Odder by Katherine Applegate

Abstract

Reviewed by: Odder by Katherine Applegate Kara Forde Applegate, Katherine Odder; illus. by Charles Santoso. Feiwel & Friends, 2022 [288p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781250147424 $16.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781250147431 $9.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R* Gr. 2-4 Raised in the Monterey Bay Aquarium but now free to frolic in the bay, sea otter #156 is affectionately known by her friends as "Odder" for her bold and playful disposition. She's also a bit reckless, and when she and her friend Kairi swim too far out into the bay, both otters are attacked by a great white shark and must be rescued by the nearby aquarists––Odder for her shark bites and Kairi for suffering from the "shaking sickness" that plagues the otter population. Odder's injuries might mean a permanent stay at the aquarium, a fate she finds terribly depressing, but her role may be more important than she realizes, especially for Kairi's recovery. Applegate's third-person narrative delivers exuberant verse, with candid parentheticals, persistent alliteration, echoic expressions, and just enough satisfying rhyme within the free verse form. Changes in perspective situate young readers in the aquatic world, first through the heightened senses of the hungry shark in the opening pages, then through Odder's adult experiences in the wild, followed by a flashback to her formative days in the aquarium. Nonfiction fans will appreciate how closely this book is based on real events, with facts about sea animals and ecological conservation interwoven in the story, reinforced by a glossary, an extensive author's note, a selected bibliography, and suggested online resources (the live sea otter camera is sure to be a draw). Soft, black-and-white illustrations dot Odder's story, enhancing readers' emotional connections to a captivating tale about life's existential balance between survival and play. Copyright © 2022 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois