Book of the week: 'Island of the Blue Dolphins', by Scott O'Dell

I've already included this book in my 'Book of the Week' series after I read it with Jacob last year, but I thought I would share it again since I just finished reading it to the girls (aged 7 and almost 5).

It's the story of a young girl, Wonapalei, who after many of her tribe are massacred and the rest are rescued, ends up left alone on her island. She lives there on her own for the next 18 years. She builds her own home, learns to make her own weapons and hunt, and even tames some of the wild dogs. It's beautifully written (in fact, it won the Newbery Medal in 1961) and the fact that it is based on a true story adds something to the impact. I was surprised that I ended up crying in the final chapters AGAIN. 

I enjoyed seeing how the girls noticed different things from what Jacob noticed. I guess they were seeing the main character more as a role model since she was a young girl, and they empathised more easily with her. It was good for them to understand how women in a different place and time lived, and for them to hear about a young woman having to be so courageous just in order to survive. I  also enjoyed being able to talk with the girls about how brave she was, how clever she was to be able to make canoes and weapons and catch her own food.

It's definitely worth reading with your kids.  A great book.

* As I said last time, the only caution I would add is that some of the themes could be distressing for some kids. None of it is told too vividly, but she does lose her family in the first few chapters, which could raise some issues - good ones to talk through, but parents obviously need to discern what's appropriate for their kids.