Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Kin | 2003 | Peter Dickinson | Buy |
| 2 | Noli’s Story | 1998 | Peter Dickinson | Buy |
| 3 | Po’s Story | 1998 | Peter Dickinson | Buy |
| 4 | Mana’s Story | 1998 | Peter Dickinson | Buy |
| 5 | Suth’s Story | 1998 | Peter Dickinson | Buy |
The Kin is a series of children’s novels by Peter Dickinson, set in prehistoric Africa around 200,000 years ago. The books were originally published individually in 1998 as four separate stories, then collected into a single omnibus volume called The Kin in 2003. The series was shortlisted for the Whitbread Award.
Each book follows a different child from a small band of early humans who have been driven from their ancestral territory. Suth’s Story, Noli’s Story, Po’s Story, and Mana’s Story each give a distinct perspective on the group’s struggle to survive, find food and water, and deal with hostile strangers in an unfamiliar landscape. Dickinson weaves in creation myths told by the characters, giving the prehistoric setting a mythic quality. The result is a story that works both as adventure fiction and as a thoughtful look at how early human communities might have functioned.