Reviews

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

saint_augustine15's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

mama_chicharra's review against another edition

Interesting read for me. I read this as a kid and I remember loving it so much. I recalled an emotional experience almost 45 years ago but none of the details. Reading this aloud to my boys I was paying special attention to see if it merited the memory I carried all these years. In some ways I can say, it was a simpler read than other books we read aloud. The emotional wallop comes from Karana’s connection with animals, which is so relatable to anyone who has shared space with a furry friend. The other wallop is the loneliness and the passage of time.  For a story that is so spare in its language, O’Dell does a marvelous job of allowing the passage of time to create that sense of loneliness and loss more than exposition and detail ever could. Maybe it’s the stage of life I’m in, having plenty of memories and loss of my own. But mentions of no otters being alive that remembered the hunters and the headland with Rontu under the colored pebbles, left me with a lingering sadness over all her years there alone on the island. There’s a time when Karana is so fearful of the strangers, the Aleuts, coming to her island, she almost completely avoids Tutok. Later, she has none of this fear, so desirous of human connection, she awaits the white men without fear. I can say that after all these years, I enjoyed Island of the Blue Dolphins no less than when I was 9 yrs old. In some ways, I think it resonates with me more now in middle age. And worst if it was looking into the real story afterwards. So sad.

sconroy9697's review against another edition

5.0

I loved this one as a kid and still love it. When I re-read it it brought back happy memories.

mellissamae's review against another edition

4.0

This is a childhood favorite of mine and I love reading it. Read it with my daughter this time <3

snekmint's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

sarahmjames's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring

4.0

zwinning's review against another edition

adventurous challenging 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

5.0

kiana2173's review against another edition

5.0

Perhaps a bit of a depressing story to read as a young child, and boy did I really cry. Watching your brother be brutally murdered, and then be forced into a life of survival. The main character does not have a lack of pain and sorrow in her story. But it’s a story of courage and a story of bravery as well.

Repost of review from instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C0y7ma6Jmma/?img_index=1

ingrid_kocher's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

zozosbooks's review against another edition

This book was very formative for me as a child and rereading it now I understand why I am the way I am