Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
**Overview of *Island of the Blue Dolphins***
*Island of the Blue Dolphins* is a novel by Scott O'Dell that tells the compelling story of a young Native American girl named Karana, who demonstrates remarkable resilience and ingenuity. Set on the remote Channel Islands, the narrative begins with a tragic event involving the Aleut hunters and the destruction of Karana's village, leading her to be left behind when her people seek safety elsewhere. As she navigates life alone on the island, Karana faces numerous challenges, including self-sufficiency, the threat of wild dogs, and maintaining her connection to her culture despite her isolation.
Throughout her journey, Karana grapples with moral dilemmas, such as her decision to create weapons—contrary to her tribe's customs—to protect herself. The story highlights her deep bond with nature and the animals around her, particularly her relationship with a wounded dog she names Rontu. Over the years, Karana experiences both loneliness and brief moments of connection with others, including a young girl from the Aleut community. The narrative is rich with themes of survival, identity, and the appreciation of the natural world, culminating in her eventual rescue.
Recognized as a classic of children's literature and a Newbery Medal winner, *Island of the Blue Dolphins* has resonated with readers for generations, offering a poignant exploration of strength in adversity and a tribute to Indigenous heritage.
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Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
First published: 1960
Type of work: Historical fiction
Themes: Coming-of-age and nature
Time of work: The early nineteenth century
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: The Channel Islands, west of California
Principal Characters:
Karana , a twelve-year-old Indian girl, whose life is transformed when she is separated from her tribe and forced to fend for herselfCamo , her younger brother, a rambunctious boy prone to mischiefChowig , their father, the wise and just chief of the Indian tribe, Ghalas-atCaptain Orlov , the Aleut hunter who, along with his traders, tries to exploit the IndiansKimki , the elder tribe chief, who must preside after Chowig’s deathRontu , the wild dog that Karana tames as her ownTutok , the young girl, accompanying the Aleuts, whom Karana befriends
The Story
In some ways, Island of the Blue Dolphins is a typical example of the action-adventure genre, but what makes the story distinctive is its focus on the spirit and resourcefulness of its main character. As the story begins, the twelve-year-old Indian girl, Karana, goes about her routine of gathering roots for her village’s supply of food. There, on the remotest of the Channel Islands, inhabited only by the Indian village of Ghalas-at, Karana’s spring task is interrupted by the seasonal arrival of the Aleuts, who have come to hunt sea otter for their trade. A conflict is set into motion when the greedy Aleuts try to swindle the natives by taking too many skins and by refusing to share the potential profits. Karana watches as her father, Chief Chowig, is killed by Captain Orlov, the head Aleut hunter. In the chaos, many other native warriors perish. Kimki, the elder chief now presiding, decides to rid his people of their mournful memories and their newly found hardships by journeying to a new land.
Soon, friends of Chief Kimki arrive by ship to rescue the villagers and plan to take them to a new homeland. Once on board, however, Karana cannot find her younger brother, Ramo. Realizing that Ramo must have been left behind and told that the ship cannot return because of a developing storm, Karana dives into the sea and swims ashore. When she is reunited with Ramo, Karana hopes that the rescue ship will return as soon as the winds and waters calm. Until that time, the siblings vow to live a carefree life and to share the tasks of caring for themselves. Tragedy ensues, however, when Ramo ventures alone to the other side of the island to get an abandoned canoe for fishing. A pack of wild dogs corners and fatally wounds the boy. Early the next morning, Karana finds her brother’s body and vows vengeance on the vicious canines. Grief-stricken over the brutal death of Ramo and the senseless killing of her people, Karana burns the remnants of her village in an effort to purge her own feelings of desperation about the tragedy. She then decides to make a new home by moving to a higher clearing on the island, where she will await the rescue ship. This move begins the initial phase of her own self-discovery.
On her own now, Karana proves to be a survivor by facing two main obstacles. First, she must make a home for herself on this island of the blue dolphins. She gathers sticks for fishing and keeps a vigilant eye on the scavenging dogs. She faces a moral dilemma when she wants to make weapons to ward off the dogs, which conflicts with the laws of her tribe that forbid women to fashion weapons. Karana chooses to make the weapons, reasoning that her home must be one where she feels comfortable and protected from adversaries. The second obstacle Karana faces is her important decision to fight off the wild dogs. With careful planning, Karana makes sturdy bows and arrows, builds a fire to smoke out the dogs from their lair, and kills several. Yet she only wounds the lead dog, the huskiest of the pack. Karana tracks the dog, but instead of killing him, she watches him lie helpless. Moved by his vulnerable state and the bleeding from his wounds, Karana shows pity; she carries him to her home and nurses his wounds. The former foe becomes her companion, Rontu.
As the years pass, Karana waits for her rescue, continuing to care for herself. She grows wary that the Aleuts will return eventually to wreak more havoc on her home. To prevent her being held captive, Karana fashions a small canoe and hides it deep within a cavern. Karana’s intuition proves true and the Aleuts do return. Hiding successfully from the hunters, she does meet and befriend a young girl in the troop. For a short time, Karana experiences again the feeling of human contact. Even though the two do not share the same language, they communicate through laughter, signs, and sharing of meals. Ultimately, Tutok must leave with the Aleuts, but Karana remembers her friend fondly, for Tutok provided that special bond of humanity that Karana had been without for so long.
Nearing her twenty-eighth year and still desperately clinging to the hope that the rescue ship will return, Karana manages to cope, maintaining her strength, courage, and will to live, even when life demands change. Eventually, Rontu ages and dies, and Karana buries him at the top of their promontory. An island earthquake hits and robs her of food, provisions, and her canoe. While searching for the remains of her goods and new wood to rebuild her vessel, Karana spots a ship in the distance. The ship moves closer but not enough to notice the lone inhabitant. Two years later, when Karana is nearing thirty, the ship returns and rescues this brave and persevering young woman.
Context
The Newbery Medal-winning Island of the Blue Dolphins is perhaps Scott O’Dell’s most famous novel, simply because of its popular heroine, who learns to appreciate the natural beauty of the land and who explores humankind’s relation to the land. The novel has been widely read among young people and adults. O’Dell was inspired to write a sequel to the novel, and the result was Zia (1976), in which the adolescents Zia and her brother Mando rescue their aunt, Karana. Both novels serve as companion pieces and usually prompt young readers to seek out O’Dell’s other adventure works, including The Black Pearl (1967), a tale of a young boy who finds the fabulous Pearl of Heaven, and The 290 (1976), which traces young Jim Lynne’s coming-of-age experiences aboard a Confederate navy vessel. Recognized as one of the country’s leading writers for young people, O’Dell, in 1972, was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen International Medal, the highest worldwide honor for a body of work by an author of children’s books.
Most critics view Karana as a female Robinson Crusoe, since O’Dell, similar to Daniel Defoe, tells a narrative about the adventures of an inventive protagonist abandoned on a deserted isle; Karana must use her wits and gather resources in an effort to fend for herself while battling many adversaries. O’Dell has created a fiction based on the actual experiences of a young girl who lived on San Nicolas Island, the remotest of the Channel Islands, west of California’s coast. In history, the girl is known as the Lost Woman of San Nicolas, and in retelling her story, O’Dell pays homage to the extraordinary qualities of these ancient island people. In the story, this tribute comes to life when Karana is nestled deep within an island cave and marvels at the hieroglyphic impressions of her early ancestors.