Historical Basis

Historical basis The novel is based on the true story of Juana Maria, the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island", a Nicoleño Indian left alone for 18 years on San Nicolas Island, one of the Channel Islands, off the California coast before being "rescued" in 1853. One version of Juana Maria's story is she lived with others of her tribe on the island, and then a Russian ship brought Alaskan Aleuts to the island to hunt otter, after which the Aleuts killed all the men on the island and made the women their slaves. Ultimately either the women killed the men as revenge or the Russian ship came back and took the Aleuts away. The Santa Barbara Mission then sent a ship to pick up the women left on the island, and a ship picked them all up and took off. Juana Maria, however, could not find her brother and asked the ship to turn around, but since it wouldn't, she jumped ship to swim back for her brother, who was dead, having been eaten by dogs. Another variation of the story has the boat leaving, but she is in the mountains trying to get her baby, and a storm brews and they leave without her. Juana Maria ends up alone on the island for 18 years. She lived in a hut made of whale bones and seal skins, she had made two dresses out of bird feathers and skins with bone needles and seal sinew thread, she took birds from the rocks at night for food, she got water on the island from a spring. She was found and brought back to Santa Barbara in 1853. She died weeks after being brought to Santa Barbara and is buried at the Santa Barbara Mission.

[edit] Plot summary The main character is a girl named Wonapalei, and her secret name is Karana (all the people of Ghalasat have secret names). She is marooned for 18 years. Her people live in a village called Ghalas-at on the island, gathering roots and fishing to supply the tribe. One day, a ship of Aleuts, led by a Russian named Captain Orlov, arrive and persuade the natives into letting them hunt sea otter on the island in return for other goods. However, the Aleuts lie to the islanders and try to leave without paying them. When they are confronted by Chief Chowig, Karana's father, a battle breaks out, taking lives on both sides including Karana's father. The tribe is devastated by the battle while the Aleuts leave the island, leaving little payment for the otters they hunted. Later, the new Chief Kimki leaves the island for help. Eventually, he is able to send a ship to bring his people to the mainland, even though he doesn't make it back himself. Although Karana urges the captain to wait for her brother Ramo to return, the ship must leave before an approaching storm makes it impossible to leave. Karana jumps off the ship and swims to shore. The siblings live alone on the island for a while, hoping the ship will return. Ramo is eventually killed by a pack of feral dogs who abandoned the villagers after the battle against the Aleuts. Karana must now take on traditionally male tasks, such as making spears or building canoes, in order to survive. She vows to avenge her brother's death and kills several of the dogs, but has a change of heart when she merely injures the leader of the pack. She tames him and names him Rontu, meaning "Fox Eyes". Over time, Karana makes a life for herself. She builds a home, and even stocks a cave with provisions in case the Aleuts ever come back, so she can hide from them. As she explores her island, Karana discovers ancient artifacts and a squid (which she calls a devilfish). As time passes by, she decides to hunt the squid. One summer, the Aleuts return, as Karana knew they would. She takes refuge in the cave she has

stocked. She observes them closely, and soon realizes that there is a young woman among the Aleuts who takes care of the domestic duties, including getting water from the pool near Karana's cave. Despite Karana's precautions, Karana and the young Aleut woman meet and befriend each other. They exchange presents with each other when possible. Karana realizes how lonely she has been without other people. More time goes by, and Rontu passes away. She soon finds a young pup that is clearly his son, and takes him in, naming him Rontu-Aru, or son of Rontu. One day, Karana sees the sails of a ship, but it leaves. Two years later, in the spring, the boat comes back, so she dresses in her finest attire and goes to the shore to meet the boat. Her rescuers realize her attire will not be appropriate for the mainland, and they have a dress made for her. Although she does not like the dress, Karana realizes that this is part of her new life. The ship sails away, and takes Karana and Rontu-Aru to the mission in Santa Barbara, California.