Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
|
List Price: Our Price: $3.54 You Save: $3.45 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Island of the Blue Dolphins
Book Review: Ordeal by Loneliness
Summary: 3 Stars
After a series of violent and bizarre events, a 12-year-old native girl suddenly finds herself alone on an islet off the California coast at the dawn of the 19th century. Her people have been masacred by hostile Aleuts who arrive annually to hunt the sea otter. Their new chief manages to convince white men to return for the survivors, but she sacrifices her rescue in order to be with her little brother. When he is killed by wild dogs, Karana must face overwhleming odds of loneliness, gender ignorance and tribal tabus, in order to survive without human companionship for 18 years. O'Dell has depicted a realistic and interesting story--one with little dialogue but which holds the reader's attention. Based on acutal fact about the Lone Woman of San Nicholas Island, this tale reveals how Karana came of age without any witnesses; she learned to rely on herself and her pet dog to keep busy, healthy, and safe from human predators. For almost two decades she carved out a life for herself on this islet, until she was ultimately rescued by Spanish missionaries. With her departure a Native American
lifestyle vanished into the mists of time, for her entire village had blended in or died out in the intervening years.
Karana battles against hunger, the ocean, wild dogs, and treacherous Aleuts, plus hostile natural phenomena. Yet she also discovers the value of friendship and man's responsibility to protect wild creatures. This is a good survival tale for boys as well as girls to read, as all humans can relate to the innate
need for socialization. It makes an excellent springboard for discussion of Native Americans, the Spanish Mission system and the fragile balance of cross-cultural shock. Karan kept faith with the Rock.
Book Review: Not a children's book
Summary: 3 Stars
This book tells the story of a girl who gets stuck on her island after all the rest of her tribe leaves on a boat, and follows her survival as she has to live on her own for many years. Like most people I know, I was forced to read this book as a 4th grader, because it takes place in the Channel Islands and therefore relates to California history. I'm really not exaggerating when I say that everyone hated it. When we had to read it aloud in class, our table would deface our copies. I lost my copy, had to borrow it from an older neighbor -- she too had defaced hers. People seriously hated this book. I would constantly complain to my mom that a "a book about a bored girl who does nothing, has to be boring!"
Now, I haven't reread it since then, but I've been told by people who did that they were surprised and really liked it. So I think the problem is that it is marketed as a children's book, but can't really be appreciated by a 9-year-old. A more appropriate lower age limit would be around 12, maybe 11. Nothing much really happens in this book, except for a girl dealing with some survival aspects, but mostly absolute loneliness, and I think that's hard to think about and relate to for a kid.
I read pretty much as much as I could in elementary school, and the only two books I really hated were this one and Julie of the Wolves (which was actually much much much worse, becaue not only it boring, but it was also not very well-written and had some very random plot turns toward the end. But, since hearing from people that it is much better a few years later, I'll give it three stars. But if you're thinking of giving it to someone, or suggesting it, I'd wait until middle school.
Book Review: A story reverently told
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always been fascinated by stories of people who live close to nature and away from civilization. As a child, I read "The Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann Wyss (which I enjoyed) and "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe (no comment). Then I found this book. Now I can't enthuse enough."Island of the Blue Dolphins" enchanted me from the beginning. It is the story of Karana, a young girl who must adapt to a life of solitude and loneliness after the departure of her tribe and the death of her brother. Yet there is nothing fatalistic or bitter about her: she has the strength to make the most of any situation and the grace to let adversity make the most of her.
Scott O'Dell tells the story in first person, keeping Karana's voice simple and honest. This may be cliched, but the best description I have for his style is "hauntingly beautiful."
What makes this novel different from those of Wyss and Defoe is the character's relationship to the setting. Crusoe and the Robinson family could barely look at a plant, an animal or a rock, without thinking of how they could use it to practical advantage. In this, they resemble all the hunters who, at different points in the novel, come to the island to hunt otter and never really noticed any of its natural beauty.
In contrast, Karana was intimate with her island. She took what she needed for food, shelter, protection, even companionship--but somehow also gave back to the island and to the ocean. She did not change her surroundings and remain unchanged herself. "Island of the Blue Dolphins" has many themes, but my favorite is the transformation that occurs when one lives at peace with nature and with circumstance.
Book Review: Kelsey Lynn
Summary: 5 Stars
Karana is an Indian girl who lives with her tribe on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. One day, a ship comes to take the Indians to a larger, more populated island. When Karana realizes that her younger brother is still on the island she jumps out of the ship to be with him, but later when he is killed by the pack of wild dogs that wander the island, she is alone to survive on its isolated beauty. She wants revenge on the wild dogs for killing Ramo, her brother, but falls in love with the pack leader.
At first Karana is truly sad for the loss of her brother, but soon makes friends with other animals on and around the island. Karana named the dog she once wanted dead Rontu, and best friends were made. He went wherever he was allowed to with her. Karana is alone for 18 years on this beautiful isolated island, and hopes to get off it. Karana also hopes that the `Aleut' (white) people will come and rescue her from the lonesome place.
The genre of this book is adventure. Even though this book does not have a sequel, Island of the Blue Dolphins will teach you to never give up, just like the main character. There are many possible themes, such as: Man vs. Nature; Survival; Courage; and Friendship. I believe Scott O'Dell's book will inspire many 10+, or anyone else who loves a good book. Scott O'Dell does have some beautiful pictures in this spectacular book, but you won't need them for the movie in your head. This book is based on `La Isla de San Nicolas', and Karana is based on the girl Robinson Crusoe whose life Scott O'Dell has attempted to recreate. This is a wonderful story. Everyone should take the time to read this Newbery Medal Winner.
Book Review: Island of the Blue Dolphins
Summary: 4 Stars
This is the story of Karana, a young Indian girl raised on an island off the coast of California. Supposedly it is based on a true story, and it tells of how she survived on her native island after all of her people were removed and her younger brother was killed. The reader never knows why Karana's people were removed from the island, which would have helped me understand the story a bit better.
While Scott O'Dell is a good storyteller, there are some gaps that I wished he had explained better. For instance, when the Aleuts first came to the island when Karana's father was still living, there seems to be no gap in communications. Somehow the Aleuts can communicate with the natives. When the white men come and cart off Karana's people there again is no communication gap. However, after the Aleuts return to the island many years later, Karana cannot understand the native Aleut girl who befriends her. Finally, when we read of O'Dell's afterward, he tells how Karana cannot communicate with the whites except for sign language.
But this inconsistency doesn't detract from an otherwise well told tale. Karana fends for herself for years on her island. She befriends the leader of the pack of wild dogs that killed her brother, she breaks with tribal tradition concerning women and weapons, she finds food, she builds a shelter, she survives storms, earthquakes, and a tidal wave, and she retains her sanity. This book is well written and moves at a quick pace. Asit is written for children, adults can read it quickly, but without becoming bored with the book.