Island of the Blue Dolphins

This fictional book is called, Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell. It is very realistic, and adventurous. The story takes place on an island about 90 miles off the coast of Santa Barbara California, in the 1600’s. A girl gets stuck on the island all alone.

Kerana is the main character. She is smart, makes dresses, and knows how to live in the wilderness; she’s a survivor. When the Aluts arrive to the island, Kerana is only about 12 years old. Romo is Kerana’s little brother, about 6 years old. He is adventurous and curious, like a dolphin. He is quick as a cricket, and lies like a snake. Ulopai is a little more mature than the other kids; she’s about 14 years old. She is un-married, but wants to be married to a boy named Namko. The wise and brave Chow-wig was the chief of Ghalas-at; he was also Kerana’s father.

Two red masts rose slowly above the sea. What could it be? It is a Russian ship (Aluts)! The Aluts have come from Russia to the island, to hunt for otter for their pelts. They hunt, and when it’s time to pay the village for the otter pelts, the Aluts try to pay with a chest of beads. The chief of the village says,

A couple of weeks passed as Kerana thought out her plan to ambush the dogs. She goes to their lair, to flush them out. First one, then three more come out of the den; she doesn’t kill them; she’s waiting for the leader. Then the leader comes out, Kerana aims her bow, and then fires it; she hits him in the chest, fires again, but misses; he was still alive. He was gray, with yellow eyes, and much bigger than the other dogs; therefore it was proof the Aluts had brought him there. The next day she went to check on the dog, and finds that he isn’t there. She follows his tracks, only to find him half dead. She feels bad for him, so she takes him to her house, she had made out of a cave and whale bones. She decides to name him Rontu. They become very attached to one another, in a short period of time.

I would recommend this book to any boy or girl that is 12 years or older, and to anyone who enjoys survival stories.

“ No this is not enough for the pelts, and will cost 3 more chests”! All of a sudden, a huge fight breaks out, and when it’s over; the villagers see that chief Chow-wig has been killed. The Aluts leave without paying, but not after they have killed most of the village warriors. The villagers get canoes ready, just in case the Aluts come back. The new chief Kimki, leaves for the mainland in a canoe, but never returns, sending a ship to rescue the villagers, from the island, instead. As the villagers were loading onto the ship, Kerana notices that Romo is not there. The ship starts to leave, and Kerana shouts, “Stop, stop”! They refuse to stop, so she jumps into the water and swims back to the island to help Romo, loosing all of her valuables. She tells him of canoes where he can get food. At first, Kerana wasn’t going to go with Romo, but then decides a little while later to follow. She sees Romo lying on the ground with a pack of dogs around him. When she gets closer, she notices that two dogs have been speared, and that Romo’s throat has been ripped out, and he is dead

Some topics in this essay:
Aluts Russia, Indian English, Romo Kerana’s, Barbara California, , Scott O’Dell, Ghalas-at Kerana’s, island kerana, otter pelts, kill dogs,