Island of the Blue Dolphins - Softcover

Scott O'Dell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0440940001 ISBN 13: 9780440940005

Publisher: Laurel-Leaf Books, 1996

Synopsis

In the Pacific there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea.  Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea birds abound.  Once, Indians also lived on the island.  And when they left and sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind.



This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.  Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away.  But while she waited, she kept herself alive by building a shelter, making weapons, finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs.  It is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.

About this title

About the Author

Scott O'Dell was born in Los Angeles, California, on May 23, 1898. He attended Occidental College, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Stanford University, and University of Rome. He worked as a technical director for Paramount, a cameraman for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and a book editor of a Los Angeles newspaper before serving in the United States Air Force during World War II. The recipient of numerous book awards, he established the Scott O'Dell award for historical fiction in 1981. He died on October 15, 1989.

From the Inside Flap

In the Pacific there is an island that looks like a big fish sunning itself in the sea.Around it, blue dolphins swim, otters play, and sea elephants and sea birds abound.Once, Indians also lived on the island.And when they left and sailed to the east, one young girl was left behind.

This is the story of Karana, the Indian girl who lived alone for years on the Island of the Blue Dolphins.Year after year, she watched one season pass into another and waited for a ship to take her away.But while she waited, she kept herself alive by building a shelter, making weapons, finding food, and fighting her enemies, the wild dogs.It is not only an unusual adventure of survival, but also a tale of natural beauty and personal discovery.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

An Excerpt from Island of the Blue Dolphins

There are no trees on the island except the small ones stunted by the
wind. When a log came ashore, as happened once in a long time, it was
always carried to the village and worked on where a chance wave could
not wash it away. That the men were sent to hollow out the log in the
cove, and to sleep beside it during the night, meant that they were there
to watch the Aleuts, to give the alarm should Captain Orlov try to sail
off without paying us for the otter skins.

Everyone was afraid he might, so besides the men in the cove who watch
the Aleut ship, others kept watch on the camp.

Every hour someone brought news. Ulape said that the Aleut woman spent
a whole afternoon cleaning her skin aprons, which she had not done before
while she had been there. Early one morning, Ramo said he had just seen
Captain Orlov carefully trimming his beard so that it looked the way it
did when he first came. The Aleuts who sharpened the log spears stopped
this work and gave all their time to skinning the otter which were brought
in at dusk.

We in the village of Ghalas-at knew that Captain Orlov and his hunters
were getting ready to leave the island. Would he pay us for the otter
he had slain or would he try to sneak away in the night? Would our men
have to fight for our rightful share?

These questions everyone asked while the Aleuts went about their preparations
-- everyone except my father, who said nothing, but each night worked
on the new spear he was making.

Edition details

• Publisher: Laurel-Leaf Books
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0440940001
• ISBN 13: 9780440940005
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• Number of pages: 189