Ivory and Bone

April 4, 2016
Eshbaugh debuts with an exciting and unusual adventure with an emphasis on the power of storytelling, set in a prehistoric past. Seventeen-year-old Kol is next in line to become the High Elder of his clan, but without any girls of marrying age, the clan may die out. When Mya’s clan arrives, Kol is immediately drawn to her, but she proves elusive, even aloof, perhaps owing to past friction between their clans. Kol’s father encourages the clans to mingle, but the appearance of a girl named Lo sets off a harrowing chain of events, throwing the clans into upheaval and Kol’s heart into turmoil. Eshbaugh tells the story through Kol’s voice, and it’s immediately revealed that he’s recounting it to a wounded Mya, who asks him to tell her about the “most startling and marvelous day” of his life. Building Kol and Mya’s beautiful, dangerous world takes some time, but once Eshbaugh’s story finds its footing, it provides a fascinating setting for the love triangle between Kol, Lo, and Mya, as simmering tension between the clans builds to a terrifying and poignant climax. Ages 14–up. Agent: Josh Adams, Adams Literary.

May 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-Seventeen-year-old Kol is the oldest son of the High Elder of his clan, and while he and his brother are of marrying age, there are no marriageable women in their clan. The rhythm of Kol's hunter/gatherer life changes, however, when a group from the clan to the south visit to build an alliance-with two eligible unmarried women in their party. Mya, also 17, is beautiful and severe, and she and Kol begin a rocky acquaintance when she saves him from a charging saber-tooth while on a mammoth hunt. Despite his acts of gratitude, Kol cannot read or anticipate Mya's feelings, which makes his confusion about his own feelings even more complex. When Lo, a woman from the clan to the north, arrives in Kol's village with a dark intent, the plot becomes all the more complicated. Eshbaugh packs her debut with a classic love triangle, feuding clans, a well-drawn prehistoric setting, and a handful of fan fiction elements that will appeal to teens.

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2016
A gender-flipped revisiting of Pride and Prejudice translates surprisingly well into the Ice Age--until it doesn't. Kol, oldest son of a hunter-gatherer clan, is worrisomely lacking prospective wives, so he rejoices along with his parents and brothers at a visit from a family rich in unmarried girls. Though he admires the clever and capable Mya, she dismisses him with disdainful contempt; the immediate attraction between his brother and Mya's sister is later repudiated even more rudely. When Lo, the charming daughter of yet another clan, showers Kol with flattering attention, he dismisses hints of her bitter past with Mya's people...until dark secrets erupt into shattering treachery. Debut author Eshbaugh portrays Neolithic culture with grace and authenticity, although the easy acceptance of same-sex relationships and absence of gender roles is anthropologically improbable. In particular, the life-and-death emphasis on civility in a subsistence economy allows for a convincing adaptation of Austen's novel of manners. But the similarities are subtle, and readers unfamiliar with the original would not feel lost, especially since the plot diverges sharply in the latter half, descending into a tragedy of madness, vengeance, and violence. Unfortunately, the awkward choice to cast the story as recounted by Kol to "you" (Mya) robs even the most dramatic events of suspense. Narrative artifice aside, this is an involving story solidly told, doing credit to its inspiration and sources. (Historical fiction. 12-18)

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May 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 Tell me about the most startling and marvelous day of your life, commands Mya, as she lies in a cave, bleeding, next to Kol. The teens are from neighboring ice age clans that have not always been friendly, but a third clanan offshoot of Mya'sis bent on revenge and threatening the peace. Kol and Mya must decide whom to trust and how to help, if they are going to survive and keep their communities intact. First-time author Eshbaugh creates a spare yet memorable account of the interpersonal and interclan politics of people living during a much earlier time. Unfortunately, there is no documentation or author's note to indicate if this is based in history or is a purely fictional setting. There are allusions to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice in terms of character attributes and plotlines, but they are so understated it is difficult to know if they are intentional. The simplicity of the language belies the impact of the love story; there is much to value here.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)