Monday, 4 January 2010
I Remember Reading This Book As A Child
Island of the Blue Dolphins
by Erika Cox
In 1960, author Scott O’Dell, who also wrote “The King’s Fifth, The Black Pearl, and Sing Down Moon, wrote and published one of the most popular children’s books of all time - Island of the Blue Dolphins.
The story is based loosely on the real-life story of Juana Marie, a Native American woman who lives alone on the island of San Nicolas from 1835 until 1853, after being left behind when the rest of her tribe was brought to the main lands.
She is otherwise known as the “Lone Woman of San Nicolas,” and when found, no one understand her language any longer because the rest of her tribe has since perished due to disease. O’Dell’s novel went on to win the Newberry Medal for children’s literature.
Scott O’Dell was born Odell Gabriel Scott in Los Angeles, CA in 1898. He attended a number of colleges, including Occidental College, the University of Wisconsin, and Stanford University before serving in the Air Force during World War II. He then went on to work as a cameraman, director, and book editor.
He wrote nonfiction and fiction for adults in these early years, but didn’t begin writing children’s novels until the 1950s. It was here he found his niche. Island of the Blue Dolphins is just one of 26 children’s books he wrote, and he received the Hans Christian Anderson Award for lifetime achievement in the early 1970s.
He went on to win a number of other awards as well before tragically dying from cancer in 1989.
Island of the Blue Dolphins centers on a main character named Karana who lives on an island with her tribe. Trappers arrive to hunt the otters found on the island, and try to leave without paying Karan’s father, the chief.
A battle ensues and the trappers escape, but an older native suggests to the chief that they should follow the trappers tot he main land, where a better life awaits. A ship comes to take them away, but just as they are ready to leave, Karana realizes that her younger brother is not on board.
The ship captain cannot wait because a storm is coming, and Karana jumps overboard to go back to the island with her brother. The brother is soon after killed by the wild dogs on the island, and Karana begins to learn to survive on her own.
Karana avenges her brother’s death by killing many of the wild dogs on the island, but has a change of heart after injuring one of them and thereafter keeps him as a pet, naming him Rontu.
She finds a small cave and stocks it with provisions, knowing that the greedy trappers will once again come to the island someday and she doesn’t want them to find her.
She builds a home and learns to kill animals to use for food and clothing. After time, she becomes a vegetarian because she realizes that the animals have become her friends and she no longer wishes to kill them.
One day, the trappers return to the island. Karana is frightened of their evil ways and hides in the cave she has prepared, taking Rontu with her. Karana is careful not to be seen, but one day the women whom the trappers brought to cook and clean meets Karana.
The two cannot speak one another’s language, but they exchange words for some items and become friends. Karana realizes that she is lonely on the island, no matter how good of a companion Rontu has been.
After a number of years, a ship arrives to the island and Karana realizes that she is finally being rescued. She puts on her very best clothing and goes to the beach to be seen. The men take Karana back to the ship and give her an American dress to wear, which symbolizes to her the transition into a new life.
In 1964, Island of the Blue Dolphins was made into a movie, directed by James B. Clark and with the actress Celia Kaye as Karana. The film itself had mixed reviews, but Kaye won a Golden Globe for her performance. Later, O’Dell wrote Zia, a sequel to Island of the Blue Dolphins told from the point of view of Karana’s niece.
by Erika Cox
In 1960, author Scott O’Dell, who also wrote “The King’s Fifth, The Black Pearl, and Sing Down Moon, wrote and published one of the most popular children’s books of all time - Island of the Blue Dolphins.
The story is based loosely on the real-life story of Juana Marie, a Native American woman who lives alone on the island of San Nicolas from 1835 until 1853, after being left behind when the rest of her tribe was brought to the main lands.
She is otherwise known as the “Lone Woman of San Nicolas,” and when found, no one understand her language any longer because the rest of her tribe has since perished due to disease. O’Dell’s novel went on to win the Newberry Medal for children’s literature.
Scott O’Dell was born Odell Gabriel Scott in Los Angeles, CA in 1898. He attended a number of colleges, including Occidental College, the University of Wisconsin, and Stanford University before serving in the Air Force during World War II. He then went on to work as a cameraman, director, and book editor.
He wrote nonfiction and fiction for adults in these early years, but didn’t begin writing children’s novels until the 1950s. It was here he found his niche. Island of the Blue Dolphins is just one of 26 children’s books he wrote, and he received the Hans Christian Anderson Award for lifetime achievement in the early 1970s.
He went on to win a number of other awards as well before tragically dying from cancer in 1989.
Island of the Blue Dolphins centers on a main character named Karana who lives on an island with her tribe. Trappers arrive to hunt the otters found on the island, and try to leave without paying Karan’s father, the chief.
A battle ensues and the trappers escape, but an older native suggests to the chief that they should follow the trappers tot he main land, where a better life awaits. A ship comes to take them away, but just as they are ready to leave, Karana realizes that her younger brother is not on board.
The ship captain cannot wait because a storm is coming, and Karana jumps overboard to go back to the island with her brother. The brother is soon after killed by the wild dogs on the island, and Karana begins to learn to survive on her own.
Karana avenges her brother’s death by killing many of the wild dogs on the island, but has a change of heart after injuring one of them and thereafter keeps him as a pet, naming him Rontu.
She finds a small cave and stocks it with provisions, knowing that the greedy trappers will once again come to the island someday and she doesn’t want them to find her.
She builds a home and learns to kill animals to use for food and clothing. After time, she becomes a vegetarian because she realizes that the animals have become her friends and she no longer wishes to kill them.
One day, the trappers return to the island. Karana is frightened of their evil ways and hides in the cave she has prepared, taking Rontu with her. Karana is careful not to be seen, but one day the women whom the trappers brought to cook and clean meets Karana.
The two cannot speak one another’s language, but they exchange words for some items and become friends. Karana realizes that she is lonely on the island, no matter how good of a companion Rontu has been.
After a number of years, a ship arrives to the island and Karana realizes that she is finally being rescued. She puts on her very best clothing and goes to the beach to be seen. The men take Karana back to the ship and give her an American dress to wear, which symbolizes to her the transition into a new life.
In 1964, Island of the Blue Dolphins was made into a movie, directed by James B. Clark and with the actress Celia Kaye as Karana. The film itself had mixed reviews, but Kaye won a Golden Globe for her performance. Later, O’Dell wrote Zia, a sequel to Island of the Blue Dolphins told from the point of view of Karana’s niece.
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Family Tree
Descendants of Charles Roach Ratteray
Generation No. 1
1. CHARLES ROACH1 RATTERAY was born February 1800 in
Children of CHARLES RATTERAY and REBECCA are:
i. MARIA2 RATTERAY, b. 1826, Sandys,
ii. EDWARD FRATER RATTERAY, b. 1830, Sandys,
2. iii. ALEXANDER RATTERAY, b. Abt. August 1833,
3. iv. EDWARD GEORGE STANLEY RATTERAY, b. 1834,
4. v. CHARLES RATTERAY, b. 1835,
vi. JOSHUA RATTERAY, b. Bef. July 1839,
vii. JOSEPH FREDERICK RATTERAY, b. 1843, Sandys,
Children of CHARLES RATTERAY and JANE are:
viii. MARY HAMILTON SEYMOUR2 RATTERAY, b. December 09, 1858, Sandys, Bermuda; d. Bef. December 1887, Sandys, Bermuda; m. WILLIAM HORATIO TROTT, November 27, 1884, St James Church, Sandys, Bermuda; b. 1830, of Dockyard, Somerset, Sandys, Bermuda; d. January 1905, Sandys, Bermuda.
5. ix. THOMAS ELEASER RATTERAY, b. 1860,
x. JEREMIAH MIDDLETON RATTERAY, b. 1863, Sandys, Bermuda; m. ELIZABETH LEWIS, June 05, 1890, St James, Sandys, Bermuda; b. 1860, of HM Dockyard, Somerset, Sandys, Bermuda; d. June 12, 1911, Sandys, Bermuda.
xi. FREDERICK RATTERAY, b. December 1866,
Generation No. 2
2. ALEXANDER2 RATTERAY (CHARLES ROACH1) was born Abt. August 1833 in
Children of ALEXANDER RATTERAY and CATHERINE BROWN are:
i. JESSIE GILBERT3 RATTERAY, b. 1853, Sandys, Bermuda; m. WILLIAM BAWN BEAN, September 16, 1875, Sandys, Bermuda; b. 1851, Sandys, Bermuda.
6. ii. ELIZABETH MARIA RATTERAY, b. 1856,
iii. SUSAN HINSON GILBERT RATTERAY, b. Bet. 1858 - 1859,
iv. CATHERINE CORDELIA RATTERAY, b. Bet. 1860 - 1861,
v. MARTHA ALICE RATTERAY, b. 1863,
vi. CHARLES MCDONALD AMBROSE RATTERAY, b. 1866,
7. vii. MARY REBECCA HANSEY/HARVEY RATTERAY, b. 1870,
3. EDWARD GEORGE STANLEY2 RATTERAY (CHARLES ROACH1) was born 1834 in
Children of EDWARD RATTERAY and REBECCA SWAN are:
i. WILLIAM ADOLPHUS3 RATTERAY, b. 1861, Sandys,
ii. ELIZABETH ANN RATTERAY, b. 1862,
iii. EDWARD GEORGE RATTERAY, b. 1864, Sandys,
iv. HARRIET REBECCA RATTERAY, b. 1867, Sandys, Bermuda; m. JACOB BEAN SWAN, November 23, 1898, Sandys, Bermuda; b. 1868.
v. JOSHUA HANLEY RATTERAY, b. 1869, Sandys, Bermuda; d. Bef. February 04, 1945; m. THERESA JANE DICKINSON SIMONS, 1914; b. June 19, 1869, Sandys, Bermuda; d. February 04, 1945, Sandys, Bermuda.
vi. CHARLES ALFRED RATTERAY, b. 1871, Sandys, Bermuda; m. (1) CATHERINE JANE ELIZABETH SMITH, July 26, 1899, Sandys, Bermuda; b. 1878; m. (2) OLIVIA JANE PEROT SIMONS, June 28, 1912, Sandys, Bermuda; b. 1878.
8. vii. WILLIS FRAZER RATTERAY, b. 1875,
4. CHARLES2 RATTERAY (CHARLES ROACH1) was born 1835 in
Children of CHARLES RATTERAY and AGNES BEAN are:
i. LOUIS TERENCE3 RATTERAY, b. 1865, Sandys,
9. ii. RUFPOINT RATTERAY, b. Bet. 1866 - 1867,
iii. CHARLES HENRY GORDON RATTERAY, b. 1869, Sandys,
5. THOMAS ELEASER2 RATTERAY (CHARLES ROACH1) was born 1860 in
Children of THOMAS RATTERAY and
i. SARAH JANE3 RATTERAY, b. 1885, Sandys,
ii. ARDELLA RATTERAY, b. 1886,
iii. THOMAS PLACE RATTERAY, b. 1887, Sandys,
iv. LESSELINE INEZ RATTERAY, b. 1888, Sandys,
v. CHARLES LAWSON RATTERAY, b. 1890,
vi. FREDERICK ST JOHN RATTERAY, b. Bet. 1891 - 1892,
vii. THOMAS SEYMOUR RATTERAY, b. 1893, Sandys,
viii. ONTITOMARTE MARIE RATTERAY, b. 1896, Sandys, Bermuda.
ix. MARY HAMILTON SEYMOUR RATTERAY, b.
x.
xi. MYRTLE BEATRICE RATTERAY, b.
xii. CONSTANCE ELIZABETH RATTERAY, b.
xiii. JOSEPH TUNBRIDGE RATTERAY, b.
Generation No. 3
6. ELIZABETH MARIA3 RATTERAY (ALEXANDER2, CHARLES ROACH1) was born 1856 in
Children of ELIZABETH RATTERAY and ALEXANDER SWAN are:
i. WILLIAM PLACE4 SWAN, b.
ii. MARIA ELIZABETH PLACE SWAN, b. 1874, Sandys,
7. MARY REBECCA HANSEY/HARVEY3 RATTERAY (ALEXANDER2, CHARLES ROACH1) was born 1870 in
Child of MARY RATTERAY and JOHN BEAN is:
i. JOHN THOMAS SEYMOUR4 BEAN, b. 1890; d.
8. WILLIS FRAZER3 RATTERAY (EDWARD GEORGE STANLEY2, CHARLES ROACH1) was born 1875 in
Children of WILLIS RATTERAY and FRANCES WELLMAN are:
i.
ii. WILLIS GERALD RATTERAY, b.
iii. GEORGE OSWALD RATTERAY, b.
iv. ANGELA BERNICE RATTERAY, b.
v. MIRIAM GEORGIANA RATTERAY, b.
9. RUFPOINT3 RATTERAY (CHARLES2, CHARLES ROACH1) was born Bet. 1866 - 1867 in
Children of RUFPOINT RATTERAY and ANNIE BURGESS are:
i. DAISY MARGUERITE4 RATTERAY, b.
ii. CHARLES DALTON RATTERAY, b.
iii. RUBY MIGNONETTE RATTERAY, b.
iv. ALWYN DALZIEL RATTERAY, b.
v. RICHARD LESLIE RATTERAY, b.
vi. PERCIVAL STGEORGE RATTERAY, b.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
Monday, 9 November 2009
A question of tones
“I stopped for you because you’re white,” the taxi driver tells me after the tires screech in Reina Street around midnight. From his wide mulatto lips come the justifications, one after another, for why he doesn’t accept clients “of color” at this late hour. He looks for complicity in me, who was born in a majority black neighborhood and who loves skin the color of cinnamon. I barely listen to him. Those who discriminate against people like themselves especially bother me: the hotel doorman who berates the Cuban but lets a shouting gesturing tourist pass; the prostitute who will go, for ten convertible pesos, with a Canadian twice her age but doesn’t want to seem “defeated” by accepting a fellow Cuban; the Santiaguan who, once installed in Havana, mocks the accents of people from his own city.
Often I wake up and wish I was mixed, like Reinaldo and Teo, because when you look at my straight nose and my pale skin you think I have it easy. But it’s not true. There are many ways of being separate, because along with racism here we have discrimination based on social origin, the stigma of ideological affiliation, and the exclusion for not belonging to a family clan with power, influence or relationships. Not to mention the underestimation one receives in a macho society for having a pair of ovaries hidden in the middle of your belly. And so I am bothered by the dissertation of the driver who stopped the car because of the pallor of my skin. I want to get out, but it’s late, very late.
“What do you do?” he asks me under the streetlights of Belascoain Street. I’m a blogger, I warn him, and the lights of Carlos III Avenue show me his suspicious and fearful face. “Look, don’t go and tell what I just said,” he says, changing the indulgent tone he used when picking me up amid the gloom. “I don’t want you to publish later some nonsense about me on the Internet,” he clarifies, while grabbing his crotch in a gesture of power. My straight hair is no longer a reason to trust me, now my eyes don’t seem so almond-shaped, and when I explain—through my narrow lips—the subjects I deal with in my blog, it’s as if I am threatening him, razor in hand, a dangerous criminal. I confirm, then, that his spectrum of classification stigmatizes not only some shades of color, but also certain leanings of opinion, those tones which are not carried on the epidermis but that also lead, on this Island, to displays of segregation and rejection.
Often I wake up and wish I was mixed, like Reinaldo and Teo, because when you look at my straight nose and my pale skin you think I have it easy. But it’s not true. There are many ways of being separate, because along with racism here we have discrimination based on social origin, the stigma of ideological affiliation, and the exclusion for not belonging to a family clan with power, influence or relationships. Not to mention the underestimation one receives in a macho society for having a pair of ovaries hidden in the middle of your belly. And so I am bothered by the dissertation of the driver who stopped the car because of the pallor of my skin. I want to get out, but it’s late, very late.
“What do you do?” he asks me under the streetlights of Belascoain Street. I’m a blogger, I warn him, and the lights of Carlos III Avenue show me his suspicious and fearful face. “Look, don’t go and tell what I just said,” he says, changing the indulgent tone he used when picking me up amid the gloom. “I don’t want you to publish later some nonsense about me on the Internet,” he clarifies, while grabbing his crotch in a gesture of power. My straight hair is no longer a reason to trust me, now my eyes don’t seem so almond-shaped, and when I explain—through my narrow lips—the subjects I deal with in my blog, it’s as if I am threatening him, razor in hand, a dangerous criminal. I confirm, then, that his spectrum of classification stigmatizes not only some shades of color, but also certain leanings of opinion, those tones which are not carried on the epidermis but that also lead, on this Island, to displays of segregation and rejection.
By: Generation Y (Noviembre 4th, 2009)
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