Island of the Blue Dolphins

Inspired by true story of Native American woman who spent 18 years in isolation on San Nicolas Island off coast of Southern California. It's positive to see a strong female protagonist in a tale of survival, and Karana is a humanized character readers can easily root for. But Native American characters are drawn from stereotypes and from generalizations about other California tribes, not necessarily the specific people of the tribe on which this story is based and about which little is known. The author contrasts the two clichéd versions of Native Americans: "savage" Aleutian otter hunter invaders, whom Karana must guard against, and her "gentle" tribe that made the island their home. Ultimately, it's a White author's portrait of Native Americans published in 1960, and it has been called into question by some Native organizations such as American Indians in Children's Literature.

One battle scene, and main character must kill to survive. Wild dogs and dangerous invaders constantly threaten. Karana witnesses the deaths of her father and little brother. A boy is killed by wild dogs.

Parents need to know that Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell, is a lyrical survival story of a Native American girl who at age 12 is left on an island off the California coast in the 1800s and must get along on her own for several years among wild animals, rugged conditions, and natural disasters. This historical novel won the 1961 Newbery Medal, is considered a children's classic, and is often assigned in school. There's one battle scene, and the main character must kill to survive. Wild dogs and dangerous invaders constantly threaten. Karana witnesses the deaths of her father and little brother. A boy is killed by wild dogs. While based on a true story of an adult woman who lived alone on the island for 18 years, from 1835 to 1853, the book, published in 1960, has been called into question by some Native organizations, including American Indians in Children's Literature, for lacking tribal authenticity and for reflecting a White author's nostalgic, romanticized, stereotypical view of Native Americans.