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Karana has amazing courage and resilience. It is based on the true story of Juana Maria, the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas", a Nicoleño Indian marooned for 18 years on San Nicolas Island off the California coast before being rescued in 1853. But seasons later, when no ship arrives, she decides to make the Island her home and do her best with whatever she can.This story is her struggle with the nature's forces, with wild animals and most of all with loneliness. It could teach them morals and values without preaching.
In spite of the adverse conditions she does not loose hope.As an adult I enjoyed the story and the descriptions of the Island and the tribal customs. And a girl stuck on an Island, making the best of what she has got, making a hut, catching fish, building a boat could be appealing.Overall, a good read. When the Russians come to their Island for hunting Otters, they agree to part with half their share with the Island people as they would be hunting on their territory. I am sad I didn't get a chance to read this as a child.I found some really good information on Wikipedia. But somehow during the moving process, Karana is left behind. She lived on an Island shaped like a Dolphin, hence called Dolphins' Island.
But the Russians, while leaving, refuse to give the share and a fight breaks out between the 2 sides killing many people from the Island. She decides to wait for the next ship to come and take her to the Island. The story was interesting enough to pull me in. It was published in 1960 and won the Newbery Medal that year, and the Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 1963. This story is about a girl called Karana. Karana's father was the chief of the Tribe who was also killed.When the new chief is appointed, he decides to move from the dolphin's Island to a near by Island where it would be more safe.
But I can see that children would find much more to love in this story.
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. It wasn't just Karana building a shelter or trying to outsmart the wild dogs-- I was, too. 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. 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. Not long afterward, a ship comes for Karana's people, and they gather their belongings and climb aboard. 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.
Island of the Blue Dolphins has a wonderful setting and a character into whom we can all project ourselves. 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. 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. 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. Blue dolphins, sea elephants, birds, otters. 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.
wildlife is abundant there. My eyes were riveted to the page as she built herself shelter, a canoe, fought off wild dogs, and explored the island.
He is 13 and it is a great adventure book. My son loves this book. Especially for boys.
I am partial to stories such as this as Robinson Crusoe is one of my favorite books and I love nature and adventure stories. 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. Karana had intended to leave with them but jumps ship at the last minute to return to the island due to an unforeseen circumstance. 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.
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. There are a few tedious moments in this read, but they are short lived. However, the enriching quality of this book is undeniable. A worthy classic. A beautiful Robinson Crusoe type story inspired by real events.
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. There is rich character development, powerful descriptives, and interesting plot.
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. But I do remember feeling depressed for days after finishing it. There are so many other books that could be assigned reading. I remember reading this book when I was younger. I'll be honest that I blocked most of the extraneous details of the non-existent plot out of my memory. 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.
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