Customer Reviews

Island of the Blue Dolphins

5 star:		(212)
4 star:		(71)
3 star:		(30)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

This book is exciting and well written. I read it when I was young and bought it for my granddaughter.

I ordered the book Island of the Blue Dolphins because I had read it in school 25 years ago, and loved it. The book I bought was supposed to be good used, but I got a book that looks brand new. It was a pleasure to read the book again, and I thank Amazon for the wonderful service and the great product. Again Thank-you.

why do other people think the book is so 'dull' ? the book is just paying really close to detail because it was written very nicely, which is why most parts of it are very long. .like when she was in the canoe and it was leaking etc. it's still a very good book, it's so sad and wonderful. our teacher told us that this book was based off real experiences, that a girl realllly did survive 18 years on an island by herself. that's what makes it so interesting! some may have not known this, so with this in mind, read the book!

I read this book in grade school over ten years ago, and to this day, I cherish it. The assignment was "Survival" and Island is the perfect portrayal. Having to keep positive and refusing to give in. This novel is good for any reader, young and mature alike. An easy read, but well worth the inspiration.

I like this novel very much. I must say that this book was a "winner" of the most famous awards in children literature and got Andersen' gold medal. This book also has Newbery Medal, Lewis Carroll Shelf Award. This book was translated into many languages and was published in many counties, in cultures as different as Iran and Israel, Brazil and Bulgaria, China and Czechoslovakia.
This book is good for 10-14 y.o., an exciting story with lots of adventures.
This story based on the true event, when the young girl was left upon an island near the coast of Southern California. She lived there alone for 18 years.
Author also writes The King's Fifth , Sing down the moon and etc.

I read Island of the Blue Dolphins for a required reading book. The book is really good and exciting most of the time, but the end is really bad. It literally ends right in the middle of the book. Nothing is explained and it really doesn't make sense. That is why I give this book 3 stars.

This book tells the story of a girl who gets stuck on her island after all the rest of her tribe leaves on a boat, and follows her survival as she has to live on her own for many years.

Like most people I know, I was forced to read this book as a 4th grader, because it takes place in the Channel Islands and therefore relates to California history. I'm really not exaggerating when I say that everyone hated it. When we had to read it aloud in class, our table would deface our copies. I lost my copy, had to borrow it from an older neighbor -- she too had defaced hers. People seriously hated this book. I would constantly complain to my mom that a "a book about a bored girl who does nothing, has to be boring!"

Now, I haven't reread it since then, but I've been told by people who did that they were surprised and really liked it. So I think the problem is that it is marketed as a children's book, but can't really be appreciated by a 9-year-old. A more appropriate lower age limit would be around 12, maybe 11. Nothing much really happens in this book, except for a girl dealing with some survival aspects, but mostly absolute loneliness, and I think that's hard to think about and relate to for a kid.

I read pretty much as much as I could in elementary school, and the only two books I really hated were this one and Julie of the Wolves (which was actually much much much worse, becaue not only it boring, but it was also not very well-written and had some very random plot turns toward the end. But, since hearing from people that it is much better a few years later, I'll give it three stars. But if you're thinking of giving it to someone, or suggesting it, I'd wait until middle school.

When her tribe is moved from their home island, Karana stays behind with her little brother. After he is killed, Karana faces 18 lonely years alone on the island. Based on a true story, it shows the courage to survive in the face of incredible odds and the strength of the human spirit. Karana is seen again in Scott O'Dell's book ZIA, where the lonely woman is reunited with her niece. Great reading at any age. One of my absolute favorites.

Based on the true story of an Indian girl who lived alone for years on the island of San Nicolas, the last woman of her tribe. The story of Karana's life on the Island of the Blue Dolphins is therefore special, because it is based on real life. We watch as Karana's life goes from bad to worse, as watching everybody she loves either leaving her or being killed, by men or beasts. Soon she is all alone, on the island, with wild dogs, playful otters and lots of sea birds. She must not only find food, keep herself warm and protect herself aginst the wild animals, but she must also find a way to fight her loneiless. A story about survival of both body and mind.
Sometimes it is hard to believe. The author tells us in one chapter how Karana makes a bow and arrows to go with the bow, while in another chapter we are told how hard it is to find ANY wood. Yet a good story for young and old.

Island of the Blue Dolphins is a really great exciting book to read! it is one of my favorite books. Reading about a girl who learns how to survive in the wilderness with no shelter, no food, and no family and a pack of wolves as enemies was very exciting to read about! Karana first got left on this island when a ship came to their island and killed their leader forcing them to get onto the ship and start a new life in a whole new world. When Karana got left behind she was told that another ship would come back for her. But Karana wasn't the only one who got left behind her younger brother was left behind too. But Karanas' younger brother died by the wolf pack which she now has to face to survive. I recommend this book because this book is fascinating and will keep you interested throughout the whole book. It's great for all ages!