What types of books does Scott O'Dell write?

In short, Scott O'Dell writes books that are realistic fiction. According to interviews with the author, the majority of his inspiration comes from one of two places: his memories or his interests, primarily in historical topics. O'Dell was born just before the turn of the century in 1898 so his early experiences were those of the late pioneer-frontier days in California. His memories from childhood and teenage years include days spent near the shore and in particular an area of small islands. It was these memories that he used when writing the story "Island of the Blue Dolphins" which was based on a true story of a young girl but in which he put a great deal of detail about island life based on his memories. O'Dell enjoys research and so many of his books are based on topics he enjoys researching. Some of these include historical fiction based on time periods such as the American Revolution, Ancient Mayans and Spanish Explorers.