Review: Fast times at Ridgemont High in 7,000 BC
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 25, 2013
Did ancient people talk and think like us?  Were they scientifically literate or were they superstitious and unable to understand natural events without a mythological explanation?  If your answer is "yes" then this is not the book for you.  Conversations are taken from the hallways of high schools (or middle schools).  Cave men and women sound remarkably modern - lots of sass, spunk, cute comebacks.  On the other hand, the far future is much like the 1950s with a few cute toys taken directly from movies.  Time travel technology and its explanations are, of course, laughable in the few instances they are mentioned.Authentic writing about ancient cultures requires study and much research.  It's why "real" authors visit sites, review sources, read background books, talk to experts, etc before dashing out a tale.  The discrepancy between how these folks expressed themselves and thought and the actual daily grind of prehistoric life is too much.  Yana is more like a princess warrior found in comic books - beautiful (sans makeup, comb, stylish clothes, toothbrush, deodorant), resourceful (great hunter, self-sufficient), loving daughter, loyal tribesperson...you get it.  It's no wonder she is confused.  The difference between a person of that era and one of ours would be as great (or greater) than the difference between us and aliens.  They could not begin to comprehend our world view and technology.  Good try but needs more work.