Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 08/01/2022 *Starred Review* Odder the otter has always been just a little bit, well, odd. The aquatic daredevil is driven by an urge to dive deeper, play harder, and explore further, gifted with the ability to turn “frolic into art.” Odder can’t resist her instinct to explore the wide world and investigate its mysterious inhabitants, despite motherly advice to avoid anything unfamiliar. Unfortunately, there is another inquisitive (and hungry) animal in the bay, and a shark attack leaves Odder’s life ebbing away after she washes up on shore. Not to worry: Odder finds herself in the care of a nearby aquarium, and as she convalesces, she hazily recalls her stay there as a wayward pup, before being returned to the wild. But what will become of the injured otter if she can’t roam free? 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. The unconventional form perfectly suits a story 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, some of them simple studies of sea creatures, punctuate the verses; it’s almost impossible to resist the depictions of fluffy otter pups. A stunning study of a remarkable and resilient sea creature. - Copyright 2022 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 10/01/2022 Gr 3–7—From the details of the real-life otter rescue program at Monterey Bay Aquarium, Applegate imagines a backstory for the sea otter #156, named Odder. Odder is a bit of a misfit, feeling an inexorable need to push the boundaries of her local habitat. Interacting with humans and exploring amid dangerous predators, her adventurous spirit eventually gets her in trouble. The dark yet humorous tone of the free verse paints a very human set of motivations for risk-taking and living life on one's own terms. Odder's origin story comes to life through her eyes as she convalesces following a shark attack that risked her friend's life and made Odder feel responsible, even while revealing her courage and loyalty by coming to the rescue. Santoso's grayscale illustrations complement the factual underpinnings of the narrative, encompassing the wild ocean world where predators rule and others struggle for survival. This book will appeal to animal lovers and anyone who feels a little stifled by convention. VERDICT Hand this book to middle grade fans of marine biology, authors like Sharon Creech and Eliot Schrefer, and Applegate's Newbery-winning The One and Only Ivan.—Tara Kron - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.