Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
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Book Reviews of Island of the Blue Dolphins
Book Review: Parents, you just have to get this!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was just incredible! I came to this book expecting something completely different. I understood the synopsis, but never expected to find how absolutely fantastic this book was. I found few problems with the book. Mainly two things. The first few chapters were a little slow. I began to wonder when she'd ever be alone on the island. When she was, the story picked up at an astonishing pace and not a moment was boring. I was a little worried about her desire to `kill' the wild dogs. Yet, the issue is addressed without offense. I cannot say more without spoiling this beautiful story.
I certainly never suspected to find such incredible moral issues woven throughout this book. Karana learns some very important lessons in her solitary life. At the top of the list is how Karana learns that forgiveness, rather than revenge or hatred, has immense rewards. She learns that beauty comes through the love of nature, and that the gift of love and giving is precious in so many ways.
This book touched me in a way I cannot describe. There are tearful moments, but they are few and last only momentarily. There is suspense, but it should not be frightening for children 9 and over if you are reading aloud to your children. Advanced 4th grade readers should be able to read it well enough themselves. The material though is a little deep (emotionally) for children younger, even if they read well.
I truly feel this is a book everyone should add to their collection.
Book Review: Island of the blue dolphins
Summary: 5 Stars
Island Of The Blue Dolphins
Island of the Blue Dolphins is about a young girl named Karana and her brother Ramo. They are both traped on the Island of the Blue Dolphins alone. It all started when the Aleuts came from the Aleution Islands. They come there to hunt sea otter pelts. Karana and Ramo's father, Chief Chowig makes a deal that if they wanted to hunt the sea otter they would have to spilt the pelts even. Well then the Aleuts said "How about we give you a chest full of weapons and necklaces." Chief Chowig said "Give three large chests full of weapons and necklaces and it is a deal." Then the Aleuts said "Okay." Then the Aleuts went on the ship to get more chests but then they didn't come back and they sailed away. then Karana's tribe went to a new island and Karana and Ramo was left on the island by their selfs. Ramo died that day by a wild pack of dogs left by the Aleuts.
Karana - 12 year old girl that was left on the island with her brother Ramo. Karana's father was Chief Chowig. Karana has one sister named Ulapae.
Ramo - 6 year old boy that was also left on the island with Karana. Ramo was killed by a wild pack of dogs.
Ulapae - Karana and Ramo's sister is Ulapae.
Cheif Chowig - He is the the Cheif of Karana's tribe. He is also her father.
In this book my opinion is that it is a very good book and I would recremend it to anybody I think would like it.
Book Review: Wonderful Adventure for Girls 12 to 14 !!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book when I was 12 years old and absolutely loved it! The memories from the story stayed with me all these years, and helped shape me into who I am. When I recently found it hidden in a box in my parent's basement I was overjoyed and pounced upon it again. Re-reading it as an adult, the story went much faster (I was able to re-read the entire thing in one day), but even as an adult it still had poignant imagery and was written well enough to keep me heavily engaged. I even cried at one point when re-reading it.The author did a wonderful job elaborating on a true story and bringing it to life. It's a story of survival and finding strength within yourself. It's an adventure story for young ladies, based on reality, with a similar premise as the adult movie "Cast Away" (just replace westernized Tom Hanks with an indiginous young girl and it's the same basic idea). As a 12 year old, I found parts of the book very scary and parts of it very sad, but mostly I found it extremely inspirational. The idea that even as a young lady, you have the strength inside you to survive no matter what.
It's too bad that the reprint doesn't have the same cover as the original softcover I have. The original cover art captured the tone of the story better. A picture of a young girl and her dog on the top of a windswept hill, completely and utterly alone. It evoked a much more wistful feeling than the current cover art does.
Book Review: A life of a lonely young girl,who struggles to make the best
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought that Scott O'Dell's book, Island of the Blue Dolpins, was extraordinary. It captures a reader and takes then into the tough life of a young girl by the name of Karana. The reader not only reads the story, but somehow aslo seems to experience the tragedies and stuggles experience by Karana herself. Karana finds herself deserted on her tribe's island, the Island of the Blue Dolphins, and struggled to survive until they come back for her. Meanwhile, Karana finds strength and wisdom living on the island all by herself. She learns how to put clothes on her back and a roof over her head. Karana also becomes clever at living off the nature around her, eating fish and finding fresh water. She grows close to the land and ocean, her only companions, until she become aquainted with the wildlife on the island. Karana is accompanied by several animals, which grow very dear to her. Karana grows desperate for her tribe's return and finally gives up. But to her surprise and patience, she finds that there is much more in store for her. I would definitely reccomend this book to elementery/junior high teachers. It would be an adventure for their students to read. Another book I strongly reccomend, that is similiar to Island of the Blue Dolphins, is Joy Cowley's, The Silent One. This book also takes place on an island and leads the reader to join the exciting adventure of a deaf/mute boy and his village.Book Review: Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Summary: 5 Stars
Something recently brought this book again to my attention. I don't frequently review children's books, but this one is exceptional. When my daughters were younger, my wife read this to them on a long driving vacation and we all loved it. Like my wife and I, they are native southern Californians and one thing that I particularly enjoyed was sharing with them this story's historical content. While Russia's colonial interests in California (1745 to 1841) were generally restricted to northern California, I had been aware, I think from having read Michener's Alaska, if I recall correctly, that the Russian fur industry had extorted the services of Alaskan Aleut hunters (under threat of death to family members held hostage) to pursue the Pacific sea otter to near extinction as far south as San Diego. These Aleut hunters and Russian fur traders quickly come into play in this fascinating story based on historical events and set in southern California's Channel Islands (on small San Nicolas Island, which is something like three by eight miles in area and lies about 65 miles west of the California mainland). As events unfold, one native girl comes to be the sole human inhabitant of the island. At this point, years later, I don't recall all details of the story but highly recommend it, particularly as a story of heroic perseverance that will capture the imagination of children.