A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!
A Publishers Weekly bestseller
A #1 Indie Bestseller!
A Notable Verse Novel, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
An Amazon Best Book
Parents Magazine Best Book
A Blue Ribbon List selection
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award Master List
Evanston Public Library Blueberry Fiction Honor Title
Winner, Great Stone Face Award, Children's Librarians of New Hampshire
Winner, Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Maryland Association of School Librarians
Winner, Vermont Golden Dome Book Award
Winner, Golden Sower Award


"Applegate’s Odder will win your heart." —The New York Times

"Applegate uses strands of nonfiction detail to anchor and give stability to Odder’s fictional story, much as sea otters use lengths of kelp to hold themselves in place while they sleep. Charles Santoso’s endearing black-and-white illustrations, meanwhile, add to the buoyancy of this accessible and informative story." —The Wall Street Journal

"Writing in exquisitely descriptive free verse, Applegate delivers an uplifting tale of an inquisitive sea otter pup raised by scientists after being separated from her mother. ...Though humans make cameo appearances...the focus remains rightfully on its enigmatic star: a lovable otter who not only survives against the odds but thrives." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"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

"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." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (BCCB), starred review

"The free verse effortlessly weaves in scientific information, giving Odder a voice without overly anthropomorphizing any of the animals." —Kirkus Reviews

"This book will appeal to animal lovers and anyone who feels a little stifled by convention. Hand this to middle grade fans of marine biology, authors like Sharon Creech and Eliot Schrefer, and Applegate’s Newbery-winning The One and Only Ivan." —School Library Journal

"Applegate's text is absorbing, her spotlight on the animals' nature and emotions powerful....Charles Santoso sensitively details his realistic, curvilinear black-and-white illustrations. Santoso's superb spot art and the extensive author's note add much to this stellar presentation." —Shelf Awareness, starred review


"[V]ery accessible and appealing to young animal lovers." —The Horn Book Magazine