Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
This was my favorite book in 3rd grade. I loved the survival aspect--Karana attempting to live on her own.
I like the idea of this book, but the writing felt especially simple even for a middle grade novel.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this several times as a child, enchanted with Karana's survival skills (around the same time I was enjoying reading "Hatchet") AND that she tamed a wild dog.
Now, 2020, a time of quarantine and other forms of strict isolation, Karana's sad tale takes on new, terribly sad and tragic connotations, particularly in light of the race discussions mostly centered around Black Lives Matter but as part of a broader discussion. Her absolute isolation and will to survive, the destructive and ultimately genocidal interventions of the Russian fur traders then later the white missionaries that convince the entire tribe to board a ship bound for a better world only to have the entirety of the population perish (except Karana) in a ship wreck.
This story will always have a place in my heart as I think about the lone woman and the tragedies she endured that still somehow have an echo all this time later.
Now, 2020, a time of quarantine and other forms of strict isolation, Karana's sad tale takes on new, terribly sad and tragic connotations, particularly in light of the race discussions mostly centered around Black Lives Matter but as part of a broader discussion. Her absolute isolation and will to survive, the destructive and ultimately genocidal interventions of the Russian fur traders then later the white missionaries that convince the entire tribe to board a ship bound for a better world only to have the entirety of the population perish (except Karana) in a ship wreck.
This story will always have a place in my heart as I think about the lone woman and the tragedies she endured that still somehow have an echo all this time later.
Don't underestimate young adult fiction! I had to read this in school, I think in 3rd grade. I have so many great memories attached to this book. I found it at ARC and re-read it over the summer. I encourage everyone to re-read books you loved as a child, it's amazing the memories that come back and how differently you interpret things now.
I think this book was so powerful to me because I read it in a time when I was transitioning from child to young-adult, and the story is about a girl who is left on her tribal island and she has to survive on her own. When you read things like this at a young age, you think it's normal for girls to be as strong the girl in this novel. It definitely helped to shape my view and idea that women are so strong and can do anything!!!
I think this book was so powerful to me because I read it in a time when I was transitioning from child to young-adult, and the story is about a girl who is left on her tribal island and she has to survive on her own. When you read things like this at a young age, you think it's normal for girls to be as strong the girl in this novel. It definitely helped to shape my view and idea that women are so strong and can do anything!!!
Read this in fifth grade, and wasn't very taken by it. The plot was... so-so and the whole general idea was a little weird. Not a huge fan, no.
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's a nice story on it's own, and had it's place when it was initially published in 1960, but nowadays, I think that simply it is a story that we can retire. There are much better native stories now, actually written by native authors.
One issues I have is that it is very obvious that O'Dell did not do a lot of research into actual native cultures when he wrote this, instead choosing to place the cultural ideals of 1950's America onto this native society. The biggest example of this is how in the book all the women of Karana's tribe are forbidden from not just hunting, but even ever crafting weapons. That she was taught if a woman made a weapon she would face divine punishment. And while it lead to give Karana good character development and give her challenges to make, making it a good plot device; it doesn't necessarily reflect real native ideals and practices, which is something that is very important when representing different cultures.
Karana was actually based on a real person, the last surviving member of the Nicoleño tribe, named Juana Maria. Who was, similar to Karana- the last survivng member of her tribe living alone on an island for many many years. Though, if you look into her story you will find that Island of The Blue Dolphins tells a likely very romanticized version of her story.
There is also a bit of an undercurrent of white saviorism. Karana's motivation to keep living is the hope that the white men will come back on their boat and rescue her. Painting the white man as the savior in a native story is never a very tasteful decision.
Overall, it was a hopeful survival story with an inspirational female main character, but is definitely a product of it's time, being a book published in 1960. The native elements of the story, while not overtly racist or hateful, were not handled with the respect, research, and care that they deserved. It is a book that has earned it's place in history, and I think is one that can spark many great discussions, I think it is a book that we can move on from, because now there are actual native authors producing native stories for children, and I think that those are the voices and stories that deserve to be uplifted now.
One issues I have is that it is very obvious that O'Dell did not do a lot of research into actual native cultures when he wrote this, instead choosing to place the cultural ideals of 1950's America onto this native society. The biggest example of this is how in the book all the women of Karana's tribe are forbidden from not just hunting, but even ever crafting weapons. That she was taught if a woman made a weapon she would face divine punishment. And while it lead to give Karana good character development and give her challenges to make, making it a good plot device; it doesn't necessarily reflect real native ideals and practices, which is something that is very important when representing different cultures.
Karana was actually based on a real person, the last surviving member of the Nicoleño tribe, named Juana Maria. Who was, similar to Karana- the last survivng member of her tribe living alone on an island for many many years. Though, if you look into her story you will find that Island of The Blue Dolphins tells a likely very romanticized version of her story.
There is also a bit of an undercurrent of white saviorism. Karana's motivation to keep living is the hope that the white men will come back on their boat and rescue her. Painting the white man as the savior in a native story is never a very tasteful decision.
Overall, it was a hopeful survival story with an inspirational female main character, but is definitely a product of it's time, being a book published in 1960. The native elements of the story, while not overtly racist or hateful, were not handled with the respect, research, and care that they deserved. It is a book that has earned it's place in history, and I think is one that can spark many great discussions, I think it is a book that we can move on from, because now there are actual native authors producing native stories for children, and I think that those are the voices and stories that deserve to be uplifted now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Violence, Grief
Minor: Racism, Cultural appropriation
I'm including cultural appropriation and racism as minor tags simply due to the nature of the book being a story about native characters that was written by a white man in 1960.
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I haven't read this since I was in 4th or 5th grade, but I thought it was so beautiful and heart-breaking at the time.
Read this in grade school and loved it! I didn't know there was a second book. That gives me an excuse to re-read it