Book Review of Odder by Katherine Applegate

 

1.      Bibliography

Applegate, K. 2022. Odder. (Santoso, C.) Feiwel and Friends. ISBN: 9781250147424

2.      Plot Summary

Odder the otter is playful and not exactly like the other otters in the ocean.  She loses her mom at a young age and grows up knowing the “animals” who rescued her.  She is scared at first but eventually she grows to know these people and know they are trying to help her.  Once she is finally free in the wild, she makes a mistake and ventures too far, putting herself and a friend in danger.  This leads to consequences that Odder must come to terms with, but ultimately, she ends up in a good place, surrounded by friends.

3.      Critical Analysis

Applegate leaves you wanting to know more with each page, you want to know what happens to this cute otter named Odder.  The book uses comparative language that is playful just like Odder, “their river cousins switch between land and water like kids at the beach.”  There is also use of imagery in the book that gives you a good feel about Odder’s personality, “She doesn’t just swim to the bottom, she dive-bombs.  She doesn’t just somersault, she triple-doughnuts.  She doesn’t just ride the waves, she makes them.”  You can feel the emotions as Odder talks about fighting to get back to her mom in the ocean.  You can sense her being frightened about being somewhere new and different.  You also get the emotions of the people taking care of Odder and their concerns about raising an otter pup and how they should teach her to survive in the wild on her own.  On one page the main character is talking about how otters can stay underwater for a long time.  The next words are buried at the bottom of the page to mimic the suspense of an otter being underwater for so long.  Another page talks about the daily life of an otter, the words are repeated down the page in a diagonal pattern.  In the back of the book, you have a glossary and an Author’s note.  Santoso makes the illustrations come to life with the eyes starring up at you on the page and the moments of happiness when the otter has her paws in the air.  Children will love this tale of Odder and want to share it over and over again.

4.      Review Excerpt(s)

"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. ... 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...punctuate the verses... A stunning study of a remarkable and resilient sea creature." ―Booklist, starred review

 

2024-2025 Texas Bluebonnet

5.      Connections

*Other books featuring animals and humans:

Shermy and Shake, the Not-So-Nice Neighbor by Kirby Larson

Something Like Home by Andrea Beatriz Arango

Good Dogs on a Bad Day by Rachel Wenitsky

*This book shows how animals see humans, and the different ways that can understand us.  I would challenge the students to write a poem from an animals perspective on how they might see humans in a different way.