Island of the Blue Dolphins is the true story of a young girl’s survival alone on a secluded island. Karana makes a choice between leaving with her village people on a rescue ship or swimming back to her island home to save her younger brother, Ramo. There, Karana battles harsh environments and hostile wildlife. Her isolation from humans teaches her how to co-exist peacefully with the wildlife on the island and the sea. For nearly eighteen years, Karana learns how to hunt, cook and clothe herself while surviving the harsh winters on the island. Finally, Karana is discovered by travelling missionaries and is taken off the island. This Novel Study provides a teacher and student section with a variety of activities, discussion questions and answer key to create a well-rounded lesson plan.