The Island of the Blue Dolphins
By Madsy
The Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell takes place on an island off the coast of California where otters play and dolphins swim. Once people lived there, but they are all gone. When they left one girls was left behind.
This classic story is about the struggle for survival and finding out who you really are. It’s about one girl, Karana who has to face many obstacles. Her obstacles range from just gathering food to killing the giant devilfish to fending off the pack of wild dogs. On her own for so long every day becomes a struggle. But Karana was not always alone. Her six-year-old brother who was stranded on the island too, was killed by a pack of wild dogs to which Karana has sworn revenge. In her fight against the dogs the most surprising thing happens. She finds a friend in an unexpected place and serves him until his life comes to a close. When the feared hunters from away, the Aleuts come she finds that there is another girl traveling in their hunting party. She befriends her and ever since has a need for human company. When her friendship with the girl saves her life and brings her to California Karana is eternally grateful. Karana learns more about herself and the world in her eyes is forever changed.
The message of the book is life can be tough, and tougher for others, but with will and determination it is hard to lose no matter what you do. If you enjoy adventure, and suspense this is the book for you.
Fever of 1793
By Madsy
Fever of 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson takes place in Philadelphia in the late 1700’s. Matilda Cook is the picture of an ordinary girl in the 1700’s. Her only real main concern is angering her mother and running the family coffee shop and trying to find a husband. But when a tragic epidemic (Yellow Fever) occurs her world is spun around and Mattie finds herself forced to grow up with the fear of her life.
Fever of 1793 is about finding out what’s within her soul and having the courage to face the obstacles forced in her way. Some of those obstacles are fighting off burglars to saving the life of a baby girl to building back up the one thing that will keep her alive.
Hard times bring out the best in some people and the worst in others. Mattie finds that with hard work and a little faith will get her on her feet again.
When Matilda’s grandfather dies she feels lost and afraid, but finds out sometimes you have to move on no matter how much it hurts and learn to rely on the ones you love. The theme of the book is when times are tough and you feel you have the whole world on your shoulders you don’t have to do it all by yourself. That’s what friends and love ones are for, to be there in both the good and bad times. Sometimes we have to struggle through the bad times to enjoy the memories of the past and the future. It has a good plot and a really good ending, it is a very good book for the people that like suspense and sad books.