Island of the Blue Dolphins: Chapters 1–9

by Scott O'Dell
Karana's people have left her behind on the island where she was born. Now she must learn to survive while contending with fearsome wild dogs, an unforgiving landscape, and her own loneliness.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–9, Chapters 10–19, Chapter 20–Afterword
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. intruder
    someone who enters a place or situation without permission
    The rest were concealed among the rocks at the foot of the trail, ready to attack the intruders should they prove unfriendly.
  2. parley
    discuss, as between enemies
    “I come in peace and wish to parley,” he said to the men on the shore.
  3. befall
    happen or be the case in the course of events or by chance
    The Aleuts also watched our village, otherwise they would not have known about the good fortune which befell us soon after they came.
  4. pelt
    the dressed hairy coat of a mammal
    It was these creatures that the Aleuts hunted for their pelts.
  5. carcass
    the dead body of an animal
    In the morning the beach would be strewn with carcasses, and the waves red with blood.
  6. surge
    rise and move, as in waves or billows
    They drew knives from their belts and as our warriors rushed upon them the two lines surged back and forth along the beach.
  7. fateful
    having momentous consequences; of decisive importance
    When the fateful day had dawned, the tribe numbered forty-two men, counting those who were too old to fight.
  8. abound
    exist in large quantities
    The women, who were never asked to do more than stay at home, cook food, and make clothing, now must take the place of the men and face the dangers which abound beyond the village.
  9. portion
    give out
    Kimki portioned work for each one in the tribe, giving Ulape and me the task of gathering abalones.
  10. abalone
    a large edible marine gastropod with an ear-shaped shell
    Kimki portioned work for each one in the tribe, giving Ulape and me the task of gathering abalones.
  11. decree
    issue an authoritative order
    There was much trouble over this until Kimki decreed that the work would again be divided — henceforth the men would hunt and the women harvest.
  12. ample
    more than enough in size or scope or capacity
    Since there was already ample food to last through the winter, it no longer mattered who hunted.
  13. awl
    a pointed tool for marking surfaces or for punching holes
    Three fine needles of whalebone, an awl for making holes, a good stone knife for scraping hides, two cooking pots, and a small box made from a shell with many earrings in it.
  14. nettle
    plant having stinging hairs that cause skin irritation
    “But first you must become a man. As is the custom, therefore, I will have to whip you with a switch of nettles and then tie you to a red-ant hill.”
  15. rite
    any customary observance or practice
    He had seen the rites of manhood given in our tribe and remembered them.
Created on Mon Nov 23 20:54:24 EST 2015 (updated Thu Aug 14 14:48:38 EDT 2025)

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