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Revision as of 07:52, 28 November 2005 by Ixfd64 (talk | contribs) (expand; slightly more NPOV)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Island of the Blue Dolphins is a novel for children, written by Scott O'Dell. It was published in 1961 and won the Newbery Medal that year. It is based on the true story of Juana Maria, an Indian woman marooned for 18 years on San Nicolas Island, off the coast of California.
The main character is a girl named Kurana, who, like the real Juana Maria, is marooned for 18 years. The native Indians once lived on the island. However, one day, the Aleuts, led by a Russian captain, trick the Indians into letting them hunt otter on the island, in return for other goods. However, the Aleuts lie to the Indians and try to leave without paying them. When confronted by the chief, Kurana's father, a battle breaks out, taking lives on both sides. Unfortunately, after the Aleuts leave, most of the Indians on the island village have died, including Kurana's father.
Later, in 1835, after the Indians hear that the white men will take them somewhere better to live, they evacuate the island. Kurana jumps ship when she realizes that her younger brother Ramo was left behind. Shortly thereafter, Ramo is killed by wild dogs that have left their deceased owners. Kurana begins to take on the tasks originally meant for the other village members to ensure her own survival. In revenge for her brother, she vows to kill the wild dogs and begins to make weapons, although that her tribe had a strict law against women making weapons. After killing many dogs and injuring one, she has a change of heart. She does not kill the injured dog, and eventually befriends him. She eventually learns the importance of life and decides not to kill anymore. She is eventually rescued and taken to Santa Barbara.
O'Dell wrote a sequel to the story called Zia, written from the point of view of Karana's young niece.
The real Juana Maria, also known as the Lost Woman of San Nicolas, was rescued from the island in 1853. She died seven weeks after she was brought to California. San Nicolas is now home to a base of the United States Navy.
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