Zia

It has been many years since Zia's aunt Karana was left to fend for herself on the Island of the Blue Dolphins. Zia has little memory of Karana, but she remembers the stories her mother told her of her aunt's bravery and resourcefulness. It is Zia's hope to one day travel beyond the Santa Barbara Mission, find Karana's island, and bring her home.

When Zia and her brother Mando discover an abandoned longboat on the shore, Zia thinks she has finally found a way to rescue her aunt. But, as she and Mando repair the boat and plan their trip, Zia begins to have some misgivings. Could Karana be happy among people who did not speak her language? Could she follow the white man's rules when she had known only freedom and independence?

Are Zia's plans for Karana all wrong?