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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
My theme for reading this year is to re-read books I haven't read in a long time, including childhood favorites. And with that comes the risk of finding out they don't hold up to nostalgia, as is this case...
This was so boring, why did I like this as a kid??? I didn't remember anything other than the cover but I also remember checking this out from the library a lot. Maybe the idea of isolation and survival? Or that she was rescued after surviving alone for years, only to die 2 months later from dysentery? The character is so violent and murders so many animals with no emotion, which was hard for me
This was so boring, why did I like this as a kid??? I didn't remember anything other than the cover but I also remember checking this out from the library a lot. Maybe the idea of isolation and survival? Or that she was rescued after surviving alone for years, only to die 2 months later from dysentery? The character is so violent and murders so many animals with no emotion, which was hard for me
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
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
A compelling story but so sad. Especially knowing the real life tragic ending and larger context of colonialism and death.
inspiring
mysterious
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:
Yes
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Scott O’Dell
Yearling Books, 1960
Summary: Karana lives with her father, sister, and brother in the Indian village of Ghalas-at. Ghalas-at is located on the Island of the Blue Dolphins, and it is here that a band of Russians (called the “Aleuts”) land to hunt for otter pelts. When a disagreement about the ownership of the otter pelts breaks out between the Aleuts and Ghalas-at, many among the village are killed and the rest flee the island by ship. Karana and her brother, Ramo, are accidentally left behind, and after Ramo is killed by wild dogs, Karana is left all alone on the island. She forges friendships with the animals that inhabit the island, but is left without human contact for what turns into years.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Content Warnings: Warfare/violence, character death, death of a child, animal cruelty.
My Opinion: I found out that this book was based off a true story, which I thought was pretty cool. Scott O’Dell does an excellent job of highlighting Karana’s growing loneliness as her hope for rescue wanes and her resignation to being alone on the island sets in. At some points while reading I kind of felt like I was about to go crazy just from imagining myself in a situation like hers. This book was very powerful, and although it wasn’t always the most fun one to read (it’s sad and some of the descriptions of Karana’s days are monotonous, but I’m sure they were meant to be), I am glad to have read it.
Scott O’Dell
Yearling Books, 1960
Summary: Karana lives with her father, sister, and brother in the Indian village of Ghalas-at. Ghalas-at is located on the Island of the Blue Dolphins, and it is here that a band of Russians (called the “Aleuts”) land to hunt for otter pelts. When a disagreement about the ownership of the otter pelts breaks out between the Aleuts and Ghalas-at, many among the village are killed and the rest flee the island by ship. Karana and her brother, Ramo, are accidentally left behind, and after Ramo is killed by wild dogs, Karana is left all alone on the island. She forges friendships with the animals that inhabit the island, but is left without human contact for what turns into years.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Content Warnings: Warfare/violence, character death, death of a child, animal cruelty.
My Opinion: I found out that this book was based off a true story, which I thought was pretty cool. Scott O’Dell does an excellent job of highlighting Karana’s growing loneliness as her hope for rescue wanes and her resignation to being alone on the island sets in. At some points while reading I kind of felt like I was about to go crazy just from imagining myself in a situation like hers. This book was very powerful, and although it wasn’t always the most fun one to read (it’s sad and some of the descriptions of Karana’s days are monotonous, but I’m sure they were meant to be), I am glad to have read it.