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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I'm pretty conflicted on this one. On the one hand, First Peoples' stories deserve to be told, and there aren't any surviving members of this tribe, so someone else has to tell it.
On the other hand, the white dude's fantasy version of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island feels kind of gross. For one thing, I don't think there's a such thing as a "Blue Dolphin," and I highly doubt the Lone Woman was befriending every species of animal on the island Disney Princess style.
On the other hand, the white dude's fantasy version of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island feels kind of gross. For one thing, I don't think there's a such thing as a "Blue Dolphin," and I highly doubt the Lone Woman was befriending every species of animal on the island Disney Princess style.
adventurous
dark
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
My childhood favorite book
I read this as a book fro school, so I didn't think I would like it. But I was wrong, I absolutely LOVED it!!!
Island of the Blue Dolphins
O’Dell, Scott
New York: Dell, 1960
189 pages
Newbery Medal, 1961
Chapter book
Genres: Historical fiction, coming of age, drama, adventure, young adult, vaguely anti-colonial, vaguely environmentalist
Karana is a 12-year-old girl living on the Channel Islands in the 1800s (estimated). A ship of Aleuts and Russians lands on her island and, after a confrontation, kills many members of her tribe, including her father, the Chief. Karana’s tribe decides to leave for another island, but while their ship is leaving, she realizes they have left her 6-year-old brother behind. She dives off the ship.
Karana and Ramo live alone on the island for a time, but Ramo is eventually killed by a pack of wild dogs. Karana vows to kill them. In the meantime, she builds a home for herself, learns to make weapons (a skill forbidden to women in her tribe’s culture), hunts, fishes and explores her island. After a run-in with the wild dogs, she wounds the pack leader, but instead of killing him, tames him and names him Rontu. Karana and Rontu travel around the island in a canoe, befriend other animals and hunt octopus. She survives a tsunami and earthquake.
Years later, the Aleuts come once more and Karana hides. She is discovered by an Aleut girl named Tutok, who admires Karana’s cormorant-feather skirt and gives her jewelry. The two women bond and trade language until Tutok leaves. Abandoned once more, Karana realizes how lonely she has been. When Rontu dies; Karana tames another wild dog, as well as birds and sea otters. She vows never to unnecessarily kill animals again.
Eventually, another ship arrives. Karana packs her belongings, takes Rontu-Aru and her birds, and meets the men. The men make her change out of her cormorant-feather skirt and put her in a full-length blue dress. Karana goes to live in a mission in Santa Barbara.
Anchor: Historical fiction. Could be useful for the history of missions in Southern California and their treatment of native peoples.
O’Dell, Scott
New York: Dell, 1960
189 pages
Newbery Medal, 1961
Chapter book
Genres: Historical fiction, coming of age, drama, adventure, young adult, vaguely anti-colonial, vaguely environmentalist
Karana is a 12-year-old girl living on the Channel Islands in the 1800s (estimated). A ship of Aleuts and Russians lands on her island and, after a confrontation, kills many members of her tribe, including her father, the Chief. Karana’s tribe decides to leave for another island, but while their ship is leaving, she realizes they have left her 6-year-old brother behind. She dives off the ship.
Karana and Ramo live alone on the island for a time, but Ramo is eventually killed by a pack of wild dogs. Karana vows to kill them. In the meantime, she builds a home for herself, learns to make weapons (a skill forbidden to women in her tribe’s culture), hunts, fishes and explores her island. After a run-in with the wild dogs, she wounds the pack leader, but instead of killing him, tames him and names him Rontu. Karana and Rontu travel around the island in a canoe, befriend other animals and hunt octopus. She survives a tsunami and earthquake.
Years later, the Aleuts come once more and Karana hides. She is discovered by an Aleut girl named Tutok, who admires Karana’s cormorant-feather skirt and gives her jewelry. The two women bond and trade language until Tutok leaves. Abandoned once more, Karana realizes how lonely she has been. When Rontu dies; Karana tames another wild dog, as well as birds and sea otters. She vows never to unnecessarily kill animals again.
Eventually, another ship arrives. Karana packs her belongings, takes Rontu-Aru and her birds, and meets the men. The men make her change out of her cormorant-feather skirt and put her in a full-length blue dress. Karana goes to live in a mission in Santa Barbara.
Anchor: Historical fiction. Could be useful for the history of missions in Southern California and their treatment of native peoples.
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
fast-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
Loved it! It is like breathing fresh air and feeling salt water spray on my face through the book. The main characters strength and resilience is inspiring. And the historical note at the end of the book brings the magic to life.
Reread for fun. Completely forgot this novel is based loosely on a historical woman, whose language was never understood. Lonely but inspiring, especially for young girls.
For a more personal note on this book, go to more blog: mybookishadventures.blogspot.com.
Karana and her people live on a small rocky island off the coast of present day California called the Island of the Blue Dolphins. They are happy and peaceful until a tribe of Aleuts arrives one day on a Russian ship to hunt sea otter. When conflict arises, many of Karana's tribe are killed and this leads to their decision to leave the island. As the tribe is boarding the ship that will take them away, Karana's little brother slips away to find his forgotten spear. It is not until the ship has set sail that Karana sees Ramo standing on the shore. She cannot leave him alone on the island, so with the promise that the ship will return ringing in her ears, she dives into the ocean and returns to care for her brother.
This decision is the beginning of many years of isolation as Karana faces the dangers of the island and grows into womanhood with the animals of the island as her companions. Island is filled with scenes of shocking danger as Karana battles the ocean and its creatures for survival. She also learns to respect the beauty and power of nature even more and gradually comes to see many of the animals as her friends with distinct personalities. Her greatest friend is the dog, Rontu, whom she tames. Though she is happy, Karana is still plagued by times of lonliness when she longs to speak with other people and enjoy their society.
Some of the most poignant scenes in the book are when Karana mourns the loss of her animal friends, and O'Dell's descriptions of death and Karana's feelings are heartbreaking.
On reflection, Island of the Blue Dolphins is just as engaging and emotional as it was the first time I read it over two decades ago. I was immediately drawn into Karana's world, and I admired her determination to survive and to find happiness in what could be a depressing situation. The book is never maudlin or melodramatic, and it will continue to stand the test of time. (Grades 4 through 8)
Karana and her people live on a small rocky island off the coast of present day California called the Island of the Blue Dolphins. They are happy and peaceful until a tribe of Aleuts arrives one day on a Russian ship to hunt sea otter. When conflict arises, many of Karana's tribe are killed and this leads to their decision to leave the island. As the tribe is boarding the ship that will take them away, Karana's little brother slips away to find his forgotten spear. It is not until the ship has set sail that Karana sees Ramo standing on the shore. She cannot leave him alone on the island, so with the promise that the ship will return ringing in her ears, she dives into the ocean and returns to care for her brother.
This decision is the beginning of many years of isolation as Karana faces the dangers of the island and grows into womanhood with the animals of the island as her companions. Island is filled with scenes of shocking danger as Karana battles the ocean and its creatures for survival. She also learns to respect the beauty and power of nature even more and gradually comes to see many of the animals as her friends with distinct personalities. Her greatest friend is the dog, Rontu, whom she tames. Though she is happy, Karana is still plagued by times of lonliness when she longs to speak with other people and enjoy their society.
Some of the most poignant scenes in the book are when Karana mourns the loss of her animal friends, and O'Dell's descriptions of death and Karana's feelings are heartbreaking.
On reflection, Island of the Blue Dolphins is just as engaging and emotional as it was the first time I read it over two decades ago. I was immediately drawn into Karana's world, and I admired her determination to survive and to find happiness in what could be a depressing situation. The book is never maudlin or melodramatic, and it will continue to stand the test of time. (Grades 4 through 8)