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I've now corrected that oversight, and I'm glad I did.In the Pacific Ocean, there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea. She spends year after year there, but this isn't a tale merely of survival, it's a story of a girl who truly appreciates the natural world surrounding her. First Line: I remember the day the Aleut ship came to our island.I'm not quite sure how I missed this one growing up. When the strangers come in their red-sailed ship, Karana's father reluctantly gives them permission to fish and to hunt for otters in their waters, but their hunting comes to a bad end. It wasn't just Karana building a shelter or trying to outsmart the wild dogs-- I was, too. Blue dolphins, sea elephants, birds, otters. When Karana sees that her little brother is left behind on the island, she jumps ship and swims back.Unfortunately Karana soon finds herself all alone on the island.
An author's note in the back told me that this story was based on fact, and that explanation made the book even more special.I can see why this book is a Newbery Medal winner. With a 1960 copyright date, it was certainly around when I was young, but somehow it got lost in the shuffle, and I never read it. My eyes were riveted to the page as she built herself shelter, a canoe, fought off wild dogs, and explored the island. wildlife is abundant there. Not long afterward, a ship comes for Karana's people, and they gather their belongings and climb aboard. Island of the Blue Dolphins has a wonderful setting and a character into whom we can all project ourselves. When I finished the last page, I had to sit quietly and let the sea breeze calm and the vision of a fish-shaped island sunning itself in the sea quietly fade away.
My son loves this book. He is 13 and it is a great adventure book. Especially for boys.
A beautiful Robinson Crusoe type story inspired by real events. However, the enriching quality of this book is undeniable. There is rich character development, powerful descriptives, and interesting plot. Karana had intended to leave with them but jumps ship at the last minute to return to the island due to an unforeseen circumstance. A worthy classic. Through Karana's journey of survival on the island we are treated to lessons in survival, observations of humanity's varying relationships with nature, introductions to various forms of wildlife and several poignant moments involving loss, unexpected friendship, and surprises of nature. Karana is a young Indian girl who is left to fend for herself on her home island after her entire tribe leaves to head east. Unlike some children's/young adult reads, this book has all of the elemental qualities of a full length, classic adult novel - they are just given to us in smaller doses.
There are a few tedious moments in this read, but they are short lived. I am partial to stories such as this as Robinson Crusoe is one of my favorite books and I love nature and adventure stories. I enjoyed researching in more depth via the internet things that are mentioned in the book such as devil fish, sea elephants, abalones, cormorants, etc.
I remember reading this book when I was younger. Why on earth would we force our children to read literature that is going to bring them down emotionally like this, especially when it's a terribly written book to begin with. I'll be honest that I blocked most of the extraneous details of the non-existent plot out of my memory. But I do remember feeling depressed for days after finishing it. If I hadn't already had a natural desire to be an avid reader then this book would definitely have turned me off from wanting to pick up another book and read. There are so many other books that could be assigned reading.
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Very little is known about her. 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. 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.
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. It is a romantic story, but one that is marked by deep loneliness. 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.
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