Boy of the Painted Cave

Fourteen-year-old Tao, the novel’s protagonist, is an independent, free-thinking, and highly ethical young man, who exists at the fringes of his society. Because Tao was born with physical disability, the traditions of his people dictated he should be taken into the wilderness as a newborn and left to be eaten by predators. His mother, who had been captured and claimed on a raid, would not allow it. Like Tao, she was stubborn and guided by her own beliefs and moral code. Because of this, Tao survived, but his disability, his mother’s defiance, and his father’s disinterest in him ensured he was marginalized within his community. Adopted by Kala, a kind older woman who often takes in unwanted children, Tao survives but is never truly accepted into the clan in the role of a man and a hunter. Tao’s position on the outskirts of society contributes to his independence. Though he serves as the provider of Kala’s tent, he is not given the respect of that position within the tribe. Their low status means they must frequently provide for themselves. Tao’s independence is demonstrated in his self-sufficiency and survival abilities as well as in the choices he makes throughout the novel.