When I think about reading the Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, I think about dodgeball, smelly buses, and elementary school cafeterias.  I don’t remember exactly what grade I was in (I had the same teacher in 4^th and 5^th grade and most of the same kids were in my 6^th grade class, so those three years all kind of blur together) but this was one of my favorite books in elementary school.  The book follows the story of a young girl, Karana, as she grows and survives alone on an island.  I wanted to be strong, brave, and resilient like Karana.  I also wanted to have a really cool wild dog and name him Rontu.

This is a really good book, no doubt about it.  It was written in 1960 and is still taught in classes today.  But when I close my eyes and think about this book, I don’t necessarily think about the plot summary.  I think about how I felt when I read it.  This book made me feel all the feels.  And that was back in the ‘80s before feeling all the feels was even a thing.

Very early in the book, Karana experiences chaos and loss, but has to be strong for herself and those who relied on her.  I cried for her many times during this book.  Karana was scared and angry in the book.  I was scared and angry for her.  She was lonely.  I was lonely.  In a nutshell, Scott O’Dell put me through the ringer.  And I loved him for it.

When I grabbed this book as an adult to encourage my own kids to read it, I was shocked by how small it was.   It’s seriously only about 200 pages.  Really???  He killed me in 200 pages???  Apparently so.  I will admit that this book did not move me as much when I reread it as an adult as it did when I read it as a kid.  Maybe it hit me at just the right time?  Maybe I’ve romanticized it over the years?  Maybe this is a book that is better for kids than adults?  I’m not sure.  But even though I was not moved to tears the second time around, Island of the Blue Dolphins still holds a secure spot in my heart where my favorite books from my childhood live.