Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
Book Summary Information
Author: Scott O'DellEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1987-03-01
ISBN: 0440439884
Number of pages: 192
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Yearling
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780440439882
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
- Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices
Book Reviews of Island of the Blue Dolphins
Book Review: Lovely and Beautiful Classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
A beautiful Robinson Crusoe type story inspired by real events.
Karana is a young Indian girl who is left to fend for herself on her home island after her entire tribe leaves to head east. Karana had intended to leave with them but jumps ship at the last minute to return to the island due to an unforeseen circumstance.
Through Karana's journey of survival on the island we are treated to lessons in survival, observations of humanity's varying relationships with nature, introductions to various forms of wildlife and several poignant moments involving loss, unexpected friendship, and surprises of nature. There are a few tedious moments in this read, but they are short lived.
I am partial to stories such as this as Robinson Crusoe is one of my favorite books and I love nature and adventure stories. However, the enriching quality of this book is undeniable. Unlike some children's/young adult reads, this book has all of the elemental qualities of a full length, classic adult novel - they are just given to us in smaller doses. There is rich character development, powerful descriptives, and interesting plot. I enjoyed researching in more depth via the internet things that are mentioned in the book such as devil fish, sea elephants, abalones, cormorants, etc.
A worthy classic!
Summary of Island of the Blue Dolphins
"A haunting and unusual story based on the fact that in the early 1800s an Indian girl spent 18 years alone on a rocky island far off the coast of California. . . . A quiet acceptance of fate characterizes her ordeal."--School Library Journal, starred review. William Allen White Award; ALA Notable Children's Book; 1961 Newbery Medal winner.Scott O'Dell won the Newbery Medal for Island of the Blue Dolphins in 1961, and in 1976 the Children's Literature Association named this riveting story one of the 10 best American children's books of the past 200 years. O'Dell was inspired by the real-life story of a 12-year-old American Indian girl, Karana. The author based his book on the life of this remarkable young woman who, during the evacuation of Ghalas-at (an island off the coast of California), jumped ship to stay with her young brother who had been abandoned on the island. He died shortly thereafter, and Karana fended for herself on the island for 18 years.
O'Dell tells the miraculous story of how Karana forages on land and in the ocean, clothes herself (in a green-cormorant skirt and an otter cape on special occasions), and secures shelter. Perhaps even more startlingly, she finds strength and serenity living alone on the island. This beautiful edition of Island of the Blue Dolphins is enriched with 12 full-page watercolor paintings by Ted Lewin, illustrator of more than 100 children's books, including Ali, Child of the Desert. A gripping story of battling wild dogs and sea elephants, this simply told, suspenseful tale of survival is also an uplifting adventure of the spirit. (Ages 9 to 12)
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