When life is shaky, the last thing you need is a hurricane. Or so you would think. Quinn(ie) is torn between all kinds of things, consistently aware of the ways she is failing all those around her. When a tornado ravages her house it is just one more thing. But perhaps it is also an opportunity. Thanks to Holiday House and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Ode to a Nobody, a stunning Middle-Grade novel-in-verse, Caroline Brooks DuBois explores the story of a girl named Quinn. Except her dad called her Quinnie, so she goes by Quin(nie) to disappoint neither parent and find a middle way. Because Quinn is always failing, especially in comparison with her stellar older brother. But what happens when her everyday is disrupted, violently, by a hurricane and, less violently, by an English teacher's demand for one poem a day for National Poetry Month? Can Quinn return to the everyday disappointment or do these disruptions mark a potential moment of growth? Ode to a Nobody works really well with the quagmire that is teenagehood, with the confusion that comes from being on the cusp of "no longer a child" while still needing so much support. I found myself utterly warmed by some of the beautiful verses in this book and also rather touched by the story Brooks DuBois has crafted.

Ode to a Nobody is, I think, a perfect read for the age-group it focuses on, namely the Middle Grade reader. It deals with difficult topics of family, friendship, lack of control, and changing environments, but does so in a way that is at once true, in that Brooks DuBois doesn't pull her punches, but also educative, without being overbearing. I think this is an incredibly hard balance to strike but Brooks DuBois manages it. I think this is in part due to the format she chose. The novel-in-verse form allows for incredibly creativity, emotion, and pathos in a way "straightforward" prose sometimes doesn't. Whether it is jagged rhyme schemes, odes to a hurricane, or any of the other myriad forms that appear in Ode to a Nobody, Brooks DuBois really uses poetry to its fullest extent to describe Quinn's journey. Even for a "mature" reader like myself, this novel-in-verse has something to offer. This book allowed me to reconnect with a certain part of my childhood, with the insecurity and lack of assurance, but also with the wide-eyed wonder of discovering so many things for the first time, of finding something you're good at for the first time, of truly getting to know yourself for the first time.

Ode to a Nobody is a beautiful Middle Grade Novel-in-verse that I would genuinely recommend to any Middle Grade reader but also to the adults around them. It's good to occasionally reconnect with your younger self and Brooks DuBois is a gentle but determined guide!

This is the sort of book that every middle grade reader should read. It shows the struggle of learning how to be your own person, while also not knowing how to do it. Quinn(ie) is a character I wish I had when I was 12 or 13, and I can easily see how many young readers will be able to connect with her.

The poems are also lyrical and emotional without all the heaviness of teen novels in verse have. I also loved how Quinn(ie) learned that perhaps not all friends are created equal, specifically when Jack and Jade are spray painting houses, or throwing rocks to create more damage, while Quinn(ie)’s house is almost beyond repair, and she’s not able to live with both her parents.

Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

You need to make sure that e-books arrive in a stable, readable format. I have no idea what's making Adobe and/or your e-book file so "secure" as to be totally unreadable, but it is worthless and it's a source of negative publicity. PDF files work well on this computer--try sending those.

I wish I had this book when I was thirteen.
The main character is relatable and a great poet, but also believable for her age. I felt all of her emotions alongside her and the destruction that the tornado caused. I think that tweens and teens will love this story and I think some, especially, will hold this close to their hearts.
This was heartbreaking and incredibly hopeful.

Thanks to Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC of this!

This gave me Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World vibes and I really enjoyed the poetry. The main character, Quinn(ie), has a hard time navigating growing up and all the changes happening around her, and her journey was very engaging. Because of the format it was a pretty quick/easy read, that I think would appeal to kids who are struggling with reading novels but are ready for the stories in them.

Ode to a Nothing was such a gorgeous novel in verse following eighth grader Quinn(ie) in the aftermath of a tornado that strikes her town. The text is rich in imagery and touches on many sensitive topics, including changing friend groups, growing apart and the importance of community.

I especially enjoyed following Quinn undergo so much growth over the course of the novel. She learns to find her voice through poetry and uses it as an outlet to deal with the upheaval in many aspects of her life.

This book was enjoyable, quick to read and accessible for youth and adults alike. It would be a great addition to any elementary/middle school library.

Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House and Caroline Brooks DuBois for the opportunity to review Ode to a Nobody.

Ode to a Nobody was such a great book. I loved that it was written in verse. It did start a little slow for me but quickly picked up.

The story is about Quinn(ie) and how she changes after a tornado hits her town. Quinn goes through so many things. She struggles with friendships and school. She also has to deal with her family and how it seems like her family is splitting up.

I loved how much Quinn grew throughout the story. She found new friendships and interests. The way she handled hardships was amazing and reading this story felt very realistic. It did start a little slow for me but quickly picked up.

This is a coming of age/ novel in verse book that accompanies a middle grade girl through a poetry class and then tragedy striking her community. As someone who has personal history with writing, I deeply related to Quinn(ie)s struggle and transition from a seemingly overlooked a-little-of-everything-but-nothing-much girl to a much more competent and proud version of herself. The immersive nature of the poetry lessons at the beginning of the story added a very interesting layer to it, as the narrative style evolved along with the narrator and it really had an educating nature. This is why I think this is a great read also for younger readers to dust off the image of poetry as something stiff and abstract to an organic opportunity of self-expression and communication.
The personal story of the protagonist aside from discovering writing is also something that we can all propably halfy relate to and halfy gladly only experience as a spectator. Relationships forming, changing and dissolving, accepting and initiating change, pets, teachers, neighbours, conflict within family and the question of what we really own, what we really are and what we really are are grand themes within this book as in propably many other coming of age stories, but the verse form really gave all of this a fresh new angle, allowing abstract imagery and quick pacing to turn this into an entertaining and quick read.

I absolutely adore novels in verse so was very excited to read this, especially as it's Middle Grade (and most novels in verse I've read have been YA).

Quinn was such a wonderful MC. Her voice, thoughts, feelings and perception flower beautifully. All the elements of the story - the tornado, measuring up to her brother, drifting apart from friends, her parents divorcing - tied together so well.

All in all the feeling of the characters was the core thing in the book. The relationships Quinn had with the likes of Ms Koval, Ian and Mr Jones were just touching. As were the ways in which the community pulled together after the tornado.

I also think such a core sense of emotion and connection helped create a contrast and emphasise the stress of her parents relationship and her diminishing friendship with Jack. Especially with little details like the way Jack and Jade threw rocks and damaged houses whilst earlier Quinn had been helping rebuild and the way Mr Jones' words helped Quinn realise she had to do something when Jack and Jade were throwing rocks at a road.

Overall, a gorgeous and emotive novel in verse that I'd definitely recommend.

I loved that it was simple to understand and a coming-of-age story. Although it is not my cup of tea, I'm certain that many of the readers will connect to this, especially those who are in like circumstances and belong to the same age range. It was a very short and easy read, and I'll certainly suggest it to my younger relatives who can relate to Quinn's feelings.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The experience of becoming one's own person is a universal one, and this will appeal to middle grade readers. The poetry is lyrical without being heavy-handed. This will be a good fit for middle school students.

This was a really good novel in verse. I like that it was coming-of-age, and easy to understand. I enjoyed this book very much.

This was such a great middle grade read, and a perfect introduction to reading in prose for younger readers. It was beautifully written, while maintaining a believable character profile of a middle-school aged MC. We see so much growth in Quinn over the course of the novel as she learns to deal with tragedy and upheaval in her life on multiple levels. I think watching her learn creative ways to support her community while also building on her self-confidence and sense of self was gorgeous.

Super enjoyable, quick to read, and accessible to kids and adults alike.

Wow. I loved this book.

We follow Quinn who, like most eighth graders, is in a time of transition, hers just includes a tornado on top of the normal teen transitions. I loved watching Quinn make some difficult decisions and as someone who would also love to consider myself a poet I could relate to this on a personal level.

My daughter is in seventh grade and I'm already planning on getting her to read this as soon as I buy a physical copy.

This was a bittersweet coming-of-age novel-in-verse set against the backdrop of a natural disaster. The friendship dynamics felt very real to me, as well as Quinn's thoughts and feelings surrounding them. Though the events in this books took place over a short span of time, I felt that Quinn's character was well-developed and she had space to change and grow. I think the novel-in-verse format was a good choice for this story. Middle grade readers that enjoy coming-of-age stories will likely enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House, and Caroline Brooks DuBois for the opportunity to read Ode to a Nobody in exchange for an honest review.

This is a brilliant novel told in a poetic verse structure featuring the power of words, dealing with hardship, and learning about family and friendship during the tail end of eighth grade year. I absolutely love the cover for this novel. It holds quite a significance with its meaning without being overly detailed or complicated, not to mention the gorgeousness of the simplicity.

This novel-in-verse is told from the perspective of eighth-grader Quinn. She cares about her best friend Jack, skateboarding, and her new pet hamster. All the while, she must write poems for her English class. When a tornado hits Quinn's neighborhood, she must live elsewhere for the time being, while her father works on fixing up her house. Her father and mother don't get along well, and her older brother no longer lives at home, so the family dynamic is a bit complicated.

While Quinn's family, among others, work together to help each other through the tornado's destruction, Jack and his new friend could care less, because they weren't even effected. Quinn loves her friendship with Jack, but as he becomes more and more of a bad influence, Quinn must learn to let go, if she can, but at that age, letting go of a friend for the betterment of oneself is the ultimate challenge.

Quinn does make a new friend in Ian, the grandson of the man her family is staying with, and she enjoys the way Ian sees life in a different way. Ian's grandfather also mentions how words can save lives. Quinn rethinks everything with that phrase, using her poetry to tag tornado debris, to see new perspectives, and possibly thinking about going to a school for the arts. All this because of the shifts in her life, mostly triggered by the devastation of a natural disaster.

This book is brilliantly written, and excellent read that flows with ease. It is hard to put down, and there is something to say about the various poetry forms in this book as they are tied to Quinn's English assignments. Seeing Quinn learn as she gains more experiences and continues to write poetry is a reflection of what many thirteen-year-olds go through and experience in their own right. This is an excellent novel for a middle grade or young adult audience alike, and even adults (such as myself) can find a spritely enjoyment from this somber-yet-inspiring novel. Certainly a must-read!

Quinn has been going through a lot. From an almost-broken home to a changing friendship to never feeling like she can match her brother’s reputation, she struggles to figure out where Quinn, Quinnie, Quinn(ie) fits in nearly everywhere. Then, a tornado destroys her house and neighborhood. Amidst the disaster, Quinn must rise up, and she soon begins discovering her true self. New friendships, helping others, and writing all help Quinn find the confidence and power to start down her own path.

Masterfully written, Caroline Brooks DuBois’s Ode to Nobody is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. Most novels-in-verse read like a story, but in DuBois’s hands the work has depth and layers that will motivate readers to reread poems in order to truly understand the nuances of Quinn’s story. This complexity captivates, setting it apart during a time when novels-in-verse have become overwhelmingly popular. In addition, Quinn’s many conflicts naturally arise and evolve without becoming cliché or being resolved with a neat and tidy ending. They are realistic and true-to-life. As a result, Ode to Nobody is a surprisingly powerful breath of fresh air in a saturated genre.

Ode to Nobody includes many elements that educators will find exciting to teach. Yet, Dubois’s references and nods to classic and modern poetry make it an excellent addition to a comprehensive poetry unit. While exploring the poetry of the novel and its narrative arc, teachers can incorporate the poems mentioned in the text for deeper analysis. Along with those connections, poetry writing exercises can create an even more comprehensive exploration. Ode to Nobody is a gift for educators because of its potential to be a gift for students and their learning. It will be exciting to see the creativity and poetry that emerges from its inclusion in a curriculum.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Holiday House, for an eARC of this book.

I will fully admit that this was an immediate read simply because of that cover. GORGEOUS.

Luckily, the story lives up to the image. This was an beautifully written verse novel that perfectly encapsulates what it's like as a teenager who finds oneself changing in ways that suddenly makes it hard to relate to the people around you.

Quinn is struggling. Struggling to figure out who she is, struggling to keep the peace at home, and struggling at school. Throw in a natural disaster and a best friend growing more and more distant, and Quinn is left feeling like there's no way she could ever be good at anything.

And then she finds words.

I love that the story is essentially one long English assignment (thank you, Ms. Koval!) and that you're never quite sure when a particularly poignant line will make you stop and stare off into space. Quinn's poems are honest and heartfelt and wonderfully woven into the fabric of her story.

4.5. Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a beautiful, hopeful and sometimes emotional novel in verse. Quinn really is a great character. We see her grow as her life changes drastically after a Tornado hit her neighborhood. The writing is beautiful and the topics are important too.

This is the first novel in verse I have ever read, and this is a great discovery. Like I said with Quinn, the real strength of this novel is the characters. They have great development, and the relationships between them are very interesting. Also the theme of poetry in a novel in verse? An interesting choice, and a good one.

A must read if you like poetry, touching stories and characters and just good novels.

Ode to a Nobody is a beautiful story written in verse about a young girl finding herself through the written word. Quinn(ie) is broken down, blames her parents’ split on herself, and can’t seem to click with her best friend as well as she used to. During the poetry unit at school, she finds that she can grow and thrive and use writing as a tool to navigate the hardships in life. This discovery is accompanied by a devestating tornado destroying her neighborhood. As the neighborhood rebuilds, Quinn also rebuilds into the person she wants to be.

In regards to my own feelings about this book, I loved it. It was a story of a young girl growing into herself, but it also highlighted the devestation one person and a whole community goes through in the wake of a natural disaster. I think the strongest element of this was the voice of Quinn. The growing confidence, the hesitancy, the embarrassment a 14-year-old so often feels. The struggles of trying to please everyone while also trying to do what she feels is right. It came through in the poetry so strongly it felt like I was actually reading a tennagers journal. It is an entirely unique story on its own, but it will also remind readers of many coming-of-age tales, especially those told in verse (like The Poet X or Free Verse). If you want to feel all the emotions (devastation, heartbreak, hope, happiness), then pick up this book and enjoy the ride.

For any Taylor Swift fans out there: this book is the embodiment of You’re on Your Own, Kid told through the eyes of an eighth grader finding herself.