O’Dell, S. (1960). Island of the Blue Dolphins. [New York]: Yearling.

On a small island, a young girl is left behind when all the other people of her island sail away to find a new land. She must learn to find food, build shelters, and protect herself from the dangers on the island. As she becomes lonely, she makes friends with many of the animals, and even a young girl whose people come to the island to hunt occasionally. For many years she lives alone, facing hardship, danger, and loneliness while relying on her resourcefulness and instincts to survive.

Although I struggled to complete the first few pages, once I got started reading this book I couldn’t put it down. I was drawn into the detailed setting and felt a strong connection to the emotions described throughout the story. The idea of being completely alone for years is fascinating, and Scott O’Dell describes it with such rich details and suspense. I especially appreciated the way he described the actions and emotions before clarifying things like the earthquake so that you could experience the fear and uncertainty with the character. Overall, I found this to be a fascinating story, and I cannot believe I have never picked it up before today.