Nevers

by Sara Cassidy

Resourceful fourteen-year-old Odette is on the move again, traveling as a stowaway on a cheese cart with her hapless mother, Anneline. They are in Burgundy, France, in 1799, fleeing yet another calamity caused by Anneline (who is prone to killing people accidentally). At dawn they find themselves in a town called Nevers, which is filled with eccentric characters, including a man who obsessively smells hands, another who dreams of becoming a chicken and a donkey that keeps the town awake at night, braying about his narrow life. As Odette establishes a home in an abandoned guardhouse, she makes a friend in the relaxed Nicois and finds work as a midwife's assistant. She and Nicois uncover a mystery that may lead to riches and, more important for Odette, a sense of belonging.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, France, Canada, Fiction, Childrens

139 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2019

About the author

Sara Cassidy is an award-winning Canadian author of 20 acclaimed books for children and teens. Her early novel GENIUS JOLENE won the 2020 Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. Her middle-grade novel NEVERS was nominated for the Governor General's Literary Award in Young People's Literature and the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic. Two novels appeared on Kirkus's Best Middle Grade Books of 2018 and 2016: THE GREAT GOOGLINI and A BOY NAMED QUEEN.

She is the author of the highly praised picture book FLOCK, and the wordless graphic novels KUNOICHI BUNNY and HELEN'S BIRDS, a 2021 Canadian selection for the Silent Books Collection (IBBY). Her board books include I MAKE SPACE, about creating boundaries, THE SUN IS A PEACH and THE MOON IS A SILVER POND, which received a starred review from Publishers Weekly.

Sara lives on Vancouver Island and loves to visit classrooms over Zoom/Skype/Teams. sarascassidy@gmail.com

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and fanciful read! While at heart a story about 14 year old Odette's search for a permanent place to call home, a colorful cast of characters help to tell the tale, including a man who wishes he was a chicken and a donkey who speaks Latin...but only after dark. While aimed at the 9-12 year old age group, I enjoyed this book as an adult much (ahem) older than that.

[Beth Cato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

This middle grade book brings to life the town of Nevers in the years soon after the French Revolution and follows the adventure of Odette, a serious girl who must act the adult as she looks after her flighty mother. Odette stumbles from a hidden place in a cheese cart and into Nevers with its closed pottery factory and a strange dancing donkey who bellows in a Latin after dark. The girl yearns for a stable home for herself and her mother, and in Nevers, she finds that and so much more.

There are elements of magical realism and some grittiness, too. It doesn’t shy away from the hardships of that time period. However, this balanced by a strong sense of hope and acceptance. There are characters who are intersex and gay, all part of a setting that feels cozy and realistic in its diversity. I was left feeling like I wanted to settle down in Nevers and live with these people. As a child reading this, I would have felt that even more strongly.

My only criticism is that the plot felt too convenient, especially a subplot about a book where Odette could have had more agency. That said, the book is still a joy, a read to be enjoyed by children and adults.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dieses Buch erinnert mich an ein Märchen, auf die Art und Weise auf die es geschrieben wurde und aufgrund der Charaktere.
Odette hat wirklich hart zu kämpfen mit ihrer Mutter, die sich weniger wie eine Erwachsene benimmt als mehr wie ein Teenager, mit immer wieder wechselnden Partnern. Während die gesamte Arbeit an Odette hängen bleibt. Soviel zum Märchen. Aufgrund dieser wechselnden Partner müssen die beiden häufig umziehen, diesmal führt es sie in die kleine französische Stadt Nevers und in ein Haus auf einer Brücke.
Es ist schön wie hier die einfachen Dinge hoch gehalten werden und es weniger um Reichtum als viel mehr um das Glück geht und darum das jeder etwas anderes sucht um glücklich zu sein, ganz ohne diese Menschen für ihre manchmal schrägen Wünsche zu verurteilen.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. I read this in one sitting, and loved every minute of it. The story is fresh, playful and modern simultaneously with taking place in the late 1700s, so don't expect historical authenticity, but to me the twists were wonderful and welcome. Light, as expected from an middle reader, but compelling and sweet.

[Kathie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Orca Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book.

A fun read with lots of eccentric characters, Nevers by Sara Cassidy is an enjoyable historical fiction book that focuses on a small community in France in 1799. There is a lot of humor, and a touch of magic that keeps the reader engaged right until the end. I love the small town atmosphere, and watching Odette find a place for herself in Nevers.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from Orca Book Publishers through NetGalley.
Delightful cross between historical fiction and magic. Set in 1799 in a small town in France following the Revolution.
Odette and her mother, Annalise, find yet another town to live in after her mother causes the accidental death of yet another person. Nevers welcomes them and feels like a place they will fit in.
Cassidy stays true to the period in her descriptions and weaves fantasy throughout - Latin speaking donkey, coincidences and connections between people.
Middle grade readers will enjoy the plot and be surprised by the narrator revealed in the Epilogue.
Informative text at the end explains this period in French history.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Half historical fiction, half fairy tale. LGBTQ friendly with intersexuality mentioned and a gay character. Charming.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the time of the French Revolution, Odette, 14, scurries from town to town after Anneline, her beautiful, but ditsy mother accidentally causes the death of numerous husbands. Now, they've ended up in Nevers....a strange little town with quirky characters, both human and animal. With a new friend, Nicois, Odette uncovers a secret which will have some consequences for these odd townspeople.

In Nevers, there is a male donkey, Anne, who brays loudly only at night and speaks Latin, but only to Odette. There is an odd man, M. Mains, who likes to smell hands. And, of course, blacksmith Clement, who will play a very important part in Odette and Anneline's lives.

When Odette and Nicois discover the clues to unlock Never's secret, they stop at nothing to make it right. Nevers, with its cast of eccentric characters, zippy dialogue, and outlandish happenings makes for a ingenious read.

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers, Orca Books, Kennedy Cullen, and Sara Cassidy for this ARC.

[Jenna]

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky little story with eccentric characters. Fairytale-ish with a bit of a mystery build in. 6th grade up should find this tale amusing as a summer or any spare moment read.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this book at first. I read the prologue and first bit to a group of grade 5/6's. Only one of the eight of them wanted me to continue. After I read a bit more by myself, I couldn't put it down.
The story is set in post revolutionary France. Fourteen year old Odette looks after her helpless mother, Annaline, who seems to be a curse for her husbands. All five or six of them have died in bizarre accidents. After fleeing from a recent disaster they end up in the town of Nevers where they settle in. Odette works hard to get them established and hopes they have found a place to stay. Soon she has a new friend in Nicoise. Together they try to solve a mystery from the past.
This has such a rich cast of characters - M. Gustave who wants to be a chicken, the aging Mme. Genevieve who wants to be an inventor, and even a donkey who talks latin at night. In spite of how hard Odette works to make a life for her and her mother, this book is full of whimsy and delight. Fans of Kate DiCamillo's The Magician's Elephant will love this. I'm sure if I had continued reading to that aforementioned group of students, they would have become as mesmerized as I was.

[Ashley Lambert-Maberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program at Library Thing.

This didn't cohere for me. There was very little plot (I am reminded that "The King died, then the Queen died" is not a plot, but "The King died, then the Queen died of grief" is, and wished the author had been so reminded). Odette and her mother move to town, and they meet people, and things happen, but it doesn't start resembling an actual novel with a story to tell until about page 170 of 220 pages.

The back cover purports it to be "magical realism" but it's actually an uneasy mixture of absolute insistent realism (someone reads a book where the words disappear, but then it's explained immediately that it isn't magic, it's science, it's a special ink that vanishes when exposed to sunlight) and absolute 100% fantasy (transformations). Almost every character is an exaggeration of some type, but the tone of the story doesn't suit this approach. I know I'm not the target market, but (unlike most of the reviewers below) I think this would bore the bejeezus out of most children.

On top of that, it was uncomfortably modern (I never believed any of the characters were post-revolutionary French from more than 200 years ago), with hermaphrodites encouraged to choose their own gender, gay Dukes unafraid to declare their sexuality, etc. There's no reason the central premise of the (tiny) plot couldn't be enacted now, if the author is so keen to appear "woke."

(Note: 5 stars = amazing, wonderful, 4 = very good book, 3 = decent read, 2 = disappointing, 1 = awful, just awful. I'm fairly good at picking for myself so end up with a lot of 4s). I feel a lot of readers automatically render any book they enjoy 5, I'm a bit more ruthless.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually finished this book back in February but never got around to writing the review.
This was a fun and funny book. I would say this is perfect for upper elementary and lower middle school. However, as an adult I found this a pleasure to read.
Odette is a young girl who must take care of her mother Annalise. Annalise seems to have a habit of accidently killing people. They have come into the small French town of Nevers. All Odette wants is to find a place they cans stay and call home and to fit in, maybe have a friend. Odette finds a friend in a young boy named Nicois. The town is full of strange people. There is man who likes to smell people’s hands, and a man who wants to be a chicken. There is a pig and chick that have become inseparable, and then there is the donkey that brays in Latin every night. The strange thing is that Odette understands him. Odette’s mother has brought about some trouble for them because she has been looking for a box she hid under a bridge years before. Someone else is looking for it as well.
The book is a mixture of some fantasy, mystery and a bit of historical fiction all rolled into one great book. Kids will love this because they will be able to identify with the characters. This is a book I would highly recommend to readers of all ages.

[Dolank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unsure in beginning, due to a slow start, the books weave history and fairytale into a neat little bundle, that is sure not to lose the interest of its young readers.
The author's note is a nice touch, to her inspiration, and to the history of France.

[Gabriele Goldstone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the setting and cleverness of the book's prologue and epilogue (basically the book's punchline.) Some great description and brilliant playfulness with language. Love the cover.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The curse plot and the ‘Odette’s new home’ plot share equal footing but aren’t evenly distributed. We learn shortly in that the donkey, Anne, is braying laments in Latin but it’s 2/3rds through the book before Odette has anything to do with his plight. And for some reason the author chose to not have Anne respond to Odette when she tries to speak back, so either her Latin is worse that we’re led to believe, Anne is too morose to acknowledge his possible salvation, or Sara Cassidy was really going out of her way to make sure we didn’t pay any attention to the curse plot until after Odette is finally ready to participate in it.

I’m not suggesting that there be more of Anne in the book, just his plot. The donkey himself isn’t especially likable. Latin is probably pretty formal a language but the complaining he does is painfully poetic and very ‘woe is me’. You just want to grab him and shake him.

Odette listens intently to the donkey’s congested whinnies, teasing out the words. “You in your soft beds!” it shouts. It then goes on: “Asleep and dreaming. Be glad that you do not stand ankle deep in mud at odds with the horizon. Be grateful that you are not a donkey.”
Odette’s ears labor. Stellae aequo frigido animo spectant. “The stars stare with icy indifference. The moon is a silent howl. Insects scuttle. Rats leap.”
Finally, energy waning, the donkey repeats. Cupio asinus non esse. “I wish I were not a donkey. I wish I were not a donkey. I wish I were not a donkey.” At last, silence returns.
(Sara Cassidy, Nevers, p.51)

As an aside and only in my own opinion, I think it’s fairly clear that Odette’s mother Anneline is also under a curse. Curses are established to exist in this universe and the whole scenario she’s wrapped in – men fall in love with her instantly and every time she falls in love in return people start getting killed or maimed – just doesn’t make sense otherwise. This idea isn’t even suggested in text, but she’s gone through seven husbands and there’s a trail of corpses in her wake that I don’t believe were intentional.

“So your father isn’t still alive?”
Odette shakes her head. “My mother-” No. She did not have to tell Niçois, not yet, at least, that her mother was an accidental serial murderer.
(Sara Cassidy, Nevers, p.189)

REPRESENTATION! Intersexuality and homosexuality! The main characters are also atheists which I thought was interesting and led me to research how daring that might have been during 1799. You wouldn’t want to admit to it, but it wasn’t as risqué as I thought. In fact the French Revolution (which had just ended and impacts the book greatly) turned out to be a pretty bad time to be involved with the Catholic Church. It’s an interesting rabbit hole and I recommend diving in for yourself.


CHARACTERS:
Anneline and every male character involved with her was useless and mildly annoying (except the painter who kept popping up - he was outright creepy) and Anneline talks like she’s learned something from her romantic accidents but doesn’t act like she does. Odette is a Cinderella character who doesn’t learn much either. Her new friend tries teaching her to relax and be a kid but she mostly mentally gripes about how idle he is. Please don’t get me started on Anne. I’ll give a half star for Annalise’s past husbands who deserve something out of their marriages to her, and another half to the midwife who I liked quite a bit but barely saw. I’ll throw on another star for Anneline and Odette’s interesting family dynamic. While Odette is very much a serious Cinderella character without the associated payoff, I thought it unique to portray her as the stern mother-figure for her thoughtless, immature parent.

SETTING/WORLD BUILDING:
Nevers, France is a real place and the author manages to blend the landmarks and history in with the fairy tale ideas. Speaking of history, the story is chock full of it. The French Revolution had just passed and Nevers was greatly impacted economically. The townsfolk don’t carry about their day without letting this impact them as though they’ve been written into a bubble. The only reason I’m not bringing it up to a full five stars is because it felt like I was in the same French village as Belle in Disney’s Beauty & the Beast . . It’s not a bad thing, it’s just generic. Normally that’d just send us to the characters to make the place memorable with their own impressions of it, but.. ugh. The characters aren’t great at reflecting.

PLOT/SOLUTION:
An intriguing plot once you get to it but the author spends most of the reading time getting Odette to relax and enjoy herself as a child. There was also a romance novel her mother is always lounging around reading from that I spent the whole book waiting to be burned or at least brought up in a confrontation between Odette and her frivolous mother, or maybe having love letters from Odette’s father tucked in them. Its importance is emphasized in how the two travelled to Nevers with nothing but the clothes on their backs and that book. No such confrontation occurs and the book is just a book. Chekhov would be very disappointed.

OTHER ASPECTS:
I’ve never seen intersex people represented in my books before much less in a position of such authority and respect, so this is a win for sure even if there weren’t also the homosexual spin on the curse. And I only just now realized that, cleverly enough, Anne’s curse indirectly saved him from Le Rasoir National.

THE VERDICT?
Honestly the main reason for reviewing it was to point out the marvelous midwife who also happens to be the intersex character I’ve been praising. They explained their circumstance well for the reading audience (since the in-book audience is only 14-years-old) and have respect in their community and a happy family life. It’s all very positive, and I just wish they could have been in a better book.

[Saje · Rating 2 out of 5]

As an adult reading, the historical errors and faulty reasoning gave me pause. One point being, why was the painter's paint drying on the brush so quickly? To my knowledge they had oil or milk-based paints during this period, neither of which dry quickly. Another was that this happened around 1799 when Odette was 14. Divorce was legalized in France in 1792. Some of Annette's many husbands were "accidentally murdered" but some she just left and remarried - as was introduced in the opening scene when they flee her last husband. This is outlined as something that is familiar to Odette. How? Also, what is wrong with Annette? She seems like an invalid. At the end of the book when magical elements were introduced I expected Annette to have a curse over her that was waning and explained some of why she was suddenly becoming more lucid and self aware. Anyway, I had a lot of questions.

The characters were interesting and diverse (yay!), although kind of haphazardly put together. Not all of them had a purpose to propel the plot and I'm not sure there was any real growth in the characters??? The setting was lovely. The plot was slow, then rushed and felt unfinished at the end. I wasn't sure for most of the book if there was a central mystery or not. And it's kind of odd that the mom ended up with her favourite husband's brother. Was that necessary? And why was it not introduced earlier? I think the major problems were so many twists were dumped on readers without any warning, leaving it jarring and feeling farfetched.

As someone else said, it’s a fanciful read. I'm sure it will entertain children. There was some lovely imagery. I bought it for my kids so I guess I better pass it on to them! Will update if they give it a read.

[Wunderdrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is nominated for the 2021 Hackmatack Award in the English Fiction category. Set towards the end of eighteenth century France, but I would say it leans more towards fairy tale than historical fiction. At the beginning we meet Odette, a girl of fourteen who is traveling with her mother Anneline. They have arrived in the town of Nevers, France after hitching a ride on a cheese cart. We learn quickly that Anneline isn't exactly your typical mother, and that disaster seems to trail her wherever she goes. In fact, they are fleeing the seen of the latest disaster, which has killed off another of Anneline's husbands. If it weren't for hard working Odette, the pair wouldn't last long on their own. Anneline seems content to trade on her beauty, and relies on the attentions of men to get by. But she isn't getting any younger, and sooner or later her charms will fade. Will Nevers become home for the duo, or will disaster strike again?
Filled with characters like Ann, the donkey who brays in Latin all night long who may not be exactly what he appears to be, this story takes you on a magical journey. A word of caution - parents/teachers should be prepared for questions regarding intersexuality (midwife delivers a baby that isn't a boy or a girl). I would recommend this for fans of fairy tales and magical realism, ages ten and up.

[Susan Hassman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received Sara Cassidy's “Nevers” as an advance reading copy through Library Thing.
This book is a light fantasy set in France soon after the Reign of Terror. It is centered on fourteen year old Odette and her mother, Anneline. The two are constantly on the run because Anneline has the unfortunate habit of marrying often, then accidentally killing her husbands. They are also on a quest for a mysterious treasure that may save them from poverty.
As this book opens, Odette and Anneline arrive in the village Nevers, a strange little place full of all sorts of quirky characters including a donkey who brays in Latin.
This book has a lot of positives. It's well written with a clever plot. The overarching theme is one of acceptance and tolerance, which is wonderful except at times I felt I was being hit over the head with it. A bit more subtlety would be nice.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Odette is on the run again with her accident-causing mother, Anneline. Anneline has a tendency to bring on death to people she gets involved with (7 husbands to be exact). They come to a town called Nevers and start to settle in.
The town is filled with eccentric characters: a man who obsessively smells hands, a piglet who takes over mothering a chick, a donkey who brays loudly at night speaking in Latin, etc. While Odette seems to feel a sense of wanting to feel secure, Anneline is seeking a box that was left under a bridge at one time. She leaves notes in every town they have been through.
Odette becomes friends with Nicois. They discover the secrets about the donkey and other mysteries.

This was a good story. Lots of French language, which is good if you speak French, though I do not. The language is pretty though. The story rambles a little bit, but is fun to read.

[Diana Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't be put off by the description of this book. It may seem dark, but it was engaging and a likable story. Those looking for interesting characters and a grand read, I recommend this story. It was a quick read and moved along swiftly. Would recommend the book for middle school students who may be reluctant to read.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story, full of interesting characters with interesting "gifts". Moves slow to begin with but contains good character development. I like the setting and the author's explanations at the end and how she was inspired to write. I also agree with the age level recommendation. Thanks for writing this, it was a fun read.

[Wensday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't be put off by the description of this book. It may seem dark, but it was engaging and a likable story. Those looking for interesting characters and a grand read, I recommend this story. It was a quick read and moved along swiftly.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in return for my honest review.

[Joanne Hayward-Lavallee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fable set in 1700's Nevers, France. Though the cover and font suggest this is a children's title there are some adult themes that left me a bit perplexed.
Some parts if the story line seem to be left unresolved, but over all it is a lovely fable with interesting characters. The physical book is absolutely charming and was the deciding factor for me when purchasing this title.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I struggle on how to rate this book. As an adult, I enjoyed it. However, there are a lot of grown-up themes which makes me hesitant to recommend it to a grade school reader.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

[Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final quarter of the book is where all the story happens. There's some good stuff in the first half but it's very mundane and almost boring. Then suddenly there's magic from out of nowhere and everything wraps up quickly. It's an interesting story made boring by bad pacing

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A darling little book with interesting, unique, and well-rounded characters. The plot isn't much to go on, but the characters are so charming I almost don't mind.

[Liz Rachel Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story! Beautiful language and images, well-drawn characters, an imaginative world, and a touch of humour throughout. I loved reading it. (Also an awesome cover.)

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of pieces that all fit together neatly at the end, but with some interesting twists along the way.

[Afton · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars