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Revision as of 06:31, 4 August 2004 by Academic Challenger (talk | contribs)(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 1960 and won the Newbery Medal that year. It is based on the true story of San Nicolas Island. The main character, a girl named Karana, lives on the island when in 1835 a Russian seaman, Captain Orlov, lands on the island with Aleutian men. They kill Karana's father, the chief, and the other islanders are forced to evacuate. Karana jumps off the ship when she realizes that her little brother, Rammo, has somehow been left behind. Rammo is soon mauled to death by dogs, and Karana lives alone on the island for 18 years, in which she learns to appreciate nature. She is taken off the island when other foreigners land there at the end of the book. The book notably does not mention that Karana's real-life counterpart died just weeks after leaving the island.