![]() Cover for the first edition hardback | |
Author | James Kennedy |
---|---|
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre | Children's fiction, fantasy |
Publisher | Delacorte Books for Young Readers |
Publication date | August 12, 2008 |
Pages | 416 pages |
ISBN | 0-385-73543-X |
The Order of Odd-Fish is a 2008 debut children's novel by James Kennedy. [1] The book was first published on August 12, 2008 through Delacorte Books for Young Readers, [2] and focused upon a young girl discovering her true identity. [3] The Order of Odd-Fish was named a Smithsonian Notable Books for Children for 2008, [4] and in 2013 the character of Ken Kiang was named by Daniel Kraus as one of the "most evil characters in literature". [5]
Thirteen-year-old Jo Larouche has spent her entire life with her Aunt Lily in the deserts of California. Left with Lily as a baby, the only real clues she has about her origins are a note with the name "Jo" and a warning that she was a dangerous baby. After the events of a Christmas party prompt Lily and Jo to leave California for the surreal and outlandish Eldritch City, Jo finally begins to learn some of the truth behind her mysterious past. The two join a group known as the Order of Odd-Fish that researches information others would see as useless. But, even as they spend their days going on unconventional quests and dealing with the eccentric Odd-Fish knights, threats from a dangerous and enigmatic source will prompt Jo to claim her true destiny.
While The Order of Odd-Fish was released in 2008, Kennedy began promoting the book more heavily in 2009 after reading that a fan had created a hat based upon his book. [6] Kennedy then released a series of satirical blogs and videos, most notably one where he "whimsically insulted Neil Gaiman". [6] The post was well received by Gaiman, who in turn promoted the blog. [7] In 2010 Kennedy held an art show at a Chicago gallery, where he showcased fanart based on the book. [8]
Critical reception for The Order of Odd-Fish was mixed while reader reaction was generally more positive. [9] [10] [11] Reviewers for Kirkus Reviews and the School Library Journal both gave predominantly negative reviews for the book, with the School Library Journal stating that they doubted that many "teen fantasy fans will be willing to wade through the text, no matter how likable the heroine and how fascinating the world of Eldritch City". [12] Booklist gave a more mixed review, saying that the book was good in "small doses" although "some might find it difficult to sustain interest in such determined high jinks". [13]
Martha Elizabeth "Libba" Bray is an American writer of young adult novels including the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Going Bovine, and The Diviners.
Kirby Heyborne is an American actor, musician, singer, songwriter, narrator and comedian. He is known for his work in films centered around the culture of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heyborne has also worked extensively as an audiobook narrator, narrating more than 300 books. He has won two Odyssey Awards and an Audie Award for Middle Grade Title. In 2015, Booklist named him a Voice of Choice narrator.
Jennifer Donnelly is an American writer best known for the young adult historical novel A Northern Light.
Iain Lawrence is a Canadian author for children and young adults. In 2007 he won a Governor General's Literary Award in Children's Literature for Gemini Summer, and in 2011, he was presented with the Vicky Metcalf Award for Literature for Young People.
The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), established in 1957, is a division of the American Library Association. YALSA is a national association of librarians, library workers and advocates whose mission is to expand the capacity of libraries to better serve teens. YALSA administers several awards and sponsors an annual Young Adult Literature Symposium, Teen Read Week, the third week of each October, and Teen Tech Week, the second week of each March. YALSA currently has over 5,200 members. YALSA aims to expand and strengthen library services for teens through advocacy, research, professional development and events.
Padma Tiruponithura Venkatraman, also known as T. V. Padma, is an Indian-American author and scientist.
Odd and the Frost Giants (2008) is a World Book Day book by Neil Gaiman. It draws on Norse mythology and also the historical Vikings.
The Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production is an annual award conferred by the American Library Association upon the publisher of "the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States". It is jointly administered by two ALA divisions and sponsored by Booklist magazine. It recognizes production quality in all respects, considering such things as narration, sound quality, background music and sound effects. It is named for Homer's eighth century BCE epic poem Odyssey, which was transmitted orally, to remind us modern people of the ancient roots of storytelling.
Margaret Stiefvater is an American writer of young adult fiction. She is best known for her fantasy series The Wolves of Mercy Falls and The Raven Cycle.
Adele Griffin is the author of over thirty highly acclaimed books across a variety of genres, including Sons of Liberty and Where I Want to Be, both National Book Award finalists. Her debut adult novel The Favor explores themes of friendship, surrogacy, and nontraditional family building.
Stephanie Kuehn is an American author of young adult fiction, best known for her William C. Morris Award-winning debut novel Charm & Strange, Delicate Monsters, and Complicit. Her novels often explore themes of mental illness and psychology.
Martine Leavitt is a Canadian American writer of young adult novels and a creative writing instructor.
Lush is a young adult fiction novel by Natasha Friend published in 2006 by Milkweed Editions. It focuses on Samantha Gwynn, a thirteen-year-old girl whose father is an alcoholic, which "lush" is another name for. It was listed on the Young Adult Library Services Association's (YALSA) 2007 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers released by the American Library Association (ALA). It was also named a 2008 Rhode Island Teen Book Award nominee.
Amy Sarig King is an American writer of short fiction and young adult fiction. She is the recipient of the 2022 Margaret Edwards Award for her "significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature."
Candace Groth Fleming is an American writer of children's books, both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of more than twenty books for children and young adults, including the Los Angeles Times Book Prize-honored The Family Romanov and the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award-winning biography, The Lincolns, among others.
Elizabeth Partridge is an American writer, the author of more than a dozen books from young-adult nonfiction to picture books to photography books. Her books include Marching for Freedom, as well the biographies John Lennon: All I Want Is the Truth, This Land Was Made for You and Me: The Life and Music of Woody Guthrie, and Restless Spirit: The Life and Work of Dorothea Lange. Her latest book is the middle grade novel, Dogtag Summer.
Bill Konigsberg is an American author, best known for his LGBT novels. He wrote Out of the Pocket,Openly Straight, The Porcupine of Truth,Honestly Ben,The Music of What Happens, and The Bridge. He lives with his husband outside of Phoenix, Arizona.
Such A Pretty Girl is a 2007 young adult novel by American author Laura Wiess. The book was first published on January 2, 2007 through MTV Books and deals with the subject matter of a teenage girl that must deal with the reality that the father that molested and sexually abused her and several others is getting an early release from jail.
Julie Berry is an American author of children's and young adults books and winner of several national book awards.
Nina LaCour is an American author, primarily known for writing young adult literature with queer, romantic story lines. Her novel We Are Okay won the Printz Award in 2017.