Odder

Starred review from August 1, 2022
Writing in exquisitely descriptive free verse, Applegate (Willodeen) delivers an uplifting tale of an inquisitive sea otter pup raised by scientists after being separated from her mother. Released back to the ocean, curious Odder spends her days reveling in her ability to “twist/ and pretzel and weave.” Despite warnings to “be afraid of the world,” the otter’s adventurous nature lures her and a cautious friend, Kairi, into deeper waters, where they encounter an adolescent great white that lands Odder back with the people who raised her. Brief chapters that mimic the feel of each creature’s movements capture both the meal-focused musings of the hungry shark—a “soundless ocean ghost” stalking prey—and the playful naivete of Odder (named because of “the way/ the little pup never settled,/... the way/ her eyes were always/ full of questions”). Though humans make cameo appearances in this edifying novel about otter life, the focus remains rightfully on its enigmatic star: a lovable otter who not only survives against the odds but thrives. Occasional art by Santoso (Wombat Underground) highlights the adorable protagonists. An author’s note details the story’s roots at California’s Monterey Bay Aquarium. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties.

September 15, 2022
A Monterey Bay sea otter comes of age. Odder's mom told her to stay away from sharks, humans, and anything else she didn't understand, but after saving her friend Kairi from a shark attack, she encounters all three. Injured herself during the rescue, Odder ends up recuperating at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, or Highwater as the otters call it, where she once lived as a young orphaned pup. Last time, the humans helped her reintegrate into the wild, but because of her injuries this time the outcome might be different. Soon Kairi is there too, stricken with "the shaking sickness" and having lost her newborn pup. Now Kairi is fostering a new pup, and soon one is introduced to an initially reluctant Odder in hopes that she will help raise it so it can return to the wild. The free verse effortlessly weaves in scientific information, giving Odder a voice without overly anthropomorphizing any of the animals. The natural appeal of sea otters will draw readers in, but the book doesn't shy away from real-world threats such as predators, disease, and pollution. Loosely based on the stories of real sea otters rehabilitated at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, this novel will give readers lots to talk about, but uneven pacing and a rushed ending may leave some unsatisfied. Charming black-and-white spot art captures the world and life of the sea. Rich, naturalistic details will delight lovers of marine life. (glossary, author's note, bibliography, resources) (Verse novel. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2022) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 1, 2022

Gr 3-7-From the details of the real-life otter rescue program at Monterey Bay Aquarium, Applegate imagines a backstory for the sea otter #156, named Odder. Odder is a bit of a misfit, feeling an inexorable need to push the boundaries of her local habitat. Interacting with humans and exploring amid dangerous predators, her adventurous spirit eventually gets her in trouble. The dark yet humorous tone of the free verse paints a very human set of motivations for risk-taking and living life on one's own terms. Odder's origin story comes to life through her eyes as she convalesces following a shark attack that risked her friend's life and made Odder feel responsible, even while revealing her courage and loyalty by coming to the rescue. Santoso's grayscale illustrations complement the factual underpinnings of the narrative, encompassing the wild ocean world where predators rule and others struggle for survival. This book will appeal to animal lovers and anyone who feels a little stifled by convention. VERDICT Hand this book to middle grade fans of marine biology, authors like Sharon Creech and Eliot Schrefer, and Applegate's Newbery-winning The One and Only Ivan.-Tara Kron

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2022
Applegate and Santoso (Willodeen, rev. 9/21) pair for another creature story, this one a verse novel about an otter named Odder who lives off the coast of California near Monterey Bay. The tale is divided into three sections, beginning with "The Queen of Play," a reference to Odder's daredevil nature. But the opening poems are about sharks, foreshadowing what is about to happen. On this day Odder can't resist going a little too far, despite her more cautious friend Kairi's warnings, and is attacked by a great white shark; she manages to make her way to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The second section flashes back to three years earlier, when as a baby Odder became separated from her mother and was rescued and painstakingly taught survival skills by the aquarium's aquarists. The final section returns to the present, as Odder, too injured to be returned to the wild, becomes a surrogate parent to another otter pup that has lost its mother. Applegate grounds the story in scientific fact, slipping in interesting details in a lyrical way, as when she talks about keystone species, "nature's glue, / holding habitats together." "Without otters, / sea urchins, purple as a bruise, / gobble kelp forests / until the ocean floor / becomes a barren wasteland." Santoso's tender black-and-white drawings, together with the large type, will make this novel very accessible and appealing to young animal lovers. Back matter includes a glossary; an author's note about Monterey Bay Aquarium and the real-life stories on which Odder's is based; and a selected bibliography. Susan Dove Lempke

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from August 1, 2022
Grades 4-6 *Starred Review* Odder the otter has always been just a little bit, well, odd. The aquatic daredevil is driven by an urge to dive deeper, play harder, and explore further, gifted with the ability to turn "frolic into art." Odder can't resist her instinct to explore the wide world and investigate its mysterious inhabitants, despite motherly advice to avoid anything unfamiliar. Unfortunately, there is another inquisitive (and hungry) animal in the bay, and a shark attack leaves Odder's life ebbing away after she washes up on shore. Not to worry: Odder finds herself in the care of a nearby aquarium, and as she convalesces, she hazily recalls her stay there as a wayward pup, before being returned to the wild. But what will become of the injured otter if she can't roam free? Based on the Monterey Bay Aquarium and its otter rescue and fostering program, this gorgeous story is told in flowing free verse that slips by as silkily as an otter in water. The unconventional form perfectly suits a story told almost entirely from Odder's perspective, imparting dreamy observations of the natural and human worlds from an animal's point of view. Handsome black-and-white illustrations, some of them simple studies of sea creatures, punctuate the verses; it's almost impossible to resist the depictions of fluffy otter pups. A stunning study of a remarkable and resilient sea creature.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

July 1, 2022
Applegate and Santoso (Willodeen, rev. 9/21) pair for another creature story, this one a verse novel about an otter named Odder who lives off the coast of California near Monterey Bay. The tale is divided into three sections, beginning with "The Queen of Play," a reference to Odder's daredevil nature. But the opening poems are about sharks, foreshadowing what is about to happen. On this day Odder can't resist going a little too far, despite her more cautious friend Kairi's warnings, and is attacked by a great white shark; she manages to make her way to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The second section flashes back to three years earlier, when as a baby Odder became separated from her mother and was rescued and painstakingly taught survival skills by the aquarium's aquarists. The final section returns to the present, as Odder, too injured to be returned to the wild, becomes a surrogate parent to another otter pup that has lost its mother. Applegate grounds the story in scientific fact, slipping in interesting details in a lyrical way, as when she talks about keystone species, "nature's glue, / holding habitats together." "Without otters, / sea urchins, purple as a bruise, / gobble kelp forests / until the ocean floor / becomes a barren wasteland." Santoso's tender black-and-white drawings, together with the large type, will make this novel very accessible and appealing to young animal lovers. Back matter includes a glossary; an author's note about Monterey Bay Aquarium and the real-life stories on which Odder's is based; and a selected bibliography.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)