Island of the Blue Dolphins Lesson Plan

Throughout much of the book, Karana is determined to avenge her brother’s death and kill the wild dogs, especially their leader. Describe her thought process when she actually has the chance to kill the dogs.

After having spent many seasons preparing herself to kill the dogs, Karana first has no qualms shooting leader of the wild dogs with her bow and arrow, and she similarly kills some of the other wild dogs without problems. However, her shot doesn’t kill him, and he sneaks off, injured. Two days later, she goes looking for him with her weapons, and when she finds him, gravely injured, her attitude changes. He looks at her, but returns his head to the ground and doesn’t...