O’Dell based this novel on an actual historical figure known at The Lost Woman of San Nicholas, who lived on the island from 1835-1853. A Russian group called the Aleuts, inhabits the island wanting to hunt otter. A fight breaks out after the Russians do not make a sufficient payment for using their island. This novel is about the will power to live after sister and brother, Karana and Ramo’s, tribe accidentally leaves them as they decide to migrate away from their island. Soon after, Ramo ventures away from his sister and is mauled by wild dogs. Karana wants revenge after her brother’s death and decides to smoke the wild dogs out of their cave. She spears the lead dog and eventually takes him in and nurses him back to health. He becomes her protector. This book has enough subplots that hooks the reader and would be interesting in a book talk since there are many dimensions to the story. I would use this book in a mature fifth grade class because of its subject matter.
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