Island of the Blue Dolphins

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Revision as of 13:01, 19 March 2021 by 24.102.217.115 (talk) (→Historical basis)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff) For the namesake film, see Island of the Blue Dolphins (film). 1960 children's book by Scott O'Dell

→Island of the Blue Dolphins
First edition
Author	Scott O'Dell
Cover artist	Evaline Ness
Language	English
Genre	Children's novel
Publisher	Houghton Mifflin
Publication date	1960
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover & paperback); Audiobook
Pages	177
ISBN	0-395-06962-9
OCLC	225474
Followed by	Zia

Island of the Blue Dolphins is a 1960 children's novel by American writer Scott O'Dell, which tells the story of a 12-year-old girl named Karana stranded alone for years on an island off the California coast. It is based on the true story of Juana Maria, a Nicoleño Native American left alone for 18 years on San Nicolas Island during the 19th century.

Island of the Blue Dolphins won the Newbery Medal in 1961. It was adapted into a film of the same name in 1964. O'Dell later wrote a sequel, Zia, published in 1976.

The 50th Anniversary edition of Island of the Blue Dolphins includes a new introduction by Newbery Medalist Lois Lowry and also includes extracts from Father Gonzales Rubio in the Santa Barbara Mission's Book of Burials. Island of the Blue Dolphins: The Complete Reader's Edition, a critical edition edited by Sara L. Schwebel, was published in October 2016 by the University of California Press. It includes two chapters deleted from the book before publication.

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Plot summary

The main character is a Nicoleño girl named Won-a-pa-lei, whose secret name is Karana. She has a brother named Ramo, whose curiosity usually leads to trouble, and a sister named Ulape. Her people live in a village called Ghalas-at and the tribe survives by gathering roots and fishing.

One day, a ship of Russian fur hunters and Aleut people led by Captain Orlov arrive and persuade the Nicoleños to let them hunt sea otter in exchange for other goods. However, the Russians attempt to swindle the islanders by leaving without paying. When they are confronted by Karana's father Chief Chowig, a battle breaks out. Karana's father and many other men in the tribe died in battle against the well-armed Russians, who escaped largely unscathed.

Later, the "replacement chief" Chief Kimki leaves the island on a canoe for new land in the East. Eventually, he sends a "giant canoe" to bring his people to the mainland even though he himself does not return. The white missionaries come to Karana's village and tell them to pack their goods and go to the ship. Karana's brother Ramo runs off to retrieve his fishing spear. Although Karana urges the captain to wait for Ramo to return, the ship must leave before a storm approaches. Despite restraint, Karana jumps off the ship and swims to shore and the ship departs without them.

The siblings live alone on the island, hoping the ship will return. However, Ramo is brutally killed by a pack of feral dogs. Alone on the island, Karana takes on traditionally male tasks, such as hunting, making spears, and building canoes to survive. She vows to avenge her brother's death and kills several of the dogs, but has a change of heart when she encounters the leader of the pack. She tames him and names him Rontu (meaning "Fox Eyes" in her language).

Over time, Karana makes a life for herself. She builds a home made of whale bones and stocks a cave with provisions in case the Aleuts come back, so she can hide from them. As she explores her island, Karana discovers ancient artifacts and a large octopus (which she calls a devilfish). As time passes, she decides to hunt the devilfish. She also tames some birds and an otter while feeling a close kinship to the animals (the only inhabitants of the island beside herself).

One summer, the Aleuts return and Karana takes refuge in the cave. She observes the Aleuts closely and realizes that a girl named Tutok takes care of the domestic duties including getting water from the pool near Karana's cave. Fearful of being discovered, Karana goes out only at night, yet the curious girl stalks Karana, and the two meet. Karana and Tutok exchange gifts and she realizes how lonely she has been. Karana wishes that Tutok would not leave, yet the next day when Karana makes food for her she does not come. Karana goes searching and sees the ship departing. Sadly, she returns to her house and starts rebuilding.

More time passes and Rontu dies. Karana soon finds a young dog that looks like Rontu and takes him in naming him Rontu-Aru (meaning "Son of Rontu"). One day, Karana sees the sails of a ship. It moors just off-shore but then leaves. Two years later in the spring, the boat returns. Karana dresses in her finest attire, a dress of cormorant feathers, and waits on the shore for the boat. Her rescuers make a dress for her, as they believe her dress of cormorant feathers is not appropriate for the mainland. She does not like the dress, but Karana realizes that it is part of her new life. The ship takes Karana and Rontu-Aru to the mission in Santa Barbara, California. There, she finds out that the ship that had taken her people away had later sunk before it could return from the mainland for her.

Reception

At the time of the book's publication, The Horn Book Magazine said: "Years of research must have gone into this book to turn historical fact into so moving and lasting an experience." In a retrospective essay about the Newbery Medal-winning books from 1956 to 1965, librarian Carolyn Horovitz wrote: "The girl, Karana, is portrayed in such intimate and close relationship with the natural elements of her background, the earth, the sea, the animals, the fish, that the reader is given both the terror and beauty of life itself. It is a book to make the reader wonder."

Film adaptation

Main article: Island of the Blue Dolphins (film)

A film adaptation of Island of the Blue Dolphins was released on July 3, 1964. It was directed by James B. Clark and starred Celia Kaye as Karana. Jane Klove and Ted Sherdeman adapted the script from O'Dell's novel, and the film was produced by Robert B. Radnitz and Universal Pictures. The film was made on a slight budget but did receive a wide release three months after its New York premiere. Howard Thompson writing for The New York Times characterized it as a children's film. Kaye won a Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year for her performance. The film earned an estimated $2 million in rentals in North America.

References

^ Island of the Blue Dolphins Archived 2016-07-16 at the Wayback Machine. ISBNdb (2009). Retrieved 2009-08-26.
"Island of the Blue Dolphins: The Complete Reader's Edition: Scott O'Dell, Sara L. Schwebel". Amazon.com. October 4, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
The Horn Book Magazine, April 1960, cited in "What did we think of...?". The Horn Book. January 24, 1999. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
Horovitz, Carolyn (1965). "Only the Best". In Kingman, Lee (ed.). Newbery and Caldecott Medal Books: 1956-1965. Boston: The Horn Book, Incorporated. pp. 156-157. LCCN 65-26759.
"Island of the Blue Dolphins". Rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
Thompson, Howard (July 4, 1964). "Island of the Blue Dolphins (1964)" (Review). The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
"Movie Review - Island of the Blue Dolphins - Island of Blue Dolphins' Has Premiere - NYTimes.com".
"Celia Kaye". imdb.com.
"Big Rental Pictures of 1964", Variety, 6 January 1965 p 39. Please note this figure is rentals accruing to distributors, not total gross.

External links

Awards
Preceded byOnion John	Newbery Medal recipient 1961	Succeeded byThe Bronze Bow
Preceded byThe Helen Keller Story	Winner of the William Allen White Children's Book Award 1963	Succeeded byThe Incredible Journey

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