Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
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Book Reviews of Island of the Blue Dolphins
Book Review: the Instresting Islands of the blue dolphins
Summary: 5 Stars
Island of the Blue Dolphins. By Scott O'Dell. I am Jade.C and I read Island of the blue dolphins. Jade.C is in [..] and read this book for her independent reading book.
This book was about a brave [..]girl named karana who loses all her people in a fight with the Aleut's and was stranded on her home land with only her brother. When her curious [..] brother wanders of early in the morning she will have to deal with living on the island alone. One of the worst things about living on that island is there is a pack of wiled dogs on the loose that could kill her any time she turns her back. One day she decides to go against her religion and make spears and bows to fight the dogs. When she gains up the courage finally fight the pack of wiled dogs she strikes the leader with a spear. After doing so she felt bad and mended the dog to health and the dog became her friend Rontu. After a long time living on the island she spotted a ship. But sadly enough it was the ship of he Aleut's come to hunt. After building a nice little cave for her to hide in when the Aleut's were on her island she meet and girl about her age. This girl was about the same age as karana and they befriend each other quickly. After the Aleut's left she saw another ship on the horizon and it turned out to be a boat that would rescue her!
This author has an exquisite taste and is very descriptive. She can make you feel how the charters fell and see all the settings that karana can see. She also likes to use examples like "but quick as a cricket." This book rely pulls you in and you can't stop reading until the end. The emotion in her book is breath taking and heart breaking. This book is a wonder full book. You can fell the wind on your face and the pain in her hands when she is trying to canoe home. I think this book had great adventure and descriptive Writing. I thing that he could cut down on the blood and death, but I guess that's what makes the story. I would recommend this book for 5th to 6th graders.
Book Review: A Quiet, Memorable Story of Survival and Persistence
Summary: 5 Stars
A beautiful story of a "girl Robinson Crusoe." Karana is a member of a tribe living on the island of Ghalas-at off the coast of California. When her tribe decides to leave the island with some ships, she is accidentally left behind with her younger brother, who is killed soon afterward. She builds a home for herself, befriends a wild dog, and lives alone for many years before being discovered by sailors.
This novel is inspired by the true story of a woman who was left alone on this island for 18 years, called The Lost Woman of San Nicolas. Very little is known about her. After leaving the island, she spent the rest of her life at a Catholic mission in California, where no one spoke her language. O'Dell does incorporate what little is known about her into his story: the leap from the ship, the wild dogs, and the skirt made of cormorant feathers. He adds an encounter with an Aleut girl, and a few guesses about cultural details of her tribal tradition that may or may not be substantiated historically.
Although the story is pure fiction, it achieved classic status because of its timeless human themes. O'Dell's heroine shows great courage in building her shelter, finding food, taming her dog, and finally revealing herself to the island's visitors. For many years she lives alone, maintaining not only her own safety and sustenance but also seeking out expressions of beauty and kindness, and caring for the animals within her sphere of influence. It is a romantic story, but one that is marked by deep loneliness. In a bittersweet ending, she leaves her lifelong home for the sake of hearing another human voice.
This is a quiet, memorable story of survival and persistence in the face of difficult conditions and profound grief. Karana's practical means of surviving against the elements and predators are interesting in themselves, but her courage in facing hunger and danger, and living alone year after year, make her a heroine worth emulating.
Book Review: An amazing story of survival. . .
Summary: 5 Stars
Have you ever been to a beautiful island surrounded by amazing sea life. Do you love the cultures and the natural beauty of Navtive Americans? You might enjoy Scott O'Dells famous fictional book Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Scott O'Dell, the author of many great children's books, was born in Los Angeles. He had many adventures there in his childhood. One of the many adventures that he had (and my favorite) was when he and 3 friends went to sea on a 12 foot long log. They a a wonderful time "sailing" thier "boat" and looking for devilfish. When he got older, he started writing books for adults. When he wrote Island of the Blue Dolphins, he didn't know it was a children's book until a friend of his read his work and said, "This is a children's book, and a very good one at that!". It won many awards including the John Newbery Medal. In addition, he wrote 28 other excellent children's books.
Karana, the main character in Island of the Blue Dolphins, is the Chief Ghal-ast's second daughter. She has a wonderful life on the island, until the Aleuts came. They killed almost all of the men on the island, including Karana's father. The others that were not killed were sent by boat to a safer place to live. They left karana and her younger brother behind. After her brother was killed by wild dogs, Karana lived alone on the island. From this point to the final page, we see her struggle to survive on the uninhabited Island of the Blue Dolphins and enjoy the adventures that she has along the way.
Not only is it a tale of survival, but a story of natural beauty and the human spirit. It is a haunting, unusual, and indescribable story. It is one of my favorite books ever written.
This story is so wonderful and so beautiful words cannot begin to describe it. So if you are interested in Native Americans and fascinating stories, you should definitely pick up and read a copy of Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Book Review: A story reverently told
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always been fascinated by stories of people who live close to nature and away from civilization. As a child, I read "The Swiss Family Robinson" by Johann Wyss (which I enjoyed) and "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe (no comment). Then I found this book. Now I can't enthuse enough."Island of the Blue Dolphins" enchanted me from the beginning. It is the story of Karana, a young girl who must adapt to a life of solitude and loneliness after the departure of her tribe and the death of her brother. Yet there is nothing fatalistic or bitter about her: she has the strength to make the most of any situation and the grace to let adversity make the most of her.
Scott O'Dell tells the story in first person, keeping Karana's voice simple and honest. This may be cliched, but the best description I have for his style is "hauntingly beautiful."
What makes this novel different from those of Wyss and Defoe is the character's relationship to the setting. Crusoe and the Robinson family could barely look at a plant, an animal or a rock, without thinking of how they could use it to practical advantage. In this, they resemble all the hunters who, at different points in the novel, come to the island to hunt otter and never really noticed any of its natural beauty.
In contrast, Karana was intimate with her island. She took what she needed for food, shelter, protection, even companionship--but somehow also gave back to the island and to the ocean. She did not change her surroundings and remain unchanged herself. "Island of the Blue Dolphins" has many themes, but my favorite is the transformation that occurs when one lives at peace with nature and with circumstance.
Book Review: Kelsey Lynn
Summary: 5 Stars
Karana is an Indian girl who lives with her tribe on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. One day, a ship comes to take the Indians to a larger, more populated island. When Karana realizes that her younger brother is still on the island she jumps out of the ship to be with him, but later when he is killed by the pack of wild dogs that wander the island, she is alone to survive on its isolated beauty. She wants revenge on the wild dogs for killing Ramo, her brother, but falls in love with the pack leader.
At first Karana is truly sad for the loss of her brother, but soon makes friends with other animals on and around the island. Karana named the dog she once wanted dead Rontu, and best friends were made. He went wherever he was allowed to with her. Karana is alone for 18 years on this beautiful isolated island, and hopes to get off it. Karana also hopes that the `Aleut' (white) people will come and rescue her from the lonesome place.
The genre of this book is adventure. Even though this book does not have a sequel, Island of the Blue Dolphins will teach you to never give up, just like the main character. There are many possible themes, such as: Man vs. Nature; Survival; Courage; and Friendship. I believe Scott O'Dell's book will inspire many 10+, or anyone else who loves a good book. Scott O'Dell does have some beautiful pictures in this spectacular book, but you won't need them for the movie in your head. This book is based on `La Isla de San Nicolas', and Karana is based on the girl Robinson Crusoe whose life Scott O'Dell has attempted to recreate. This is a wonderful story. Everyone should take the time to read this Newbery Medal Winner.