First Edition
After witnessing animal cruelty near his home, O’Dell first wrote Island of the Blue Dolphins in 1960, to promote a respect for all forms of life.[9] Its first submission was turned down, as the publisher believed the story should feature a male protagonist.[10] Yet, O’Dell felt strongly about Karana’s presence and looked to other publishing companies.[10] Although he wrote the novel with the intended audience of adults, O’Dell’s next publisher suggested that it would be better for children, and it was published that same year.[9] Soon after, in 1961, it had tremendous success and was awarded the Newbery Medal.[9]
Critical Edition
The 50th Anniversary edition of Island of the Blue Dolphins includes a new introduction by Newbery Medalist Lois Lowry and also includes extracts from Father Gonzales Rubio in the Santa Barbara Mission's Book of Burials.[11] Island of the Blue Dolphins: The Complete Reader's Edition, a critical edition edited by Sara L. Schwebel, was published in October 2016 by the University of California Press.[11] It includes two chapters deleted from the book before publication.
Sequel
O'Dell later wrote a sequel, Zia, published in 1976.
