Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Scott O'Dell

Quote by Scott O'Dell

Work

Island of the Blue Dolphins: The Complete Reader's Edition

This edition of the well-known children's novel presents the complete original text of the story, which follows a Native American girl who survives for years on a remote island off the California coast after her tribe departs. The 'Complete Reader's Edition' includes supplementary content such as historical notes, author commentary, and discussion questions designed to deepen understanding of the book's themes of survival, solitude, and cultural change. The edition aims to provide a richer reading experience by contextualizing the fictional narrative within the real history of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island. more

Author

Scott O'Dell
Scott O'Dell

Scott O'Dell was an American author known for his children's literature, often set in historical contexts. Born on May 23, 1898, he passed away on October 15, 1989. His works were well-received by readers for their accurate historical descriptions and deep character portrayals. more

You May Also Like

“The narratives we create in order to justify our actions and choices become in so many ways who we are. They are the things we say back to ourselves to explain our complicated lives. Perhaps the reason you've not yet been able to forgive yourself is that you're still invested in your self-loathing. Perhaps not forgiving yourself is the flip side of your stealing-this-now cycle. Would you be a better or worse person if you forgave yourself for the bad things you did? If you perpetually condemn yourself for being a liar and a thief, does that make you good?”

“My breathing was shallow and my hands were fists. 'Oh, yes, I'm going to have to kill you Barrons.' I said coolly, Partly because, for the most miniscule sliver of an instant, while looking at those handcuffs, I'd imagined myself climbing back into bed and pretending I wasn't cured yet.”

“Small things such as this have saved me: how much I love my mother — even after all these years. How powerfully I carry her within me. My grief is tremendous but my love is bigger. So is yours. You are not grieving your son’s death because his death was ugly and unfair. You’re grieving it because you loved him truly. The beauty in that is greater than the bitterness of his death.”

“Do you really like studying?" Mattia nodded. "Why?" "It's the only thing I know how to do," he said shortly. He wanted to tell her that he liked studying because you can do it alone, because all the things you study are already dead, cold, and chewed over. He wanted to tell her that the pages of the schoolbooks were all the same temperature, that they left you time to choose, that they never hurt you and you couldn't hurt them either. But he said nothing.”