# Books like Island of the Blue Dolphins

**10** books similar to *Island of the Blue Dolphins* by Scott O'Dell (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade) · 1000L · grades 4–7), matched on shared themes, shared award lists, genre, and reading level. Every pick is grade-appropriate (a reading-level match, not just a topical one) and links to where it is assigned in US schools.

**Themes:** survival, solitude, indigenous identity, nature, resilience
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/similar/island-of-the-blue-dolphins
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## Similar books

- [Hatchet](https://readinglist.school/book/hatchet) by Gary Paulsen _(1020L · Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of survival, nature, and resilience, both on the William Allen White Children's Book Award list (+1 more shared list), and a close reading level (1020L vs 1000L).
- [The Wild Robot](https://readinglist.school/book/the-wild-robot) by Peter Brown _(740L · Grades 4–6)_ — Shares themes of survival and nature, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, and overlapping grades (4–6).
- [The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1)](https://readinglist.school/book/the-bad-beginning) by Lemony Snicket _(1010L · Grades 4–7)_ — Shares themes of resilience, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list, and a close reading level (1010L vs 1000L).
- [Bud, Not Buddy](https://readinglist.school/book/bud-not-buddy) by Christopher Paul Curtis _(950L · Grades 4–7)_ — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+3 more shared lists) and a close reading level (950L vs 1000L).
- [The Mouse and the Motorcycle](https://readinglist.school/book/the-mouse-and-the-motorcycle) by Beverly Cleary _(860L · Grades 2–4)_ — Both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+2 more shared lists), a close reading level (860L vs 1000L), and the same era (1960s).
- [The Witch of Blackbird Pond](https://readinglist.school/book/the-witch-of-blackbird-pond) by Elizabeth George Speare _(850L · Grades 5–8)_ — Both on the Newbery Medal list (+1 more shared list), same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (850L vs 1000L).
- [Old Yeller](https://readinglist.school/book/old-yeller) by Fred Gipson _(Grades 5–8)_ — Shares themes of survival, both on the Nēnē Award (Hawai'i) list (+1 more shared list), and overlapping grades (5–8).
- [The Pearl](https://readinglist.school/book/the-pearl) by John Steinbeck _(1010L · Grades 6–9)_ — Shares themes of nature, both on the Common Core State Standards (ELA) list, and a close reading level (1010L vs 1000L).
- [A Single Shard](https://readinglist.school/book/a-single-shard) by Linda Sue Park _(920L · Grades 5–8)_ — Both on the Newbery Medal list, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (920L vs 1000L).
- [Chains](https://readinglist.school/book/chains) by Laurie Halse Anderson _(780L · Grades 5–9)_ — Shares themes of resilience, same genre (Historical Fiction (Middle Grade)), and a close reading level (780L vs 1000L).

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