Island of the Blue Dolphins

In Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell, Karana lives with her family and tribe on the Island of Blue Dolphins, part of the Channel Islands off of California. Blue Dolphin is a small island – about 3 miles by 6 miles, shaped vaguely like a dolphin.

One year a ship of Russians and Aleut come to hunt otters. At the end of the summer, instead of paying the islander their share of the hunt, the Russian captain tries to leave. There is a battle and most of the men of the tribe are killed. The next year, the new chief decides to find the country east of the island and then come back for the others.

After some time a ship does come for the rest of the tribe, but Karana’s brother Ramo is left behind. Before she can think about it, Karana is in the water swimming back toward the island. The siblings are convinced the ship will come back for them later. In the mean time, Ramo and Karana will make the most of their skills and live on the island. But before too long, Ramo is killed and Karana is alone – the only human left on the island with wild dogs, foxes and the sea elephants, otters, and dolphins who live along the coast.

Karana must learn to do all things for herself. She must go against tribal custom and make weapons to hunt and defend herself from the wild dogs – a taboo that has never been broken. She must build new shelter, find food and water, and wait for the ship to return. Will the ship return? Or will she live alone on the island for the rest of her life?

This 1961 Newberry Medal winning book, is a beautifully told story of courage and doing what must be done regardless of the obstacles.

O'Dell, Scott. (1960). Island of the Blue Dolphins. New York: Random House.