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- Island of the Blue Dolphins
Island of the Blue Dolphins
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
10+
ISBN
0395536804
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Editor reviews
2 reviews
A classic YA novel of independence
Overall rating
5.0
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Scott O'Dell has built up a loyal following of fans who devour his historical fiction books for young adults. Island of the Blue Dolphins was first published in 1960 and it stands the test of time as a true classic.
It's the story of an Indian girl who lived alone on an island after being left behind when her people migrated. It's based on the true story of The Lost Woman of San Nicolas, who lived alone on an island from 1835 to 1853.
Karana, the heroine, originally stayed behind because her brother was going to miss the boat taking her people away. She didn't want him to be alone on the island, though she would never have imagined she would be waiting for another boat for so long. Her brother dies when some wild dogs attack him and she is left completely alone for years.
Many things happen to her while she lives alone on the island and you find yourself developing an arresting picture of this incredibly brave girl as she learns from her experiences. She learns to do things on her own that women in her tribe had been forbidden to do and she becomes completely self reliant.
You can feel her loneliness when she adopts one of the wild dogs and then many other creatures on the island. Her brief relationship with another Indian girl who comes to the island with some hunters (who Karana hides from, since they are the same men who killed her father) is both touching and sad.
This book won a Newberry Award and truly deserves a place on your bookshelf. Teachers would also find it useful when studying Native American culture in the classroom.
User reviews
10 reviews
Overall rating
3.8
Plot
3.8(10)
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Ever dream of being trapped on a tropical island all by yourself...
Overall rating
5.0
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Might wanna read this novel first before you answer that. A great YA novel with a really strong female protagonist. But also a really honest look at what it's like to be separated from the rest of humanity, something teens often dream about but I doubt most would really want. Honestly.
Girl who was left behind to fend for herself
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4.0
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This is a classic, a past Newbery winner. To a modern reader it may be a bit old-fashioned and slow (in the writing style)but it does make you imagine what it would be like to be stuck on an island with only your own ingenuity to rely on. At first Karana doesn't have any problem killing other animals like wild dogs and otters but at the end the animals become her friends.
NP
Nonnie Prabab
Top 500 Reviewer
Amazing
Overall rating
5.0
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Reader reviewed by Jessica B.
We just read this book in school. I love this book because it was a well-written story. I loved Karana in the book. She, I believe, was the one who told the story. It was definatly a good story. The author is also very talented. I recomend you read some of their other books. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially someone who loves book written by very talented authors.
We just read this book in school. I love this book because it was a well-written story. I loved Karana in the book. She, I believe, was the one who told the story. It was definatly a good story. The author is also very talented. I recomend you read some of their other books. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially someone who loves book written by very talented authors.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
A cute little book
Overall rating
3.0
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Reader reviewed by Allyssa
I read this book in like fourth grade. My thoughts on it is still the same as back then. It's a cute book. It's not AMAZING, but it's unique and definitely worth a read.
The main character was basically raised by dolphins. Then one day, humans find her and take her from her dolphin world and try to 'civilize' her, until she knows her true human ways. This book is about her struggles and successes as trying to transform into the 'dolphin girl' into a human being.
I read this book in like fourth grade. My thoughts on it is still the same as back then. It's a cute book. It's not AMAZING, but it's unique and definitely worth a read.
The main character was basically raised by dolphins. Then one day, humans find her and take her from her dolphin world and try to 'civilize' her, until she knows her true human ways. This book is about her struggles and successes as trying to transform into the 'dolphin girl' into a human being.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Great book!
Overall rating
5.0
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Reader reviewed by Brie
This is a great book! It keeps you reading for hours and hours. It's about a girl who gets left behind on an island. She's left with nothing except her brother, but soon she loses him too. She faces many challenges and problems, but she always pulls through. On the island , there were wolves and she had to lean how to protect herself from them too. She pulls through wonderfully. This book gives you courage to face every challenge that comes your way. Its the story of friendship, sorrow, joy, and courage. I reccommend this book to evryone.
This is a great book! It keeps you reading for hours and hours. It's about a girl who gets left behind on an island. She's left with nothing except her brother, but soon she loses him too. She faces many challenges and problems, but she always pulls through. On the island , there were wolves and she had to lean how to protect herself from them too. She pulls through wonderfully. This book gives you courage to face every challenge that comes your way. Its the story of friendship, sorrow, joy, and courage. I reccommend this book to evryone.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
One of My Favorite Books!!!
Overall rating
5.0
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Reader reviewed by Latangi
This is one of my favorite books. Its about a young Indian girl who's people decide to leave their island in order ot look for a better life. While her people are trying to leave their island this young girl relizes that her brother is still on the island while she and her people are sailing away on a ship. The girl bravely jumps off the ship and swims back to the island to try to help her brother. Despite her best efforts she and her brother can not make it back to the ship and watch their older sister and all of their friends sail away on the ship. The must learn to survive on the island alone.
This is a really good book for anyone who enjoys reading about Indians and stories of survival.
This is one of my favorite books. Its about a young Indian girl who's people decide to leave their island in order ot look for a better life. While her people are trying to leave their island this young girl relizes that her brother is still on the island while she and her people are sailing away on a ship. The girl bravely jumps off the ship and swims back to the island to try to help her brother. Despite her best efforts she and her brother can not make it back to the ship and watch their older sister and all of their friends sail away on the ship. The must learn to survive on the island alone.
This is a really good book for anyone who enjoys reading about Indians and stories of survival.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
thoughtful
Overall rating
5.0
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Reader reviewed by gabby
This book makes you think. If you have a short attention span, well, this book isn't for you. This book is a simple story of a girl who loses her family, is stranded on an island, and must learn to survive. She learns to develop to the land and the hardships, makes friends with animals, and learns more, in general, about herself. I thought it was a good book...everyone I have asked likes it. But check it out yourself...you just might be surprised.
This book makes you think. If you have a short attention span, well, this book isn't for you. This book is a simple story of a girl who loses her family, is stranded on an island, and must learn to survive. She learns to develop to the land and the hardships, makes friends with animals, and learns more, in general, about herself. I thought it was a good book...everyone I have asked likes it. But check it out yourself...you just might be surprised.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Are you kidding?
Overall rating
1.0
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Reader reviewed by Corn
My 6th grade literature class read this book. I was bored to tears with it. The only thoughts the plot provoked were thoughts of "Why would anyone want to read this?". Scott O'Dell's "classic" The Island of the Blue Dolphins is about the most generic "kid abandoned on island" story yet. First of all, the protagonist's brother gets eaten by wolves. Sounds... interesting? Then O'Dell rattles on for pages about what resources the abandoned-on-island-girl used to build her hut. Wooh... interesting. I'd seriously advise you to think twice about embarking this particular reading journey.
My 6th grade literature class read this book. I was bored to tears with it. The only thoughts the plot provoked were thoughts of "Why would anyone want to read this?". Scott O'Dell's "classic" The Island of the Blue Dolphins is about the most generic "kid abandoned on island" story yet. First of all, the protagonist's brother gets eaten by wolves. Sounds... interesting? Then O'Dell rattles on for pages about what resources the abandoned-on-island-girl used to build her hut. Wooh... interesting. I'd seriously advise you to think twice about embarking this particular reading journey.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
boooriiiing
Overall rating
1.0
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Reader reviewed by Jessica M.
I did not really like this book because it bored me half to death. I don't know why though; I think it's just that I did not get into it.
The story is about a girl named Karana who is about to go on a ship with her people. When she finds out her brother, Ramo, is not on the ship she jumps off of it. Then, she is stuck on the island and her brother dies.
Now, what was the point of going after her brother if he was just going to get killed by dogs? Anyway, Karana is stuck on the island for years and years and goes on stupid, little hunting adventures. This eventually leads up to an ending that is unbelievably dumb, that it left me wondering why I ever read the stupid book in the first place.
This was the dumbest book I ever read. When it got interesting, it became boring again. I can't believe this book won the Newberry Award! I am saying DON'T READ IT!!!!!
I did not really like this book because it bored me half to death. I don't know why though; I think it's just that I did not get into it.
The story is about a girl named Karana who is about to go on a ship with her people. When she finds out her brother, Ramo, is not on the ship she jumps off of it. Then, she is stuck on the island and her brother dies.
Now, what was the point of going after her brother if he was just going to get killed by dogs? Anyway, Karana is stuck on the island for years and years and goes on stupid, little hunting adventures. This eventually leads up to an ending that is unbelievably dumb, that it left me wondering why I ever read the stupid book in the first place.
This was the dumbest book I ever read. When it got interesting, it became boring again. I can't believe this book won the Newberry Award! I am saying DON'T READ IT!!!!!
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
Suspenseful!!!
Overall rating
4.0
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Reader reviewed by Tobie
When I read this book I realized it was the first,actual book that I could'nt stop reading.
It hypmotized me!!! I could'nt believe how much information I sucked into my brain about Indians. ( It was'nt like a boring non-fiction book). There is a great story line of how a girl is left behind on a island and has to survive on her own.
When I read this book I realized it was the first,actual book that I could'nt stop reading.
It hypmotized me!!! I could'nt believe how much information I sucked into my brain about Indians. ( It was'nt like a boring non-fiction book). There is a great story line of how a girl is left behind on a island and has to survive on her own.
G
Guest
#1 Reviewer
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