Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot
Winner of the Newbery Medal in 1961, this story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for eighteen years on an island off the coast of California, still fascinates young readers. Her survival story-fighting the wild dogs and loneliness, hunting for food, and hoping to be rescued-is spellbinding. 1996 (orig.
From the Publisher
"A haunting and unusual story based on the fact that in the early 1800s an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone on a rocky island far off the coast of California . . . A quiet acceptance of fate characterizes her ordeal." School Library Journal, Starred
"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." Amazon.com
Children's Literature - Paula McMillen
This beautiful edition commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the book's original publication in 1960. A welcome addition is the introduction by Lois Lowry, providing background on the historical events which inspired this story, and some thoughtful questions about O'Dell's interpretation of those events. Although this was O'Dell's first YA novel, it garnered him the Newbery Medal and he went on to receive the Hans Christian Andersen medal for his body of work. Readers meet 12-year-old Karana, the sole survivor of a tribe of indigenous people inhabiting a remote island about seventy miles southwest of Santa Barbara. After otter hunters and wild dogs kill off most of her people, Karana becomes self-sufficient and protects herself against wild animals, the weather, and potential intruders. Karana first tries to kill and then befriends Rantu, the leader of the dog pack, who becomes her beloved companion. This opens the door to her shifting view of all the animals on the island as more than just food, but spiritual beings with whom she may live in harmony. When at last Karana is rescued from the island and taken to the mission in Santa Barbara, she remains alone, because no one is alive who understands her language. It is a touching story of resilience and determination in the face of astounding obstacles. This new edition can foster rediscovery of a compelling character and enhance social science lessons about indigenous peoples, the role of missionaries in colonization, and California history. Readers will be impressed by Karana's strength, resourcefulness and her survival skills. Reviewer: Paula McMillen, Ph.D.
Children's Literature - Maggie Chase
This 50th Anniversary Edition contains the same, beloved, classic story of Karana and her epic adventure of surviving on a Pacific island by herself for 18 years. The difference is that this edition begins with an Introduction by Lois Lowry. In it, Lowry recaps what is known about the real Karana, a woman who came to be known as Juana Maria, although she never answered to that name because she did not share a common language with anyone on the mainland of California. Lowry provides additional details to the Author's Note included in every edition of the book. For example, she tells readers that a Russian American trading company landed on the island of San Nicolas in 1811 to hunt sea otters, possibly setting off a chain reaction of human massacres. She also recounts the many stories or versions of why Karana ended up remaining behind when the rest of her people left on a schooner sponsored by the Santa Barbara Mission. Lowry includes musings and commentary about O'Dell's writing. She wonders at his ability to tell such a rich story with only one human character, and she regrets that she had not asked him a multitude of questions about the craft of his writing while he was still alive. Lowry as well as readers will have to be content with savoring the story itself and letting some of the mysteries and questions behind it remain unanswered. In 1982, O'Dell established the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, whose annual $5,000 prize is given to recognize meritorious work published for children or young adults. Reviewer: Maggie Chase
