Island of the Blue Dolphins
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| Recent edition cover | |
| Author | Scott O'Dell |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Ted Lewin |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Children's novel |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
| Released | September 1960 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback, paperback) & audio book |
| Pages | 192 pages |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-395-06962-9 |
Island of the Blue Dolphins is an American children's novel written by Scott O'Dell. It was published in 1960 and won the Newbery Medal that year. It is based on the true story of Juana María, the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas," a Nicoleño Indian marooned for 18 years on San Nicolas Island off the California coast.
[edit] Plot summary
The main character is a girl named Karana, who is marooned for 18 years in a fashion similar to Robinson Crusoe. Her people live on the island, picking roots and fishing to supply the tribe. One day, a ship of Aleuts, led by a Russian captain Orlov, arrive and trick the natives into letting them hunt sea otter on the island, in return for other goods. However, the Aleuts lie to the islanders and try to leave without paying them. When confronted by the chief, Karana's father, a battle breaks out, taking lives on both sides. The tribe is decimated by the battle, while the Aleuts leave the island, leaving little payment for the otters they hunted.
Later, an elder member of the tribe leaves the island to find a better life for the tribe members. He sends a ship to evacuate the tribe, and bring them to the mainland. A storm is coming, and although Karana urges the captain to wait, the ship must leave before the storm makes it impossible to do so. Karana jumps ship when she realizes that her younger brother Ramo was left behind. Shortly thereafter, Ramo is killed by dogs that have gone wild after their owners died. Karana begins to take on the tasks originally meant for male village members to ensure her own survival. In revenge for her brother, she vows to kill the wild dogs and begins to make weapons, although her tribe had a strict law against women making weapons. After killing many wild dogs and injuring one, she has a change of heart. She does not kill the injured dog, who is the leader of the wild dogs, and eventually befriends him. She gives him the name Rontu, because of his yellow eyes.
Karana is always on the lookout for the Aleuts. She knows they will return someday, and when they do, she will not put herself in harm's way by running into them. Over time, Karana makes a life for herself. She builds a home, and even stocks a cave with provisions she will need should she ever become sick. When she was first marooned, she used animals for food and tools and clothing. After many years alone on the island, Karana decides not to kill anymore. The animals have become her friends and her companions, and though she knows her people would think she is silly, she cannot bring herself to harm them for her benefit.
One summer, the Aleuts return, as Karana knew they would. She takes refuge in the cave she has stocked. It is close to a water supply, and she is able to live comfortably while avoiding the hunters. She is aware of their activities, however, and soon realizes that there is a young woman among them who takes care of the domestic duties. The woman often goes to the water supply, and Karana becomes worried that she will be found out. She keeps Rontu hidden in the cave, because he was one of the Aleut's dogs, and she does not want him to be taken. Despite her precautions, Karana and the young Aleut woman meet. Although they do not speak the same language, they talk to each other, exchanging the names for different objects, and become friends. Karana realizes how lonely she has been without other people.
Time passes, and one day Karana sees the sails of a ship. Finally, a boat has been sent to rescue her. She dresses in her finest attire (a skirt made of cormorant feathers, and an otter cape) and goes to the shore to meet the boat. Her rescuers realize her attire will not be appropriate for the mainland, and have a dress made for her. Though she does not like the dress, Karana realizes that this is part of her new life. The ship sails away, and brings Karana to the mission in Santa Barbara.
The real Juana María was rescued from the island in 1853. She died seven weeks after she was brought to the California mainland. San Nicolas is now home to a base of the United States Navy. O'Dell wrote a sequel to the story called Zia, written from the point of view of Karana's young niece.
[edit] Film
A film version of Island of the Blue Dolphins was released on July 3, 1964. It was directed by James B. Clark and starred Celia Kaye as Karana. Jane Klove and Ted Sherdeman adapted the script from O'Dell's novel, and the film was produced by Robert B. Radnitz and Universal Pictures. The film was made on a slight budget and did not receive a wide release, and reviews were mixed. However, Kaye won a Golden Globe Award for "New Star of the Year" for her role.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Onion John |
Newbery Medal recipient 1961 |
Succeeded by The Bronze Bow |
