Island of the Blue Dolphins

About this book

Karana, a young Nicoleño girl, survives alone on an island off the California coast for 18 years — based on the true story of Juana Maria. O'Dell's Newbery Medal novel is a universal 5th-6th grade assignment and Common Core Appendix B exemplar.

Why widely assigned

This Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) title, reads at young-adult to upper-middle-grade complexity, typically at grades 4–7. Written in the 1960s; pairs with curriculum units on survival and solitude; cited across 1 curriculum framework.

Where this book is assigned

• Common Core State Standards (ELA)

  • required·5th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 Newbery Medal
  • required·5th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 5 — California-set canon

Similar grade-level books

• 
  The Outsiders
  S.E. Hinton · 750L
• 
  The Giver
  Lois Lowry · 760L
• 
  The Diary of a Young Girl
  Anne Frank · 1080L
• 
  To Kill a Mockingbird
  Harper Lee · 870L

See all books like Island of the Blue Dolphins→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Common questions

What grade level is Island of the Blue Dolphins?

Island of the Blue Dolphins is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–7, with a Lexile measure of 1000L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.

What is the Lexile level of Island of the Blue Dolphins?

Island of the Blue Dolphins has a Lexile measure of 1000L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.

How long does it take to read Island of the Blue Dolphins?

It takes about 3h 30m to read Island of the Blue Dolphins (192 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 210 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.

Is Island of the Blue Dolphins hard to read for 4th grade?

At 1000L, Island of the Blue Dolphins falls within the typical 740–1010L text-complexity range for 4th grade (Common Core Appendix A) — a grade-appropriate reading challenge. Lexile measures text complexity, not thematic maturity — check the content notes for age-appropriateness separately.

What curricula assign Island of the Blue Dolphins?

Island of the Blue Dolphins appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.