Newbery Medal Winner
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O'Dell
Summary
Stranded alone on a remote island off the California coast, a young Native American girl named Karana survives for years by hunting, building shelter, and making peace with the wild animals around her. Based on the true story of a woman who lived alone on San Nicolas Island in the nineteenth century, the book is a quiet, powerful tale of resilience, solitude, and harmony with nature. It remains one of the most beloved survival stories in children's literature.
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Historical Context & Significance
Scott O'Dell modeled Karana on the real Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island, who lived by herself for roughly eighteen years before her rescue in 1853.