“The Island of the Blue Dolphins was my home; I had no other.”
Book Review
Lisa Naylor Title: Island of the Blue Dolphins
Author: Scott O’Dell
Year of Publication: 1960
Genre: Historical Fiction
Themes: forgiveness, moral development, survival
Grade Range: grades 4-8
Honors/Awards: Newberry (1961), William Allen White Children’s Book Award
(1963), FOCAL Award (1981), one of the 10 best American children’s books of
the past two hundred years (Children’s Literature Association 1976)
Summary:
Karana is her secret name, known only by family members and others of the Ghalas-at community who reside on the
Island of the Blue Dolphins. To everyone else, she is Won-a-pa-lei, or, The Girl with the Long Black Hair. It was
uncommon for those of Ghalas-at to offer their secret names to strangers, so Karana was surprised when her father Chief
Chowig did just that upon introducing himself to the Aleut hunters who came to the island in search of otters. However,
because Captain Orlov, the leader of the Aleuts, offered an equal amount of goods in exchange for otter, the tribe let the
Aleuts hunt in peace. After several days of hunting, the Aleuts prepared to leave the island without paying Chief Chowig
in full. Angered by this, the men of Ghalas-at fought back. The battle was not equal and many men of the tribe died,
including Chief Chowig, while the Aleuts fled the island, mostly unscathed. There were few members left in the tribe after
the battle, including Karana and her younger brother Ramo. Morale was low until the day unexpected visitors arrived.
Another ship sailed toward the island, filled with missionary men hoping to save the remaining members of the tribe.
Karana and the rest of the community packed their essentials and raced toward the ship. As they ran, Karana’s younger
brother Ramo remembered that he had left his fishing spear behind, but Karana knew the ship would not wait for him so
she demanded that he leave it. It was only as the ship began to sail away that Karana realized Ramo had not listened and
was still on the island. Karana, not able to convince the men to turn the ship around, jumped overboard and swam back
to the island to be with Ramo. Karana and Ramo were left to fend for themselves, and one day Ramo decided to venture
to the rocky island coves alone. Karana later found Ramo lying on the ground with a deep wound in his throat,
surrounded by wild dogs. Karana vowed to someday get revenge on the dogs that killed her brother. Living alone on the
island was strange, and for many days Karana could hardly bear it. However, she eventually took control of the situation
by learning how to survive through hunting, building, and trusting her instincts. Karana also found an unlikely companion
in the leader of the wild dogs. While she wanted the dogs dead, she struggled to go through with the act of killing. After
wounding the leader, Karana felt a sense of remorse so decided to take him in, train him, and even give him a name –
Rontu. From that day forward, Karana and Rontu shared a remarkable and everlasting bond, teaching Karana about
respect and forgiveness. Karana spent many years alone before another ship sailed to the Island of the Blue Dolphins.
This ship was also filled with men looking to hunt otter, but also willing to help Karana. They took Karana with them,
sailing away from the island toward a new land and a new life. As the ship sailed away, dolphins swam toward it and
followed its path for several miles – a good omen. Connectors:
Language Arts – Survivor Biography – find out more about fictional or real life survivor, write biography
History – Research the real Lost Woman of San Nicolas
Geography – Use maps to find the Island of the Blue Dolphins (San Nicolas Island) – from Karana’s descriptions
draw a picture of the island – create own island specifying weather, topography, etc…
Art – Make the tools that Karana would have needed to survive
Science – Natural disasters (tidal wave, earthquake), sea animals (physical characteristics, habitat)