a competent and skilled member of his clan. His loving grandmother helps him and so does Toreg and the master carver Seelan, his great uncle. But Dar’s reconciliation with his difficult uncle, Kenok, is the turning point in his life. The last line in the book is “the two men walked out of the pine forest, headed for home.”

Ariel, my thanks for your interesting question.

Sincerely, Marjorie Cowley

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