I didn't think I could love a book that is about one otter and her adventures, but of course because this is the talented hands of Katherine Applegate, I found that I absolutely could love a book about a sea otter. This book is heart warming, charming, devastating, and uplifting all at once. I know that my middle school students will love this as much as they love all of Applegate's other books. The fact that this is written in verse will make it accessible and appealing to even more readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the e-galley.

I read Odder in one setting. This book warmed my biologist heart in a way I was not expecting. At first I was wary about the lyrical style the book was written in; however the story of Odder changed that very quick. Odder is a sea otter that is not like the rest. In her short life she has gone through a lot. Her story was wonderful to hear and I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone.
Mandy Harris
Angel Wings Bookstore
Stem, NC

Odder by Katherine Applegate is absolutely charming!! A middle grade novel in verse, this new release follows a bold, precocious otter named Odder as she navigates life in Monterey Bay, detailing the delights and dangers she encounters along the way. Applegate drew her inspiration for the events of Odder from real life otters and the humans that helped them.

This book is perfect for kids who love Applegate’s other books like The One and Only Ivan or other books about animals like A Wolf Called Wander or Pax. Because it’s a novel in verse, there aren’t paragraphs after paragraphs of text, making it feel less daunting to less accomplished readers.

As a lifelong lover of otters, this book was a quick and delightful read. I was utterly charmed by Odder and her adventures. Highly recommend to middle grade readers and lovers of middle grade books of all ages!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher (Macmillan Kids) for my advance and finished copies.

Odder is a sweet story about an otter. Odder loves to play. Unfortunately as a pup she was separated from her mom during a storm. This book helps readers learn about the impact the Monterey Bay Aquarium has on rehabilitating otters.

Odder is perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan and A Whale of the Wild.

Applegate does it again! Another animal tale, this time a novel in verse in three parts. Odder is an otter who is separated from her mom and taken to a rehabilitation center. The reader is informed about the process by which the aquarists ensure the animals do not become attached to them. Odder is out in the wild when she becomes separated from her friend and then injured. This scene is tense, but not terrifying. Odder returns to the animal rehabilitation center where she learns her new purpose.

Thanks to NetGalley, I was super excited to read an arc of this book. I heard nothing but great things about this book and adored The One and Only Ivan, among others written by Katherine Applegate so I couldn't wait to dive into this book. A book about animals that is also free verse poetry-just take my money (once it is officially released!) I loved every single second of reading this book and learned so much about otters. Immediately after finishing this book, I went straight to Monterrey Bay Aquarium's website to learn more and watch videos of these cute little critters. I did tear up a few times because the story was so touching and felt very realistic to what otters really experience. Thanks for giving a voice to these cute little animals, Katherine. I can't wait to add it to my elementary school library's collection very soon.

Odder is an otter who likes to play. One day, while she's playing with her friend, they are attacked by a shark. Odder is badly injured and ends up getting rescued by a marine sanctuary. It turns out that she has been at the sanctuary before and now she wonders if she will ever leave. The story is told in free verse, which is a wonderful way to tell a story from an otter's point of view. This will raise lots of questions about the ethical treatment of wild animals that are rescued. I think the kids are going to love this one.

Thanks to Macmillan Children's, Feiwel & Friends, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

I was so excited for a new Katherine Applegate book, but my enthusiasm was short-lived. Similar to The One and Only Ivan, Applegate didn't waste any words when writing Odder. While it was a super quick read, it didn't tug at my heartstrings the way that many of her other books have. I did learn quite a bit about otters, but there wasn't enough to make me feel a connection to the main character Odder. The storyline is actually pretty harsh as Odder experiences quite a bit of otterly trauma in her young life.

#odder #NetGalley

This book is written in free verse, with beautiful language and vocabulary, and tells the story of an Otter who lives in the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I love how it connects poetry with science!


The book I look forward to reading this book with my students! There is so much to dig into!

This book connects to a previous, non-fiction book I have used with 2nd grade about the otters at Monterrey Bay Aquarium. I'm excited to use this book with 4th grade students to practice empathy and design thinking skills.

I loved how this book incorporated figurative language, descriptive writing, and science. I can imaging many young kinds wanting to venture out and learn more about sea otters and other endangered species. I have this on my “must purchase” list when it comes out and I’ve already posted about it recommending it to a group on YouTube in the comment section. I love an author that shows their love of animals through their writing!

This is one of the best middle grade novels I have read in a long time. It educates the reader on marine live and specifically otters, while telling the story of one playful and curious otter, named Odder.

While reading, I immediately fell in love with Odder and her playful spirit. She gets herself in a bit of trouble, but throughout the book she learned and grows from her mistakes. The poems tell a wonderful story that immediately pull in the reader. I think younger people will really enjoy this story and may even see themselves a bit in Odder.

Another beautiful novel by Katherine Applegate. Told from the perspective of Odder, an otter who makes his home in Monterey Bay, the story follows her journey in the wild, through conservation efforts, back to the wild, and ultimately becoming a foster mom to other abandoned otters in the area.

Odder is a sweet young otter pup who is separated from her mother. The story, told in the present then in a flashback, then returning to the present shares moments of her life that helped her to understand her role in the animal world. In the present, after a close encounter with a shark, Odder is rescued by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Rehabilitation Center to help her grow stronger. In a flashback, we learn this is not Odder’s first stay in the rehabilitation facility. As a pup, she was separated from her mother and a kind aquarist takes her in and teaches her how to be an otter.

Applegate based her novel on the real experiences f several rescued otters in the area and she shares their stories in the afterward. A beautifully written novel in free verse. Easy to read and follow along with. Perfect for all animal fans and Applegate fans.

Odder
Author, Katherine Applegate
Pub date: 9.20.22

Thank you Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for sharing the e-arc of Katherine Applegate's latest middle grade novel! My kids and I have read all but one of Applegate's novels, and we were so excited to have the opportunity to read Odder! We have loved Ivan and Bob, Willodeen and Connor, Jackson and Crenshaw, Red the Wishtree and Bongo, and all the friends of the Endling trilogy- and now we can add Odder and Kiari to our collection of favorite characters.

Odder is such a sweet and moving tale of a fun and playful otter named Odder who lives off the coast of central California. She is curious, adventurous, and already in her short life, has quite a few stories to tell! Fearless and bold, Odder gets she and her best friend Kiari, tangled up in a dangerous predicament with a great white shark causing their lives to be forever changed. What follows is the inspiring and witty journey of Odder based on the true story of the Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers.

What is unique about Odder when compared with Applegate's previous middle grade novels is her free verse writing format. It's sharp, witty, and flows so well! It was fun to read aloud to my kids! What is consistent about Odder when compared to her previous novels is the distinct voice that she gives to each of her characters- a tree, an ape, a dog, a cat, and more, and now otters! Odder's story is wonderfully researched and filled with bravery, resilience, and hope for our middle grade readers to become conservationists, who can learn how to preserve endangered species and above all else, how to care for animals.

Katherine Applegate creates masterpieces and her latest fits neatly into that category.
Odder, named appropriately, is a sea otter quite different from the other sea otters. She has a sparkling, defiant personality who is rescued by humans. My elementary school readers will delight in the story which contains all the elements of excitement, shock, hope and despair when shark attacks do their damage.
What's especially fascinating is the format in which the book was written. It's lyrical tone and use of verse in conjunction with the story being told from Odder's perspective, will be a genuine crowd-pleaser.
The story if so relevant. The glossary at the book's conclusion explains so much information about the ocean. The Author's Note gives enormous background and my readers will be duly impressed that the fictional otters can be loosely traced to real otters. It will make the story so realistic and engaging. Loved the book!

Katherine Applegate is so wonderful, she tells the best stories! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.

4.5/5 rounded up to five.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me review this eARC of Odder.

Following up her Newbery-award winning The One and Only Ivan, Applegate gives us the story of Odder, a sea otter that is rescued by humans (not once, but twice) after being separated from her mother in a storm (rescue #1) and after she's been bitten by a shark (rescue #2).

Younger patrons will adore this book, especially those that enjoy sea animals/cute animals. It's in-verse style makes it more accessible to young readers that might be struggling or simply haven't found the right book to read. On a personal note, I sobbed after Odder was bitten by the shark, thinking that she wasn't going to make it. Fortunately, she does (though she is unable to go back to the wild) and she finds a new role as an adoptive mother. This story is based on true events and has a solid bibliography for both adults and children.

Definitely a first purchase for libraries!

Odder is different from her other otter friends. She’s at times too curious, too fearless, and too playful. One day, when she is out searching for food with her friend, a great white shark changes the course of her life. The shark attacks, and the attack changes the way she views the world, the creatures in it, and her very own sense of self.

Inspired by true events of the Monterey Bay Aquarium program, Odder is a touching tale about the fragility of nature and humans’ role as both destructor and conservator. This novel-in-verse incorporates just the right balance of facts, history, and literary elements to intrigue readers that love nature-based fiction. It will spark curiosity and endear a new generation to one of the most lovable creatures in the wild. Odder is yet another triumph in author Katherine Applegate’s long list of successes.

Odder serves as a great springboard for teachers to explore ecosystems, keystone species, sea otters, and conservation efforts. The engaging narrative will easily intrigue students and generate curiosity for further exploration, making the novel another solid selection for a cross-curricular study. Although the literary depth is not as robust as other Applegate narratives, the novel’s length allows more space for Science applications. Many Applegate novels focus on animals, and Odder offers yet another opportunity for robust literature circles anchored on the similar nonfiction topics. It will also be well-loved in the hands of students that love nature or marine life, providing another option for students when choosing texts that align with their interests.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Feiwel & Friends, for an eARC of this book.

Kathrine Applegate can do no wrong. Everything her golden pen touches turns to an instant heartwarming classic full of lovable characters, and aching tenderness that swallows you whole in the intricate mythology she creates with truth at the heart. Odder is special, spectacular even. Having been to Monterey Bay Aquarium, I can honestly say it is as she describes it, full of people who love animals and nurture them with only the best intentions. Their otter fostering program is the core of this story and is shines their her free verse. Odder is encouragingly and lovable, brave, fearless even, and full selflessness to others. Through her eyes you experience the wonders of the ocean, the dangers, and also the very Human emotions of loss and recovery from an injury that threatens not just the body’s capabilities, but to smother the spark of soul within, and watching her triumphant and learn to live and open herself up to others is a beautiful thing. Full stars for another amazing Katherine Applegate adventure.

Katherine Applegate does it again! She tells a great story from the otter's perspective. You won't be disappointed in this sweet tale of Odder and how she fits into the aquarium and nature.