Ayla

Ayla is the protagonist of Jean M. Auel's Earth's Children, a prehistoric historical-fiction series set in Ice Age Europe.
Character

Ayla is the central character in Jean M. Auel’s Earth’s Children novels. After an earthquake leaves her orphaned, she is taken in by the Clan, a Neanderthal community. Her upbringing gives her a place in the group but also makes clear the differences between her background and theirs.

Later books follow Ayla after she leaves the Clan and travels through prehistoric Europe. She relies on the healing knowledge and survival skills she has learned, meets other communities, and builds a life beyond the people who raised her. The story is continuous across six books, so begin with The Clan of the Cave Bear and use the Earth’s Children reading order.

Reading Order

See the complete Earth’s Children reading order for all books in the series.

Appears in Series

  • Earth's Children - Earth's Children by Jean M. Auel is a six-book prehistoric historical fiction series following Ayla from The Clan of the Cave Bear through The Land of Painted Caves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Ayla?

Ayla is the main character of Jean M. Auel’s Earth’s Children series. She is a Cro-Magnon girl orphaned by an earthquake and adopted by a clan of Neanderthals, known in the books as the Clan of the Cave Bear.

What series is Ayla in?

Ayla is the protagonist of the Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel. The six-book series begins with The Clan of the Cave Bear (1980) and ends with The Land of Painted Caves (2011).

What skills does Ayla develop throughout the series?

Ayla learns the Clan’s healing practices and later survives independently by hunting and caring for animals. Her methods often differ from the customs of the communities she encounters.

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