Island of the Blue Dolphins (Book Worksheet)

Main Characters: Karana
Summary: Karana and her brother lived in the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Their father was the chief of the island. One day, Aleutian sea-otter hunters came and made a deal with their father. But the Aleutians did not keep their promises and they killed the chief. After the new chief went to explore another island, he came back with men in boats and promised that they would be taken some where else. But Karana and her brother Ramo stayed behind alone. Ramo was killed by wild dogs and Karana swore to kill the dogs that killed her brother. After a while she felt very lonely and tried to get off the island on a canoe but failed. Karana must learn to live alone for 18 years on this island. Karana makes new friends and faces many challenges, but in the end, she is saved by Aleuts.

1. people

2. Nobody can live alone without other people.

3. Karana: brave, sad, lonely, smart

3a. I think Karana was really brave to face those wild dogs and make weapons of her own. It is Karana's culture that women are not to make weapons. It is said that if a woman makes a weapon or tries to use one, it will break when they are in most danger. Karana was very afraid that rocks might fall from the heavens and crush her when she made weapons like her father had once said, but she still did for her own safety. I also think that Karana was brave enough to face the wild dogs. They are merciless and move in packs. She had even known that they killed her brother and that they can kill her. I think that Karana was very strong, because some people might have died, from loneliness, and from everything that Karana had experienced during those harsh 18 years.

4. The scene when Karana did not kill the leader of the pack when it was wounded and saved its life instead was very memorable. It showed how lonely Karana was- that she would not kill the very dog that killed her brother and was trying to kill her next. She made him her pet, and they quickly became friends.

This scene made me think that even if you have supplies, shelter, and food, you can't live without company.

5. The author is trying to tell you that you can't live without people. Even though, Karana had a lot of pets, after she met the Aleut girl, she was extremely lonely, and she was very sad.

6. I would rate this book a 10 because I really think it had a lot of meaning.

7.
Beginning: Karana and her brother remain behind at the Island of the Blue Dolphins while everybody else leaves, but Karana's brother is killed by wild dogs.

Middle: Karana is very lonely and makes friends with many animals

Ending: Karana is saved by Aleuts.