Review of Scott O'Dell's "Island of the Blue Dolphins"

Survival for Karana is more difficult than just finding enough to eat and drink. Her need for shelter from wild animals and the fierce storms that beat against her island are only the beginning. Karana must deal with grief, abandonment, and loneliness. Her strong will to live helps her forge a new life in harsh conditions void of the culture and human interaction most of mankind takes for granted. The internal thoughts and feelings of this fictional (but inspired by real life) girl kept me turning the pages.