Odder

Fiction | Novel/Book in Verse | Middle Grade | Published in 2022

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Character Analysis

Odder

The novel’s protagonist, Odder was orphaned as a pup but was rescued by the aquarists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (“Highwater”), where they reared her before reintegrating her in Elkhorn Slough. After a shark attack leaves her with near-fatal injuries, the aquarists again take Odder to Highwater to live out her life as a permanent resident there, an event that alters her perspective and catalyzes her major transformation in the novel. Odder must resolve persistent feelings of guilt, regret, and doubt, as well as past feelings of abandonment, before she can accept her new life and move forward. Her arc in the novel reinforces the theme of Bravery and Healing After Trauma.

Odder’s most significant character traits are curiosity and playfulness. They set her apart from other characters; thanks to her acrobatic moves, she’s known as “the queen of play” (23). In introducing Odder, the novel emphasizes her curiosity: “Her mother called her ‘Odder’ / from the moment / she was born. / Something about the way / the little pup never settled, / something about the way / her eyes were always / full of questions” (13). However, after the shark attack, Odder grapples with guilt and regret at the loss of her freedom and retreats into listlessness: “She’s slowly healing, but she simply / can’t move the way she used to. / Her playful, mischievous self / has vanished. The shark attack / shadows her the way a stubborn cloud / can steal the sun” (199). The loss of this defining characteristic signals the emotional crisis into which Odder descends, marking the conflict that she must overcome to reach the resolution of her character development.

This conflict drives the events of Part 3 and most of Odder’s development. After she experiences doubts about herself and questions about her identity, Odder begins to accept her place at Highwater as “Jazz.” The name symbolizes the loss of her former life and of her playfulness: “Maybe, / [Odder] says, / that’s because I’m not really / Odder anymore. I’m Jazz” (229). Her doubts follow her into surrogate motherhood: Feeling guilty about what happened to Kairi, Odder initially rejects Otter #209 as her surrogate pup, feeling that she can’t care for her. The climactic moment for Odder is her eventual acceptance of the young pup; Odder’s acceptance of a new role as surrogate mother signifies her ability to move on from trauma. This indicates that Odder has resolved her internal conflicts and healed. Her determination that Otter #209 shouldn’t be afraid of the water because “water means play, / and play is their purpose” reconnects Odder with her defining character trait to demonstrate resolution of her internal conflicts (252). Odder ends the novel hopeful and optimistic, having reconnected with her playful nature, as she passes on to the young pup the knowledge that “water, / beautiful water, / will always mean / play” (260).

Kairi

Odder’s closest friend and fellow sea otter from Elkhorn Slough, Kairi contrasts with Odder in that she’s cautious and fearful. Whereas Odder wants to explore and take risks, Kairi is reluctant and opts for safety. From the moment the novel introduces Kairi, it characterizes her as Odder’s foil: She’s “always practical, / a cautious sort” (15), which Odder finds “annoying, / but when you’re / a free spirit like Odder, / teaming with a wise / and solid anchor / is never a bad idea” (15). Kairi’s introduction establishes her as a necessary complement to Odder, reinforcing her role as a foil. Doing so allows the author to highlight Odder’s singularity in comparison as a uniquely curious and adventurous character. Although Kairi is mostly a static figure, she plays an important role in Odder’s development. Throughout the novel, she serves as a contrast to Odder at key moments, highlighting Odder’s unique traits and pushing her toward acceptance and resolution of internal conflicts.

Kairi’s arc in the novel is similar to Odder’s. Like the titular character, Kairi is wounded in the shark attack and eventually taken to Highwater. There, she delivers a stillborn pup and ultimately enters the surrogacy program. The author uses the loss of Kairi’s pup to evoke a similar loss that Odder faced when she was separated from her mother as a pup; in this way, Kairi acts as a catalyst for Odder to confront her own feelings about abandonment and motherhood. Kairi plays an essential role as the narrative approaches its conclusion by reminding Odder of her identity when she’s beset with doubts: “You know how to play, / says Kairi.” (247). This reminder motivates Odder to finally accept her role as surrogate mother, when she realizes that she can teach Otter #209 the joy of play. Through the foil between Kairi and Odder, the author explores Odder’s important traits and conflicts that ultimately catalyze her climactic transformation.

The Aquarists (Humans)

Although the humans aren’t major characters, their perspective balances the animal perspective in the novel, grounding the text for readers. The author uses the humans’ point of view to clarify events and to support the theme of The Role of Human-Animal Relationships in Conservation. The emotions communicated through the poems that center on a human perspective often mirror Odder’s feelings, reinforcing the connection between humans and animals. The aquarists in the novel represent the real-life scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, who are dedicated to conservation efforts, demonstrating the important role that humans play in protecting animals and their ecosystems.

The novel portrays the aquarists in a positive light, further reinforcing that theme. Applegate emphasizes their kindness and the close bond Odder feels with them: She feels that she’s “tied by invisible threads / to her human caretakers” and knows that “[her otter-teacher] and the other humans / had saved her from death. / She [knows] in her heart that / she owe[s] them everything, / the same way she [knows] she ha[s] to / swim away now, / this very moment, / before she change[s] her mind” (176-77). Odder undergoes rearing at Highwater and even begins to think of the humans as a surrogate family. They play an important role in her life as her “otter-teachers,” providing her an example that she emulates at the novel’s end of the novel when she steps forward into a teaching/surrogate role for Otter #209. The aquarists’ interactions with Odder reinforce the value of positive relationships between humans and animals.