Island of The Blue Dolphins - Scott O'Dell

 
Published by Heinemann Educational Books Ltd: Oxford, England, 1967 (1960).

This is a fictionalised account of a true story. Following a tragic interaction with some Northern (Aleut) hunters, the small community of Native American Indians living on the titular Island of the Blue Dolphins decide the time has come to leave the island altogether. A prominent member of the tribe goes for help, and eventually sends a 'white man' ship to collect the rest of the tribe. In the packing and confusion however, a young boy, Ramo, is left behind on the island. His sister Karana leaps overboard and swims ashore in order that he will not be alone, and the two of them settle in to live as the last inhabitants of the island, hoping that eventually they will be rescued.

There are a number of twists early on in this book, but over time the narrative - told from the perspective of, and focusing far more on, Karana - settles in to a Robinson Crusoe or Swiss Family Robinson type adventure, portraying how life alone on an island can affect a person. Unlike the main characters of either 'Robinson' book, however, Karana understands a lot about how life on her island works from having grown up there. The challenge for her is more cultural; women are not allowed to make weapons or do hunting, and she must wrestle with the desire to uphold her culture while realising that she must do things for herself if she is to survive. Her ingenuity makes sense, having seen others from her tribe perform similar tasks in the past, but there are also times when her personality shines through and she ends up making choices (generally because of compassion) that surprise even her.

The plot, fittingly for this kind of book, meanders along, but never drags. There are occasionally tense or surprising moments, including with a dangerous pack of wild dogs on the island, and the threat of the Aleuts is also always on the horizon. However, the book doesn't need to be any more action-packed than it is, because it is interesting. Karana grows in her capacity to not only survive, but even to make life on the island more bearable. In all of these elements I was interested about her choices, and the ways in which she overcame different challenges that she faced.

Another book probably aimed at older children, yet with some heavier moments too.

I liked it.

Completed 6 March 2021.

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