The story begins in 1835 on the island of Ghalas-at, where Karana's tribe, the Nicoleño, lives.
Tragically, Ramo is soon killed by a pack of wild dogs, leaving Karana entirely alone. To survive, she must break tribal taboos by crafting her own weapons—skills traditionally reserved for men. Island of the Blue Dolphins(1964)
The dog that played Rontu was the offspring of Spike, the dog from the classic film Old Yeller . Review of ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS (1964) (Blu-ray) The story begins in 1835 on the island
Missionaries arrive to evacuate the remaining tribe members to the mainland. As the ship departs, Karana realizes her younger brother, Ramo, has been left behind. She jumps overboard and swims back to the island to stay with him. The dog that played Rontu was the offspring
Finally, a ship arrives. Karana, now a woman, decides to trust the strangers and leaves her island home for a mission in Santa Barbara, accompanied by her pets. Film and Historical Context