Island of the Blue Dolphins

Island of the Blue Dolphins

By Scott O'Dell

127 ratings 184 reviews 216 followers
Interest LevelReading LevelReading A-ZATOSWord Count
Grades 4 - 8Grades 10 - 9V5.440531

Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as the island of San Nicholas. Dolphins flash in the blue waters around it, sea otter play in the vast kep beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches.

Here, in the early 1800s, according to history, an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone, and this beautifully written novel is her story. It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache, for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle, but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother, constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply.

More than this, it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down. Karana's quiet courage, her Indian self-reliance and acceptance of fate, transform what to many would have been a devastating ordeal into an uplifting experience. From loneliness and terror come strength and serenity in this Newbery Medal-winning classic.

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
ISBN-13: 9780395069622
ISBN-10: 0395069629
Published on 9/9/1960
Binding: Hardcover
Number of pages: 192

Book Reviews (181)

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Bob Bob

This is the best book ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AMAZING! The main character Karana is brave, hardworking, and determined to survive. She never lost hope that the ship would come someday. She even survived the wild dogs that threatened her.

I loved this book. I decided to read it again because it was a real story that happened. The only thing different were a couple of peoples name

OMG BANANAS OMG BANANAS

This was a book we read as our 6th grade read a loud book. It wasn't as emotional as some people say, but there were some parts that were SO SAD! The story is a cookie-cutter survival story. A girl and here brother get abandoned. (Kind of.) The bro dies from a wild dog. The girl has to survive. Someone rescues her. OMG! It wasn't special at all! It was just another one of those stories where someone gets stranded and rescued. Yuck! Two stars for me.

mathrocks9 mathrocks9

It is very emotional and has a lot of different moments. I also recommend this book because it is very emotional. This book is also very teaching, it tells you lessons for when you grow up.

lebron james23 lebron james23

After reading Island of the Blue Dolphins, I would recommend it to a friend for these reasons. It is a historical story. It has a lot of adventures. In this book there is lot of life lessons to be learned. The author Scott O'Dell used a lot of details, so that helped me visualize the picture.

cama llama 9 cama llama 9

After reading Island of the Blue I would recommend it to a friend for the following reasons. One reason is that it is a historical story. Two it is really easy to visualize due to Scott O'Dell's great describing sentences. Another reason is that it won the Newbery Medal. A fourth reason is it is voted the best kid book for the past 200 years. It is also devastatin, refreshing, and uplifiting all at the same time.

sophiJEMSTAR9 sophiJEMSTAR9

I think that after reading the book: Island of the Blue Dolphins I would recommend this book to anyone. It is a good survival tale of adventure. It has awesome events that make you want to keep reading.

JeffJeff9 JeffJeff9

I would recommend this book to anyone who will ask for a recommended book. One of the best books I have ever read and I will read it again any day. Also one of the best authors ever. Thanks Scott O'dell.

Bridgepower9 Bridgepower9

After reading Island of the Blue Dolphins I would recommend it because it has adventure, action, and excitement, it really touches you at some parts of the story, and you would not want to put it down.

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