Young Adult

Island of the Blue Dolphins

Island of the Blue Dolphins

  • Downloads：8507
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-06-05 06:54:19
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Scott O'Dell
  • ISBN：0547328613
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

Far off the coast of California looms a harsh rock known as the island of San Nicolas。 Dolphins flash in the blue waters around it， sea otter play in the vast kelp beds， and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches。

Here， in the early 1800s， according to history， an Indian girl spent eighteen years alone， and this beautifully written novel is her story。 It is a romantic adventure filled with drama and heartache， for not only was mere subsistence on so desolate a spot a near miracle， but Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that had killed her younger brother， constantly guard against the Aleutian sea otter hunters， and maintain a precarious food supply。

More than this， it is an adventure of the spirit that will haunt the reader long after the book has been put down。 Karana's quiet courage， her Indian self-reliance and acceptance of fate， transform what to many would have been a devastating ordeal into an uplifting experience。 From loneliness and terror come strength and serenity in this Newbery Medal-winning classic。

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Reviews

Robyn ，

Continuing on in my self-appointed quest to read the books that have longest lived on my TBR list， today I finished this lovely book in one sitting that I somehow managed to never be assigned as required reading in school。This book is quite short; the audiobook is less than 4 hours in length。 And it is one of those books where not much seems to happen， but you're so invested in following the story and a lot actually does happen to our main character and her life。 The narrative is quite straightf Continuing on in my self-appointed quest to read the books that have longest lived on my TBR list， today I finished this lovely book in one sitting that I somehow managed to never be assigned as required reading in school。This book is quite short; the audiobook is less than 4 hours in length。 And it is one of those books where not much seems to happen， but you're so invested in following the story and a lot actually does happen to our main character and her life。 The narrative is quite straightforward， and you can't help but root for Karana and her befriended animals and their survival。 。。。more

Dawn Goulet ，

Nostalgia read！ Just as good as it was in 4th grade。

Kirti Bhisikar ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 It hit me very hard when she losts her brother and Rontu too🥺

Leonore ，

I had to read this again。 It was one from 8th grade。 The sentiment of the girl who loved animals always stayed with me， but I forgot the tragic beginning。 I can't imagine being alone on an island that long and the book was based on historical events is even better now that I am older。 I had to read this again。 It was one from 8th grade。 The sentiment of the girl who loved animals always stayed with me， but I forgot the tragic beginning。 I can't imagine being alone on an island that long and the book was based on historical events is even better now that I am older。 。。。more

Siera ，

I love this book because it’s sad but a good sad。 And because it’s about a real person。

Kari ，

One of my favorite books as a kid。

Gayatri ，

This book is a true story about a 12-year-old girl， Karana， stranded on an island and has to work out how to survive。 Her main enemies on the island are the wild dogs who killed her little brother and she lives in fear of the Aleuts （a tribe who arrive on the island to hunt seals） who has killed her father and many others in her tribe。 Will she survive alone after she jumps off the ship away from the rest of the tribe to give her little brother company on the deserted island， who gets killed by This book is a true story about a 12-year-old girl， Karana， stranded on an island and has to work out how to survive。 Her main enemies on the island are the wild dogs who killed her little brother and she lives in fear of the Aleuts （a tribe who arrive on the island to hunt seals） who has killed her father and many others in her tribe。 Will she survive alone after she jumps off the ship away from the rest of the tribe to give her little brother company on the deserted island， who gets killed by the wild dogs after a few days？ Will she survive alone？Scott o dell had written the story wonderfully。 The characters and the plot are good。 The adventures are also written enjoyably。One quote which I loved was-“I felt about the animals who had become my friends and those who were not， but in time could be。 If Ulape and my father had come back and laughed， and all the other had come back and laughed， still I would have felt the same way， for animals and birds are like people， too， though they do no talk the same or do the same things。 Without them， the earth would be an unhappy place。”The book was good。 It was one of the best Biography books I have read。 I would recommend it to everyone。 I would give this book a 4-star rating 。。。more

Cadence ，

there is an island that is in the pacific and looks like a fish and dolphins are living around it in the beginning， there was a girl and her brother that were at coral cove picking flowers and she did not want to tell her little brother about the sea sells because she did not want her brother running away to find sells wall they were picking flowers there were prints with a red flag near the end， the island of the blue dolphins disappeared the book was sad if you like sad books and strong wordin there is an island that is in the pacific and looks like a fish and dolphins are living around it in the beginning， there was a girl and her brother that were at coral cove picking flowers and she did not want to tell her little brother about the sea sells because she did not want her brother running away to find sells wall they were picking flowers there were prints with a red flag near the end， the island of the blue dolphins disappeared the book was sad if you like sad books and strong wording this book is greatand that was my review 。。。more

Grace J ，

Alert！ some spoilers at end of review。 Did not enjoy this book。 The main character （Karana）seemed not to feel at all！ Most of her friends， family， etc。 died or got captured as slaves and Karana didn’t cry or act sad or even really want revenge。 Felt depressing and sad。 Would not recommend。

Dhrishita Trivedi ，

This is a beautiful book with awesome description of every scene and character。 Once I would start reading this book， it would not leave me！ I enjoyed the realistic approach of the author about the turns of the story。 There are so many emotions， it starts from anger towards the Aleuts， then it's sadness about loss of loved ones， afterwards it's a mixed feeling of leaving home， then starts the adventure！ Loss of brother， revenge， experimenting and experiencing self strengths， fear， love towards r This is a beautiful book with awesome description of every scene and character。 Once I would start reading this book， it would not leave me！ I enjoyed the realistic approach of the author about the turns of the story。 There are so many emotions， it starts from anger towards the Aleuts， then it's sadness about loss of loved ones， afterwards it's a mixed feeling of leaving home， then starts the adventure！ Loss of brother， revenge， experimenting and experiencing self strengths， fear， love towards rontu， and his death， suspicion， adventures of finding new caves， hunting deadly animals， helping those in need， calamities， surviving the calamities， surviving the challenges by the destiny and the sea。。。。。 It's so good to read this book and I am sure that this book would inspire many🙏 。。。more

Audrey Henning ，

One of the first books I loved as a kid and I enjoyed reading it just as much now as an adult。 It's a quick read and it's not super eventful by some people's standards， but it's a great story about a young girl that gets left behind on an island。 There are a few moments that really tug on your heartstrings。 This is a book I recommend for kids and adults alike。 One of the first books I loved as a kid and I enjoyed reading it just as much now as an adult。 It's a quick read and it's not super eventful by some people's standards， but it's a great story about a young girl that gets left behind on an island。 There are a few moments that really tug on your heartstrings。 This is a book I recommend for kids and adults alike。 。。。more

Mango ，

I remember reading this 2 years ago！ It was quite nice， and it is a nice quick read。 It had some lovely morals and themes weaved into an engrossing story。 Some parts were slow， but otherwise it was amazing。

Danelle ，

I’ve heard many people talk about how amazing this book is yet I personally， did not feel that way。 I do have respect for the author and the way of which the story is told， but it didn’t grip my attention like I hoped it would。 It was an interesting subject matter to read about but the concept of time was hard to grasp and it was hard to get an understanding of the main characters emotions as they were scarcely described。 This type of story focusing on survival has never been a book I long to re I’ve heard many people talk about how amazing this book is yet I personally， did not feel that way。 I do have respect for the author and the way of which the story is told， but it didn’t grip my attention like I hoped it would。 It was an interesting subject matter to read about but the concept of time was hard to grasp and it was hard to get an understanding of the main characters emotions as they were scarcely described。 This type of story focusing on survival has never been a book I long to read。 I have read books similar to this and I’ve had this experience with those as well。 If you’re someone who likes books about survival and the main character being some form of stranded， this is probably something you will enjoy。 It isn’t super action packed but it is interesting in some places。 Though I didn’t really enjoy this book， I hope you do。 。。。more

3argo ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Great story。 Disliked the foreword that explains the differences between the historical truth and the author's poetic license before I even read the book。 Loved the descriptions of the island and it's animal inhabitants。 Reminded me of the good parts of Coral Island。 Was really disappointing to read that the handmade skirt designed of Cormorant feathers was sent to Rome and subsequently lost。 Why？？！ Should have remained in CA as an artifact！ Also disappointing was the fact that Karana was baptis Great story。 Disliked the foreword that explains the differences between the historical truth and the author's poetic license before I even read the book。 Loved the descriptions of the island and it's animal inhabitants。 Reminded me of the good parts of Coral Island。 Was really disappointing to read that the handmade skirt designed of Cormorant feathers was sent to Rome and subsequently lost。 Why？？！ Should have remained in CA as an artifact！ Also disappointing was the fact that Karana was baptised by a Catholic priest before she died， especially since she was unable to understand what was happening。 （Not part of the book， but part of the history。） 。。。more

HalKid2 ，

While I know that this book is usually considered "young adult fiction"， I have to say it was a lovely book to read as an adult。 I picked it up after a Buddhist teacher recommended it as a "Buddhist read。"Based on a true story， this historical fiction tells the story of a young girl who lives alone for years on an island off the coast of California。 It's a story of Karana's bravery， perseverance， and ingenuity as she figures out how to make a life for herself。 It also offers beautiful lessons ab While I know that this book is usually considered "young adult fiction"， I have to say it was a lovely book to read as an adult。 I picked it up after a Buddhist teacher recommended it as a "Buddhist read。"Based on a true story， this historical fiction tells the story of a young girl who lives alone for years on an island off the coast of California。 It's a story of Karana's bravery， perseverance， and ingenuity as she figures out how to make a life for herself。 It also offers beautiful lessons about the relationship between humans and animals。 And it is indeed thoroughly Buddhist -- in that Karana primarily lives in the moment， learning to exist in harmony with her environment。 Scott O'Dell did a beautiful job both telling and writing this story。 It's suspenseful and it's a novel that can be enjoyed by the whole family。 。。。more

Isabella ，

this is a childhood favorite， and i still think about it all the time。

Emily ，

I re-read this book because I remember loving it so much as a young girl。 I enjoyed it just as much again as an adult。 I have lived in Southern California for about 8 years now， and my increased understanding of the local weather， sea life， and environment Karana would have encountered helped me visualize some of the descriptions in the book better than when I was young。 Her resilience is so admirable， she must have been an amazing woman。 While there are few primary accounts of her life， I read I re-read this book because I remember loving it so much as a young girl。 I enjoyed it just as much again as an adult。 I have lived in Southern California for about 8 years now， and my increased understanding of the local weather， sea life， and environment Karana would have encountered helped me visualize some of the descriptions in the book better than when I was young。 Her resilience is so admirable， she must have been an amazing woman。 While there are few primary accounts of her life， I read that those who met her after she was brought to Santa Barbara said she was always smiling。 My dad introduced this book to me when I was young， and I plan on giving it to my kids as well。 。。。more

Jenny Belardi ，

This was one of the most memorable reading experiences of my childhood， and this book really stands the test of time。

Tennyson ，

The Island of the Blue Dolphins is a really good book。 Karana is an indian girl who’s family was taken away from her by white men。 Karana was left behind on the island and she made a home on the island。 Karana had a pet wolf named Rontu who she rescued on the Island of the Blue Dolphins。

Katie Killingsworth ，

I remember reading this in elementary school and enjoying it。 I listened to this audio book with our kids and we were all captivated by the story。 There were a few times I had to stop and discuss with them what was happening， but it was an enjoyable experience， overall。 Made even more interesting when I discovered this was based on a true story。

Ashley P。 ，

This was one of those books I always wanted to read as a kid but for some reason it intimidated me。 I even owned a copy at one point and eventually got rid of it。 Not sure why I felt overwhelmed at the thought of reading it。 I am sure I would have enjoyed it back in my nature-obsessed childhood years。 As an adult though it just felt kind of boring。 She woke up， she caught abalones， she looked at the sea， there were dogs， seasons passed， lather rinse repeat。 Glad I finally got to read it after al This was one of those books I always wanted to read as a kid but for some reason it intimidated me。 I even owned a copy at one point and eventually got rid of it。 Not sure why I felt overwhelmed at the thought of reading it。 I am sure I would have enjoyed it back in my nature-obsessed childhood years。 As an adult though it just felt kind of boring。 She woke up， she caught abalones， she looked at the sea， there were dogs， seasons passed， lather rinse repeat。 Glad I finally got to read it after almost three decades of being scared of it。 。。。more

Viola J。 Churchill ，

This book was truly inspirational。 I truly loved the message of female superiority。 This book truly shows that women are strong and can truly survive without men。 Truly， this book showed that men are a destructive force and we need to stand up and take charge。 We can truly do this！ Women need to come together！ My 12 year old daughter and I truly bonded over this book and it truly brought her into womenhood。 We truly loved this book and I truly can't wait to share it with my grand-kids。 #women #f This book was truly inspirational。 I truly loved the message of female superiority。 This book truly shows that women are strong and can truly survive without men。 Truly， this book showed that men are a destructive force and we need to stand up and take charge。 We can truly do this！ Women need to come together！ My 12 year old daughter and I truly bonded over this book and it truly brought her into womenhood。 We truly loved this book and I truly can't wait to share it with my grand-kids。 #women #feminist #womensrights #ilovebeingawoman #women4ever 。。。more

Brian ，

If you thought the ending was depressing， look up the actual woman this was based on and get ready to be more depressed

Heidi Madden ，

This was one of my favourite books from school。 It's an interesting story of a girl who lived on an island off the coast of California。 An easy read and a classic for a reason。 This was one of my favourite books from school。 It's an interesting story of a girl who lived on an island off the coast of California。 An easy read and a classic for a reason。 。。。more

Tyler ，

I read this book when I was in fourth grade and loved it。 I only remembered two things about it before re-reading it nearly 30 years later。 I still find it to be an excellent read， especially for children because within its pages it teaches valuable lessons of respecting nature and life， perseverance， and creative thinking。 It also depicts the how treachery can ruin lives and the importance of family and belonging。 Full of adventure， danger， excitement， and an underlining theme of enjoying the c I read this book when I was in fourth grade and loved it。 I only remembered two things about it before re-reading it nearly 30 years later。 I still find it to be an excellent read， especially for children because within its pages it teaches valuable lessons of respecting nature and life， perseverance， and creative thinking。 It also depicts the how treachery can ruin lives and the importance of family and belonging。 Full of adventure， danger， excitement， and an underlining theme of enjoying the creations around us， taking in sunsets， relishing the little things， and making personal connections。The story is based on true events that took place on the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California。 I had backpacked out there a year prior to re-reading the book， which made this reading even more enjoyable and helped me better visualize the environment and challenges Karana faced throughout her life。 If you get the chance go to Channel Islands National Park and then read this book。 。。。more

astrid t。 ，

this was such a chore to read， it might’ve been better if hadn’t read it for school， but i did， and it wasn’t my favorite *2。5*

Manav ，

An amazing book as per real life， but decent compared to other fiction and fantasy books。 A girl who has fallen of from a ship and has survived on an island alone for eighteen years。 It is not just a story， but an emotional， happy， sad， and Heart-touching adventure。

Miranda Brands ，

This was my least favorite of 4th grade book club this year。 I had high hopes for this one and it was too slow for my tastes。 Karana was such a strong character and her perseverance was amazing。

Ms。 Kathryn E F Taylor ，

Famous， but lonely。

Rhonda ，

I was not as impressed by this book as I hoped。 It read more non-fiction than novel。 I enjoyed the cultural aspects of the story， but， having just read Hatchet， I found the survival aspects dull。

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Island of the Blue Dolphins

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Island of the Blue Dolphins&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Island of the Blue Dolphins&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0