Island of the Blue Dolphins: The Complete Reader's EditionThis is the first authoritative edition of one of the most significant children’s books of the twentieth century. Winner of the 1961 Newbery Medal, Island of the Blue Dolphins tells the story of a girl left alone for eighteen years in the aftermath of violent encounters with Europeans on her home island off the coast of Southern California. This special edition includes two excised chapters, published here for the first time, as well as a critical introduction and essays that offer new background on the archaeological, legal, and colonial histories of Native peoples in California. Sara L. Schwebel explores the composition history and editorial decisions made by author Scott O’Dell that ensured the success of Island of the Blue Dolphins at a time when second-wave feminism, the civil rights movement, and multicultural education increasingly influenced which books were taught. This edition also considers how readers might approach the book today, when new archaeological evidence is emerging about the “Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island,” on whom O’Dell’s story is based, and Native peoples are engaged in the reclamation of indigenous histories and ongoing struggles for political sovereignty. |
Common terms and phrases
abalone Alaska Native Aleuts Alfred Kroeber American Angeles animals archaeological arrows baskets beach began Blue Dol Blue Dolphins brush California canoe Captain Orlov cave Celia Kaye Channel Islands chapter children's book Children's Literature cliff Coral Cove cormorant Crusoe cultural devilfish Dorsa edition extant draft father fence film fire fish folder George Nidever Ghalas-at girl gone gulls headland historical Houghton Library Houghton Mifflin hunting Indian Karana kelp Kerlan killed Kimki knew land ledge lived Lone Woman looked Lovelaces Luiseño mainland morning Moseley moved Nanko narrative Newbery Newbery Medal Nicoleños night novel O’Dell O'Dell's otter hunters Radnitz Ramo ravine reef rock Rontu Russian San Nicolas Island sand sandspit Santa Barbara Schwebel Scott O'Dell sea otter ship shore skirt spear spring stone Stoneapple stood story Totuk trail tribes Tutok Ulape University Vellanoweth village watched waves wild dogs wind Woman of San young