It's 48,000 BC. Hiding in a giant mimosa tree, Maru watches her father meet with the leader of a treacherous Andean tribe. Her father, furious that she's followed him, tells her that if he is killed--something he fully expects--she must warn their people to flee. The people are prepared; Maru at age seven is not. Her father places heavy responsibility on her because she followed him. "Courage is the story of a people who are utterly threatened but ultimately contribute from adversity some of the most amazing cave art in the Americas. America's preeminent writer of prehistoric history. Matthews tethers fantasy to fact and bases fi ction on reliable and credible sources. Her characters are well drawn and believable; their emotions are plausible; their psychological action is commensurate with physical action. This is not only an action adventure story, it's a book of hearts and minds, and humans who combat nature and an unfriendly environment to survive and succeed. There are places that captivate the reader and Matthews' writing is exemplary and riveting." (On SealEaters, 20,000 BC ) Grace Cavalieri, award-winning author, host of The Poet and The Poem from the Library of Congress "This outstanding Winds of Change series is very highly and enthusiastically recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library historical fiction collections." Midwest Book Review