Scan barcode
A review by lawbooks600
Odder: The New York Times Bestseller by Katherine Applegate
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Representation: N/A
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this for a while and for some time I couldn't find this at either one of the two libraries I regularly go to until a few days ago when I finally picked it up and read it. I haven't read a book revolving around animals in so long, and it's all in poetry to boot since the last book similar to this was called The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon, I enjoyed that but I read that months ago, still I can see the parallels between those two books. It starts with the main character Odder (I don't think otters have last names) and the book describes what is happening in her life so far, I give credit to the 3rd omniscient POV, I don't see that many verse novels use that narration style so that's unique I suppose. Everything looks fine until when Odder was what I would call hanging out with her friend Kairi or Twyla (It's not that clear in terms of what name I should use since some otters have two names for whatever reason?) A devastating event happened which left Odder in the hands of humans for a second time but there's a flashback to a few years ago when after losing her mother some humans found Odder and took her to a facility which takes up the middle pages of the novel. The descriptions are so fascinating and it made me think in an animal's shoes. Or feet. Or something. Towards the end of the book it cuts to present day and I promise you, there is a high note at the end.
Score: Seven points out of ten.
I wanted to read this for a while and for some time I couldn't find this at either one of the two libraries I regularly go to until a few days ago when I finally picked it up and read it. I haven't read a book revolving around animals in so long, and it's all in poetry to boot since the last book similar to this was called The Way of Dog by Zana Fraillon, I enjoyed that but I read that months ago, still I can see the parallels between those two books. It starts with the main character Odder (I don't think otters have last names) and the book describes what is happening in her life so far, I give credit to the 3rd omniscient POV, I don't see that many verse novels use that narration style so that's unique I suppose. Everything looks fine until when Odder was what I would call hanging out with her friend Kairi or Twyla (It's not that clear in terms of what name I should use since some otters have two names for whatever reason?) A devastating event happened which left Odder in the hands of humans for a second time but there's a flashback to a few years ago when after losing her mother some humans found Odder and took her to a facility which takes up the middle pages of the novel. The descriptions are so fascinating and it made me think in an animal's shoes. Or feet. Or something. Towards the end of the book it cuts to present day and I promise you, there is a high note at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Full trigger warnings: Animal attack, animal child birth and death, blood depiction, physical injury