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abbielester 's review for:
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
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)