Odell is the author of the 1964 novel Island of the Blue Dolphins, which tells the story of a 12-year-old Native American girl named Karana who is stranded on an island off the coast of California. The novel was written by Scott O'Dell and won the Newbery Medal in 1961. It has since become a classic of children's literature and has been adapted into a film and a musical. Odell was an American author of historical fiction, best known for his works about the American West. He wrote over 30 books during his lifetime, many of which were set in California.