From the Bookshelf of Mock Newbery 2026…

Odder

Katherine Applegate,

Charles Santoso (Illustrator)

Start date: December 1, 2022

Finish date: December 31, 2022

Discussion: Newbery 2023

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Showing 2 of 19 topics — 363 comments total

Newbery 2023

* 2023 Mock Newbery Winner
By Kristen · 1 post · 136 views

last updated Jan 30, 2023 06:00AM

* 2023 ALA Newbery Award
By Kristen · 31 posts · 204 views

last updated Apr 25, 2023 05:15PM

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What Members Thought

Dec 29, 2022 DaNae rated it it was ok

Shelves: sentient-animals-non-human, z150-in-22, z-22-new

Well meant but kind of boring.

11 likes · Like · see review

Jan 05, 2023 Jan rated it it was amazing

I love everything about the ocean- walking along the beach looking for shells, smelling the salty air, feeling the spray of the ocean waves as they roll in, listening to the call of the gulls, but best of all, and depending on what beach I'm at, my favorite part is watching what's out there above and below the water, the whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and sea otters as they migrate, play or hunt for food. I could sit on the beach watching them for hours, and at times I have. There's just somethi I love everything about the ocean- walking along the beach looking for shells, smelling the salty air, feeling the spray of the ocean waves as they roll in, listening to the call of the gulls, but best of all, and depending on what beach I'm at, my favorite part is watching what's out there above and below the water, the whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and sea otters as they migrate, play or hunt for food. I could sit on the beach watching them for hours, and at times I have. There's just something about being there and taking in all the wonder and beauty of it all that makes it such a place of calm and tranquility for me. Yep, definitely my happy place. So, if I had to pick the one ocean animal that I love watching the most, it's hands down the sea otter, one of the most endearing animals ever. I mean, really, is there anything cuter than a mother otter laying on her back in the water, holding her baby on her chest? Or watching young otter pups frolicking together? Of course not. At least not to me. So, it comes as no surprise that I fell completely in love with Odder and her story.

I didn't know much about the Monterey Aquarium before reading this story, other than the fact that there was a Monterey Bay Aquarium, nor did I know anything about their rescue and rehabilitation program for otters. It's amazing what they do there, how, just like what happened with Odder, they rescue lost or orphaned pups and pair them with surrogate mothers who are living there permanently. These surrogate moms help them adapt and learn what they need to be able to be released back to the ocean. I loved learning about the real surrogate mothers at the aquarium and the otters they fostered. Their real stories became the basis for the fictional story of Odder and the others. This program has been so successful in saving stranded and orphaned baby otters their work is being studied and replicated all over the world. How awesome is that!

Something tells me I will definitely be making a trip down to California again very soon to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium. I just live next door in Oregon and know I can sure make that happen. ...more

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Nov 13, 2023 Krystal rated it it was amazing

Beautiful novel in verse that is full of depth, emotion and charm. The cover will get you to pick it up, and you won’t be disappointed by what is inside.

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Feb 23, 2023 Marie rated it it was ok

Not really my thing.

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Feb 23, 2023 Amy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2023-heavy-medal-mock-newbery

Cute book in free verse with illustrations. About an otter near the Monterey Bay Aquarium and loosely based on several real otters and their stories. It’s about how the aquarium learned to help rescued baby otters be adopted and taught by other otters.

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