Odder: The Novel

Katherine Applegate, a Newbery Medalist, delivers a touching and lyrical novel in free verse about Odder, a remarkably playful and curious sea otter. After a terrifying encounter with a great white shark leaves her injured, Odder must navigate a new world of rehabilitation and human care. The story is inspired by the true work of the Monterey Bay Aquarium, which pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, offering a unique blend of realistic animal behavior and a deeply emotional narrative. It explores themes of bravery, healing, finding belonging, and the interconnectedness of nature and humanity. Ideal for middle grade readers aged 10-14, this book offers a gentle yet profound exploration of trauma and resilience.

Meet Odder, the Queen of Play: Nobody has her moves. 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. Order spends her days off the coast of California, practicing her underwater acrobatics and spending time with a good friend. She's a fearless daredevil, curious to a fault. But when Odder comes face-to-face with a hungry great white shark, her life takes a dramatic turn, one that will challenge everything she believes about herself-and about the humans who hope to save her. Inspired by the true story of a Monterey Bay Aquarium program that pairs orphaned otter pups with surrogate mothers, this poignant and humorous tale told in free verse examines bravery and healing through the eyes of one of nature's most beloved and charming animals. A poem-like formatted novel.