Scott O’Dell “Places I have known, creatures I have loved are in Island of the Blue Dolphins…” --Scott O’Dell, “Newberry Award Acceptance” Speech, Horn Book, August, 1961 Scott O’Dell, an award winning author of more than twenty books, was a naturalist who drew on his own experiences as a boy growing up in a rural environment to write historical fiction for children. Born to railway employee Bennett Mason O’Dell on Terminal Island, …showed first 75 words of 1753 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1753 total…survival in a primitive environment (Collier-Nakamura). Karana’s determination and perseverance are considered to be examples of the finest inner-parts of mankind. However, beneath these waters of excellent storytelling lies another current. These deeper, colder waters reveal the bittersweet joys of a boy growing up in the wilds of Southern California and a troubled man’s attempt to make peace with the more painful memories of choices made that haunted him all of his days.