Island of the Blue Dolphins
by: Scott O'Dell
Price: $6.99
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Amazon.com Review:
Scott O'Dell won the Newbery Medal for Island of the Blue Dolphins in 1961, and in 1976 the Children's Literature Association named this riveting story one of the 10 best American children's books of the past 200 years. O'Dell was inspired by the real-life story of a 12-year-old American Indian girl, Karana. The author based his book on the life of this remarkable young woman who, during the evacuation of Ghalas-at (an island off the coast of California), jumped ship to stay with her young brother who had been abandoned on the island. He died shortly thereafter, and Karana fended for herself on the island for 18 years.
O'Dell tells the miraculous story of how Karana forages on land and in the ocean, clothes herself (in a green-cormorant skirt and an otter cape on special occasions), and secures shelter. Perhaps even more startlingly, she finds strength and serenity living alone on the island. This beautiful edition of Island of the Blue Dolphins is enriched with 12 full-page watercolor paintings by Ted Lewin, illustrator of more than 100 children's books, including Ali, Child of the Desert. A gripping story of battling wild dogs and sea elephants, this simply told, suspenseful tale of survival is also an uplifting adventure of the spirit. (Ages 9 to 12)
Product Description:
"A haunting and unusual story based on the fact that in the early 1800s an Indian girl spent 18 years alone on a rocky island far off the coast of California. . . . A quiet acceptance of fate characterizes her ordeal."--School Library Journal, starred review. William Allen White Award; ALA Notable Children's Book; 1961 Newbery Medal winner.
Scott O'Dell won the Newbery Medal for Island of the Blue Dolphins in 1961, and in 1976 the Children's Literature Association named this riveting story one of the 10 best American children's books of the past 200 years. O'Dell was inspired by the real-life story of a 12-year-old American Indian girl, Karana. The author based his book on the life of this remarkable young woman who, during the evacuation of Ghalas-at (an island off the coast of California), jumped ship to stay with her young brother who had been abandoned on the island. He died shortly thereafter, and Karana fended for herself on the island for 18 years.
O'Dell tells the miraculous story of how Karana forages on land and in the ocean, clothes herself (in a green-cormorant skirt and an otter cape on special occasions), and secures shelter. Perhaps even more startlingly, she finds strength and serenity living alone on the island. This beautiful edition of Island of the Blue Dolphins is enriched with 12 full-page watercolor paintings by Ted Lewin, illustrator of more than 100 children's books, including Ali, Child of the Desert. A gripping story of battling wild dogs and sea elephants, this simply told, suspenseful tale of survival is also an uplifting adventure of the spirit. (Ages 9 to 12)
Product Description:
"A haunting and unusual story based on the fact that in the early 1800s an Indian girl spent 18 years alone on a rocky island far off the coast of California. . . . A quiet acceptance of fate characterizes her ordeal."--School Library Journal, starred review. William Allen White Award; ALA Notable Children's Book; 1961 Newbery Medal winner.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- navywife
Wish I could give a positive review; however, I STILL have not received the product...5 weeks later...
Rating: - Does not deserve any awards
I remember reading this book when I was younger.I'll be honest that I blocked most of the extraneous details of the non-existent plot out of my memory.But I do remember feeling depressed for days after finishing it.Why on earth would we force our children to read literature that is going to bring them down emotionally like this, especially when it's a terribly written book to begin with?If I hadn't already had a natural desire to be an avid reader then this book would definitely have turned ... Read More
Rating: 
- A Quiet, Memorable Story of Survival and Persistence
A beautiful story of a "girl Robinson Crusoe."Karana is a member of a tribe living on the island of Ghalas-at off the coast of California.When her tribe decides to leave the island with some ships, she is accidentally left behind with her younger brother, who is killed soon afterward.She builds a home for herself, befriends a wild dog, and lives alone for many years before being discovered by sailors.
This novel is inspired by the true story of a woman who was left alone on this island ... Read More
Rating: 
- Island of The Blue Dolphins Review
Island of the Blue Dolphin is about a girl named Karana.The book starts out with her and her brotherRamopicking grass and other things from the ground. Karana sees a ship coming close the island but does not tell her brother. When the chief of the tribe, Karana's dadChowing, sees the boat, he goes to the dock to greet the people. The Captain of the boat was named Captain Orlov. Captain Orlov is from Russia and is part of the Aleut expedition. Chowing at first does not want them on the island because one ... Read More
Rating: - best book ever
true story of a native american girl on San Nicolas island, most remote of the California channel islands-i read it in grade school and enjoyed it 30+ years later. a must read for youngsters.
- navywifeWish I could give a positive review; however, I STILL have not received the product...5 weeks later...
- Does not deserve any awardsI remember reading this book when I was younger.I'll be honest that I blocked most of the extraneous details of the non-existent plot out of my memory.But I do remember feeling depressed for days after finishing it.Why on earth would we force our children to read literature that is going to bring them down emotionally like this, especially when it's a terribly written book to begin with?If I hadn't already had a natural desire to be an avid reader then this book would definitely have turned ... Read More
- A Quiet, Memorable Story of Survival and PersistenceA beautiful story of a "girl Robinson Crusoe."Karana is a member of a tribe living on the island of Ghalas-at off the coast of California.When her tribe decides to leave the island with some ships, she is accidentally left behind with her younger brother, who is killed soon afterward.She builds a home for herself, befriends a wild dog, and lives alone for many years before being discovered by sailors.
This novel is inspired by the true story of a woman who was left alone on this island ... Read More
- Island of The Blue Dolphins ReviewIsland of the Blue Dolphin is about a girl named Karana.The book starts out with her and her brotherRamopicking grass and other things from the ground. Karana sees a ship coming close the island but does not tell her brother. When the chief of the tribe, Karana's dadChowing, sees the boat, he goes to the dock to greet the people. The Captain of the boat was named Captain Orlov. Captain Orlov is from Russia and is part of the Aleut expedition. Chowing at first does not want them on the island because one ... Read More
- best book evertrue story of a native american girl on San Nicolas island, most remote of the California channel islands-i read it in grade school and enjoyed it 30+ years later. a must read for youngsters.
