In Karana’s culture, the titular blue dolphins are considered “animals of good omen” (63). Things look dire for Karana when her canoe springs a leak and there is no land in sight. The appearance of a pod of dolphins transforms the bleak mood into one of hope. Seeing her aquatic friends eases Karana’s loneliness. Even after the dolphins swim away, remembering this stroke of luck gives her the strength to continue “paddling when [she] wanted to lie down and sleep” (64). Later in the novel, O’Dell uses the dolphins to lull the reader into a false sense of security before suddenly escalating the suspense. On a calm day, Karana observes dolphins “leaping beyond the kelp beds” (113). A mere two paragraphs later, Rontu spots the giant devilfish. A fierce battle ensues, and the devilfish injures Karana and nearly drowns Rontu before they finish their quarry off. The sudden struggle comes as a surprise, especially because the dolphins’ appearance typically heralds glad tidings. In this case, both Karana and Rontu survive the battle with the devilfish, so the dolphins uphold their role as symbols of good luck.

Because the island is named after the blue dolphins, the creatures also represent Karana’s home.