Ode to Nobody by Caroline Brooks DuBois – Book Review

Title: Ode to Nobody Author: Caroline Brooks DuBois Publisher: Holiday House Release Date: December 6, 2022

Quinn has been going through a lot. From an almost-broken home to a changing friendship to never feeling like she can match her brother’s reputation, she struggles to figure out where Quinn, Quinnie, Quinn(ie) fits in nearly everywhere. Then, a tornado destroys her house and neighborhood. Amidst the disaster, Quinn must rise up, and she soon begins discovering her true self. New friendships, helping others, and writing all help Quinn find the confidence and power to start down her own path.

Masterfully written, Caroline Brooks DuBois’s Ode to Nobody is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful. Most novels-in-verse read like a story, but in DuBois’s hands the work has depth and layers that will motivate readers to reread poems in order to truly understand the nuances of Quinn’s story. This complexity captivates, setting it apart during a time when novels-in-verse have become overwhelmingly popular. In addition, Quinn’s many conflicts naturally arise and evolve without becoming cliché or being resolved with a neat and tidy ending. They are realistic and true-to-life. As a result, Ode to Nobody is a surprisingly powerful breath of fresh air in a saturated genre. Main characters present as White.

Ode to Nobody includes many elements that educators will find exciting to teach. Yet, Dubois’s references and nods to classic and modern poetry make it an excellent addition to a comprehensive poetry unit. While exploring the poetry of the novel and its narrative arc, teachers can incorporate the poems mentioned in the text for deeper analysis. Along with those connections, poetry writing exercises can create an even more comprehensive exploration. Ode to Nobody is a gift for educators because of its potential to be a gift for students and their learning. It will be exciting to see the creativity and poetry that emerges from its inclusion in a curriculum.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher, Holiday House, for an eARC of this book.

Classroom Applications

• Cross-Curricular Study – Teach the novel in conjunction with a study of natural disasters and their effects or as part of a larger poetry unit.
• Literature Circles – Use novel for small groups or choice reading with a variety of novels in verse that focus on natural disasters, friendship, or poetry.

Nonfiction Connections

The list below outlines topics that will enrich your students’ understanding of the novel.

• Natural Disasters & Effects
• Tornadoes
• Climate Change
• Poetry

Book Companions

The following are great books to pair with Ode to Nobody. In parenthesis are the specific aspects students could explore when synthesizing across the texts.

• The Canyon’s Edge by Dusti Bowling (Novel Structure, Themes, Nonfiction Connections, Character Connections)
• Partly Cloudy by Tanita S. Davis (Character Connections, Themes, Nonfiction Connections)
• Turn the Tide by Elaine Dimopoulos (Novel Structure, Themes, Nonfiction Connections, Character Connections)
• Willodeen by Katherine Applegate (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)
• Wildoak by C. Harrington (Character Connections, Nonfiction Connections, Themes)

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