Thistle was born during the Late Paleolithic era during a time of catastrophic climate changes. She gets to experience a few different regions around her, and although there are others who travel great distances, her life still takes tremendous, ever-changing turns within the comparatively small region she calls home. Upon the birth of Thistle’s son, prophecies start to emerge about the end of time. The prophecies center around her only son and what he will do to carry on the stories of the People. Although Thistle’s heart is torn, she teaches her son all she can about the People and their history, hoping their legacy will never be forgotten. Thistle amazingly accomplishes this during numerous horrific events taking place around her due to climate changes. There appears to be no safe place, yet she clings to the hope that the prophecies are true and her son will live through the disaster to carry on the People's legacy.

Dopson has crafted a gripping novel using devastating events in Earth’s history. She graphically depicts what it would be like for the humans who lived during this period. The author has created an intelligent, gentle, yet firm lead character that her novel centers on—Thistle, whose life changes just as rapidly as the Earth during this tumultuous time period. Throughout the story, Dopson selects details of Earth’s climatic changes and interweaves them skillfully with the changes happening in Thistle’s life. Dopson’s readers can easily envision and relate to the love, pain, heartbreak, fear, and hopefulness throughout the novel as they follow Thistle’s ever-changing life. The title is a perfect fit for this novel, as Thistle’s son is the People’s light and only hope for their continued legacy at the end of the reformation of the world.

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