The Island of the Blue Dolphins

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Summary: One of my favorite novels, and a classic
Review: I first read "Island of the Blue Dolphins" in fifth grade, way back in the early seventies. I remembered it twenty years later, when I read it again as an adult looking to build a library for his daughter. Scott O'Dell's tale of Karana is still as perfect now as it was decades ago; none of the adventure has faded. I had nightmares as a child of the giant fish she battles; I still read it with excitement today. One of the great classics of survival!

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Summary: FOR ADULTS, A SPIRITUAL SEEKER'S SURVIVAL GUIDE
Review: Reviewer: Cory Giacobbe

As vortexes of parents and children whirl through the latest Harry Potter book, I wanted to honor a less-publicized gem. Mr. O'Dell's classic work seems to have attracted a quiet pool of devoted readership, including adults.

Unless grammar school students are worked with closely, this true story's beauty will evade most of them. This is due to the deceptive simplicity of style. Mr. O'Dell has an amazing gift for sophisticated subtext.

In some prior reviews, children call the book "dull." They rebel against, what they see as, ridiculously inane actions by the main character: spearing dinner, going for a swim, etc. They see her offering little emotion, plot.

In reality, what a powerful world Scott O'Dell is evoking!

The main character spends much time, traumatized. Mr. O'Dell uses common activity, to mask overwhelming emotions the young girl has trouble confronting -- initially she runs away from each problem, by fastening to familiar actions that first comfort her. Gradually, they provoke her into creative-thinking, evolving the storyline.

The gist: For eighteen years (1835 - 1853) from age twelve to thirty, Karana (public name, Won-a-pa-lei) the main character, must fend for herself on an abandoned island.

I was never aware of Mr. O'Dell's books, when I was a pre-adolescent girl. I love the subtle craftwork: the author's masterful use of the passive voice, as counterbalance to each trauma it is veiling; his weather-descriptions tracking many characters' inner turmoil or serenity; the minimal use of thought-processes, his letting each character's -- even the wild dogs' -- physical action reveal intense emotion.

It requires time to absorb content.

For example, the author delicately lets drop one same phrase, throughout various scenes. The girl keeps returning to the thought, that she is able to scare away some dogs, "but not the leader ...." She even accomplishes killing a few dogs, "but not the leader ...." Those repetitive, hypnotic words become her meditative koan, an obsession, initially concealing her vengeful, murderous state of mind, her goal of attack. This mindset is at odds with the quiet, constructive work of building a home, appreciating nature, in which she is otherwise engaged.

Because feelings are understated, one rare, overtly dramatic moment is unexpected and memorable --

I first came upon the book a few months after my dog of over 20 (human) years had died. The story was cathartic. Even years later, Chapter 25 moves me. Karana's love for her dog resonates. There's that one outpouring of anguish, the most explicitly emotional, explosive line in the whole book, "Rontu ... oh, Rontu!" It still puts a lump in my throat.

Even more than its indirect, magnificent plea for respect to all creatures, the text explores this ironic theme, the gift of loss. Karana must confront her anger at not just the choices by others, but her own, impactng her life.

One must read between the quiet lines to see that her father is a mirror-image of the gruff, selfish Russian captain, his interloping foe. Preoccupied villagers, their successive leaders, lack empathy and foresight. They dismiss the sufferings of wounded otters; of neglected pet dogs forced to turn wild; of a distressed sibling of Karana, where they even try to prevent her from helping.

Thus, no nurturing models exist for Karana, motherless even as the book opens. The village women, including her sister, act venomously. In battle, rocks are flung "from many places along the cliffs." It's a subtle hint. Earlier the author has already revealed, these are the hiding-places of the women. This passive-assertive aggression Karana must learn to purify, re-direct towards higher purposes, afterwards.

In examining her heritage, and the culture of strangers, she realizes she must carve her own way. She reminds me very much of long-time seekers. Many of us grasped with mingled fear and sadness, even anger, then with freeing awareness, that our legacies, Eastern or Western, including modern New Thought, may exhibit rigidity.

From two centuries past, here is Karana, reminding us that this fresh minted millennium is calling for resilience and courage.

From her to us is the gift of the secret name.

The author lets her blurt, to us, her own hidden name, Karana. She is bonded to us; she is our mirror. Her challenges, our (inner) ones.

The author also implies that, only when Karana drops pride, is the girl able to sense that the secret name for loss is: blessing-in-disguise. She is proud that she is not so vain as her sister. Yet she herself, after diving from the ship, lets her basket of precious ornaments and tools, her prized, fancy yucca skirt, drag her down, almost drowning her, until she realizes only if she lets go, will she rise.

Even the island has a secret name.

It has been known to the world by Spanish explorers since 1602 as Isla de San Nicholas. Karana cherishes its private label, Island of the Blue Dolphins. The name gives her hope, strength, for she considers dolphins her friends.

How ironic. An island, that reportedly became a secretly titled naval base, for defensive military maneuvers/experiments, once was graced by the presence of Karana. She had set aside her own defenses, and experienced oneness with her world. Her story reflects the very code of Franciscan harmlessness, integral to the path of the friar, she later meets.

Mr. O'Dell never explains what the personal name, "Karana," might be. For me, the book illumines that there is a secret name for each of us: one dominant, beautiful quality of soul radiating, that defines who you are. In some way, Karana's secret name must surely mean "compassion."

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Summary: Island of the the Blue Dolphins
Review: In the "The Island of the Blue Dolphins" I was amazed how she survived on the island by herself and how brave she was. I also liked Ronto beacuse I love dogs and Ronto is a dog I would like to have.

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Summary: Not as good as I thought it was going to be...
Review: I read this book for pleasure, and knowing it had won the Newberry I thought I was going to be throughly delighted with it. I was incredibly dissapointed. The novel, based on the true story of an indian girl who survives on an island alone for 18 years, was slow and tedious, and at times way too "mushy", as my brother would say. It has no rapport with young male readers, even though there are some aspects of adventure in the novel. I'm afraid I just didn't like the book at all.

Rating:
Summary: An Amazing Book For Everyone
Review: Island of the Blue Dolphins is a really good book about a girl who has to survive on an island by herself. In order to survive she has to make weapons, find food, and make shelter. She also has to try to kill her only enemy on the island, the wild dogs. I think this book really shows you what it is like to be stranded and never know when help's going to come. It's not hard to read and I think anyone would enjoy it.

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Summary: Inspires the Imagination!
Review: I read this book for the first time in sixth grade. I love it. I'm dissapointed to see that the reading level is 9-12 years. Although the book isn't too advanced, I think any age group would enjoy it. You really can't put it down. You will find yourself blowing off important things in your every day life just to read a few more pages.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding! Moving! Stunning!
Review: This tale of courage and survival is a story that stays with the reader long after the book is finished. Karana, twelve year old Indian girl, is inadvertently left behind on the island home she has known all her life.

One might think that being an Indian girl that she would have acquired all the skills she needs to survive. However, in a society with rules that carefully and extensively governs what a girl can learn, she is left with very few survival skills. Scott O'dell skillfully demonstrates how Karana carefully thinks through the observations she made of the men in her village, and then teaches herself through trial and error, to master these essential survival skills.

Scott O'Dell was a master story teller, and this book is my favorite. Karana's lonely story will both reward and haunt you.

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Summary: Island of the Blue Dolphins was a Super book!
Review: This book was about a girl who was left alone on a island formany years. She went through many adventures and hardships. In thebeginning she had to find a place to build a new home. She build it next to a tall wall made of rock. Around the front she built a fence made out of whale bones to keep the wild dogs out. My favorite part of the book is when she shoots the leader of the wild dogs and feels sorry for him. She takes him home and nurses him back to health. At first he doesn't like her and isn't nice to her. After a while they become the closest friends. She names him Rontu. Rontu protects her from the other wild dogs and alerts her to any dangers. After many years Rontu grows old and goes off and dies. The girl is very lonely without Rontu around so she watches the wild dogs and finds one that looks like Rontu. She captures him and they quickly become friends. She also makes friends with many of the other animals on the island. She has birds that she captured, a fox, and some otters. In the end she is rescued after spending so much time on the island alone. All her people had been drowned on a boat. She had no one left and no one could understand her language. I thought that this was a great story because it showed that even when you are alone you can find things to keep you happy. I also liked this story because I live alone with my dog. My dog keeps me company just like Rontu did for the girl.

Rating:
Summary: Island of the Blue Dolphins was a Super book!
Review: This book was about a girl who was left alone on a island for many years. She went through many adventures and hardships. In the beginning she had to find a place to build a new home. She build it next to a tall wall made of rock. Around the front she built a fence made out of whale bones to keep the wild dogs out. My favorite part of the book is when she shoots the leader of the wild dogs and feels sorry for him. She takes him home and nurses him back to health. At first he doesn't like her and isn't nice to her. After a while they become the closest friends...I thought that this was a great story because it showed that even when you are alone you can find things to keep you happy. I also liked this story because I live alone with my dog. My dog keeps me company just like Rontu did for the girl.

Rating:
Summary: "An Inspiring Tale"
Review: This is a wonderful book about a young girl who goes through strugles,but she gets through all of it with more courage than most of the people I've ever met. This book should be number 1 of the past 200 years. This book deseveres every nomanation it gets.