 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Island of the Blue Dolphins
- By Scott O'Dell
- Genre: Adventure
Common Sense Media says
A smart girl learns how to survive alone.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that lyrical writing and an unusual and compelling survival story based on fact overcome the slow pacing and create an unforgettable atmosphere in this book.
What's the story?
An island girl is separated from her tribe and must learn how to survive on her own. Through threats of wild animals, natural disasters, and invaders, Karana learns to apply her skills toward keeping herself alive. This gritty story was ahead of its time in its depiction of a strong, self-sufficient heroine.
When a tribe of islanders leaves their home in search of a safer place to live, they accidentally leave behind a twelve-year old girl and her young brother. The boy is soon killed by wild dogs, and Karana swears to devote the rest of her life to destroying the wild dogs who killed her little brother. Karana must learn, through various hardships, to get by without the help or wisdom of her tribe. Readers witness her struggle to survive, season after season, for the eighteen years she stays on the island. She is not lonely; eventually she befriends and tames various wild animals, including the leader of the wild dogs. After years of hating the dogs, she slowly comes to realize that it is easier to live in peace than to be constantly at war.
Is it any good?
Based on a true story, ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS shows how one smart, innovative girl uses her knowledge of the world around her to ensure her survival. Through many challenges, Karana remains intent not only on survival alone on her island, but also on making a happy life for herself, showing incredible strength of purpose. The book is full of vivid natural description, from the general geography of the island to the specific details of how Karana obtains and prepares food.
Karana finds strengths she never knew she had, which young readers find appealing. Kids will keep reading to find out not only how Karana keeps herself alive, but about the many ways she has fun on her island and the non-human friends she finds. When her rescue finally comes, she leaves the island a different person than the girl who was stranded there 18 years earlier. The joy of the book comes from watching this change take place.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about feeling lonely.
Are Karana's relationships with the animals around her a good substitute for relationships with people?
Do you have close relationships with any animals?
Do you think she would fit in with her tribe after so much time alone?
Do you think she will continue to feel lonely even among people on the mainland?
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- Teens & kids
AGE
Amazing and beautiful
This novel teaches girls that they can do things as good as any boy if they just put their mind to it. Beautifully written and one of my favourites!
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AGE
Wait a Bit on This One
Started to read it with my eight-year-old and it proved too much for her. The separation from her family and the death of her father and brother made her too emotional for us to continue. I'll save it for when she's older because I think the message of a girl developing survival skills and examining the values of her culture can lead to a really positive discussion.
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AGE
vilont but great!
i read this with my 5th grade class and it was SAD. there was a lot of fighting and killing and lots of deaths of main charecters. Young kids will find themselves confused and scared but older kid might find it to be a very good book. Most of the kids in my class didnt like it because they thought it was to sad but it hought it was pretty good.
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Kid, 12 years old
January 2, 2011
AGE
A Great Page-Turner!
When you look at the cover of Island of the Blue Dolphins you think, this is definitely not going to be that good of a book. But when you start getting farther and farther, it's a page-turner! The main story of the book is survival. When getting further into that topic, there is some sad things that happen. For example, the father gets killed by the otter-hunters, and the brother is killed by dogs (he is surrounded by the dogs dead). I think that it would be a great read-aloud book to read to your children or the children read the book to the parent. Can be scary at times but it's really good!
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AGE
perfect for 10 and up
love it because I am 12 years old and at first I thought it was going to be boring but it isn't it is like a action movie.
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AGE
perfect for anyone to read..
i like the book i think that it is ok but not the best....hope u like it when u read it...........
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Kid, 10 years old
March 16, 2011
AGE
i love this book how do i read it
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Kid, 12 years old
November 1, 2010
AGE
good
loved it! read it last year
karana is a persistent, brave, and hardworking person. you will become attatched to her as well as many other charcters.
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AGE
Off 7- Iffy 8-9 On 10+
I'm reading this book in reading class. I really like it, though it's sorta sad.
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| Author: | Scott O'Dell |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Adventure |
| Publication date: | January 1, 1960 |
| Number of pages: | 184 |
| Paperback price: | $6.50 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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