Which author won the Newbery Medal in 1961 for 'Island of the Blue Dolphins'?

Scott O'Dell won the Newbery Medal in 1961 for “Island of the Blue Dolphins.”

Published in 1960, the novel follows Karana, a girl stranded alone on an island off the California coast. O'Dell based the story loosely on Juana Maria, a Nicoleño woman who reportedly lived alone for 18 years on San Nicolas Island in the nineteenth century.

The book began as a project inspired by O'Dell's concern about animal cruelty and respect for living things. An early publisher reportedly wanted a male protagonist, but O'Dell kept Karana at the center of the story. The novel was ultimately published as children's fiction and became his best-known work.

A common mix-up is confusing the award year with the publication year: the book appeared in 1960, while the 1961 Newbery Medal honored it. O'Dell later wrote a sequel, “Zia,” published in 1976.