This Newberry Medal book, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, is a historical fiction. The book is based on a true story about the Indians of Ghalas-at of 1835, and more specifically, about the lost woman of San Nicolas as history knows her. She is called Karana in this story.

When Karana is twelve, a crew of white outsiders landed at her tribe’s beach port. This Aleut ship had come to hunt otter off the reef at the coast of their home, the Blue Dolphin Island. A bloody disaster occurs when it is time for the Aleuts to pay the Indians, because the Aleuts do not keep their part of the agreement. Many of the Ghalas-at tribesmen are killed in this event, and the the new Indian chief quickly makes an arrangement for the whole tribe to move to another island.

As the boat begins its voyage away from the island, Karana realizes that her brother has been left behind. She jumps over-board to stay with him and take care of him, but only a few days pass before her brother has a fatal meeting with the wild dogs. She had assumed that the boat would return for her and her brother, but when it becomes clear to her that the boat will not be returning any time soon, she must figure out how to survive on her own.

I felt that this story was basically a female version of the Robinson Crusoe story. While it helped that she knew the environment and that the predators were not more vicious, the fact that she had been stranded and alone for over 18 years is really impressive.

Little facts are known about the real woman’s situation, but I think the story was believable. Also, the first person viewpoint was used successfully and helped the reader sympathize more closely with the protagonist. Some tribal words made this book a tad more difficult but not impossible for younger chapter book readers, although there were a couple sad occurrences to keep in mind. Further, this story would be easy to read out loud.

Kate

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Newbery Book Award Winner
(c) 2010 Sandpiper
Publisher Reading Level: 9-12
ISBN: 0547328613
192 Pages