Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Scott O’Dell · first published 1960
38% recommend63% neutral
Story of a young girl abandoned on a small island by her family and her village, and of her fight for survival. The incredible courage, determination and strength of this girl is showcased throughout as she learns to do the things that only the men of her tribe did before, and battles not only the hunters who frequent the island, but also her desperate loneliness as well... Excellent read for kids 11 and older.
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…Garden Bridge to Terabithia (Deals with death, a little older) The Lion, the witch, and the wardrobe Across five Aprils (civil war historical fiction, older) The Broken Blade (Voyageur) & Sequel Island of the blue dolphins The witch of blackbird pond Johnny Tremaine (a bit older) The sign of the Beaver Charlotte’s Web Because of Winn Dixie Tuck Everlasting (sad at end) Ruby Holler The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Treasure…
on “The original “Bambi”” ↗Young Adult fiction is my "go-to" place for this. Nearly anything that has won the Newberry Award is great for the whole family. Some standouts in my mind: * Island of the Blue Dolphins * Chronicles of Prydain (Book of Three, The Black Cauldron, etc) Chronicles of Narnia aren't Newberry winners, but are good regardless (if you don't mind the religious subtext). +1 for other people…
on “The Good Soldier Švejk (2018)” ↗"Island of the Blue Dolphins" (I was definitely younger than a teenager) stuck with me forever: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_the_Blue_Dolphins
on “Ask HN: What book had a big impact on you as a child or teenager?” ↗FYI: The story of the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas", mentioned in the 5th paragraph of the article, is dramatized in the novel Island of the Blue Dolphins.
on “The Most Isolated Man on the Planet” ↗…of Political Ideas in the Fifties Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., The Politics of Upheaval: The Age of Roosevelt Dr. Seuss, Green Eggs and Ham and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish Scott O’Dell, Island of the Blue Dolphins John Barth, The Sot-Weed Factor Jean-Paul Sartre, Critique de la raison dialectique "Consider the films and television shows from 1960 that would have become available this year." The Time Machine…
on “What Could Have Entered the Public Domain on January 1, 2017” ↗…US has a much more recent history of frontiermanship and homesteading than Europe does, and that continues to permeate our culture in many ways. When I was a kid, books like My Side of the Mountain and Island of the Blue Dolphins were required reading. Apocalyptic television shows like Jericho, Lost, The 100, The Last Man, and Revolution are still very popular. The echoes of the 1800s live on in books, television shows, and movies.
on “How to Prepare Now for the Complete End of the World” ↗"... The story of the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas", mentioned in the 5th paragraph of the article, is dramatized in the novel Island of the Blue Dolphins. ..." Saw this film as a kid, pretty powerful as I remember quite a bit ~ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Island_of_the_Blue_Dolphins
on “The Most Isolated Man on the Planet” ↗Funny how the world works, I must have spent most of my middle school doing book reports on the Inuit and other Native american and First Nation tribes up north. We had to read Island of the Blue Dolphins in 5th grade and I had a big "Eskimo" phase. (I know the name is no longer in use much, but it shows my age) Well I have been out of Spain for over a decade, so now when I go back I feel a bit like a…
on “The Basque Country’s Mondragón Corporation is the largest industrial co-op” ↗