Karana, a young native girl, lived in the valley of Ghalas-at on the Island of the Blue Dolphins until misfortune struck her people. First come the Aleuts and their treacherous, Russian leader who refuses to honor his bargain and ends up killing most of the men in the village. Then comes a ship with white sails, sent by the village chief to collect the rest of the Ghalas-at people and take them to a new home. When Karana's brother disobeys and misses the ship so that he can collect his spear, Karana flings herself into the ocean and swims to the island so she can keep her brother safe until the ship returns for them. The next day he is killed by a pack of wild dogs and Karana is left to wait alone. She waits, season after season, and learns to survive. She builds shelter, makes and learns how to use weapons that were forbidden to the women of her people, gathers food, and protects herself from the pack, growing into a strong young woman through it all.
Impression: I think I read this story as a child as well - the story seemed familiar enough. Whatever my reaction then, I enjoyed it as an adult. One of the things I liked in particular was the voice of the narrator. The story is told from Karana's point of view and it comes off very believably. O'Dell writes in the voice of a young, native girl, strengthening the point of view and drawing the reader further into the story itself. The tale is simple, a fictional biography of a woman who really lived at one time, but its simplicity works because it draws the reader further into Karana's head, and thus further into the story. The point of view, voice, and simple style all become interwoven and strengthen each other, which is what they should do. Thus, Island of the Blue Dolphins becomes a well-crafted, enjoyable read for all ages.
