Island of the Blue Dolphins: A Newbery Award Winner

Scott O'Dell's Newbery Medal-winning classic is a gripping tale of survival, strength, and courage. Based on the true story of a Nicoleño Indian girl living alone on an island off the coast of California, Island of the Blue Dolphins has captivated readers for generations.

On San Nicolas Island, dolphins flash in the surrounding blue waters, sea otter play in the vast kelp beds, and sea elephants loll on the stony beaches. Here, in the early 1800s, a girl named Karana spent eighteen years alone.

Karana had to contend with the ferocious pack of wild dogs that killed her younger brother, constantly guard against Aleutian sea otter hunters, and maintain a precarious food supply. Her courage, self-reliance, and grit has inspired millions of readers in this breathtaking adventure.

As Smithsonian magazine put it: "For kids all over the country, reading the book in language arts classes, Karana is a powerful symbol of their growing independence. Through her, they can imagine themselves making their way in the world alone--and thriving."

Author: Scott O'Dell
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Published: 02/08/2010
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.35lbs
Size: 7.50h x 5.10w x 0.60d
ISBN: 9780547328614
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 5.4
Point Value: 6
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 45 / Island of the Blue Dolphins


Review Citation(s):
People Weekly 01/18/2010 pg. 59

About the Author
Scott O'Dell (1898-1989), one of the most respected authors of historical fiction, received the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, and the Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal. Some of his many books include The Island of the Blue Dolphins; Black Star, Bright dawn; and The Black Pearl.