Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

Book Genre: Fiction
Publishing Info: Random House Inc., 184 pages
Awards or Honors: Newberry Medal, Lewis Carroll Shelf Award, International Board on Books for Young People Honor List, several others

Summary: A young girl, Karana, gets stranded on an island off California's coast during the 1800s. She lives alone on the island for 18 years. While on the island, Karana must find shelter and food, survive a pack of wild dogs, and try to find a way off the island and back to her people. The story focuses on Karana's strength and courage, as well as her creative survival skills. Island of the Blue Dolphins is based on the story of a real girl who was stranded on an island for 18 years.

Personal Rating: **** Great- I love this story and so do my students. They cannot wait to see what is happening next. The students get into the emotions of the characters as well as the events that happen in the book. They have so many great questions to ask while reading the book, and this opens doors to several learning experiences.

Reading Level: 5.5
Interest Level: upper elementary to middle school

Possible uses of the text in integrated units of study:
Geography: Students can work on map reading skills as well as map making skills. They can study the islands off California's coast where the real girl was rescued, and then make a map of Karana's island using details from the book.
Science: Weather- students can study natural disasters after reading about the tsunami Karana survives. Force and motion- students can build a raft or boat for Karana to use to get off the island. They must use materials Karana could have found on the island.
Social Studies: Native Americans- Students learn lots of information about Karana's tribe at Ghalas-at. They can compare the native islanders to the Native Americans found in this area (language, food, customs, etc.)
Writing: Interviewing- Students pretend to be Karana or another character from the book. One student acts as a news reporter, asking questions of the other student. Students then switch roles.

Potential Problems or Difficulties: Several words are used that have different meanings today (fag, thong, gay), Karana's "pet" dog dies in a dog fight