Finalist! 2020 Governor General's Literary Award in Young People's Literature
Finalist! City of Victoria Children's Book Prize
​Finalist! Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize
Finalist! Rocky Mountain Book Award
Finalist! Chocolate Lily Award
Finalist! Sunburst Award for Canadian Literature of the Fantastic
Finalist! Hackmatack Children's Choice Book Award

​Q and A with Deborah Kalb

Promotional poster for Nevers.

​Resourceful fourteen-year-old Odette is on the move again, this time as a stowaway on a cheese cart with her hapless mother, Anneline, who is prone to killing people accidentally. They are in Burgundy, France, in 1799, and find themselves in Nevers, a town 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...

"This isn’t a typical historical novel as it beautifully explores some very contemporary themes. It also adds an unexpected touch of magic that will delight young readers... A cast of wonderful characters... Poignant, passionate, and full of surprises."--The Globe and Mail

"Nevers is a marvelous and magical book with an unforgettable heroine—prepare to be transported!” —Esta Spalding, author of the Fitzgerald-Trout series

"Gay and intersex representation fits smoothly into the historical setting, meshing neatly and naturally with these charmingly odd characters living their everyday lives in the aftermath of massive social upheaval. This brief sojourn in an alternative 18th-century France is an unexpectedly rich one." — Kirkus Reviews  Full review

"Highly recommended. Nevers is a funny story...with a delightful heroine. It has been a long time since I read such a convincing, relevant historical novel for children." — CM Magazine Full review

“Readers will be spellbound by the magic and mayhem of Odette and Anneline’s life in motion. Against a rich background of post-Revolutionary France, they’ll learn of perseverance, friendship and love in many forms. Cassidy is a master storyteller, and her fresh imagery and wordplay, along with a well-paced plot and a diverse cast of characters, are a real delight.” --Julie Paul, author of Meteorites and The Pull of the Moon
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“Readers will enjoy the quirky characters...While the pacing is quick, the story never feels rushed. A worthy addition to middle grade collections; give this to fans of Adam Gidwitz’s The Inquisitor’s Tale.” --School Library Journal

“Unfolds with mystery and hilarity, building momentum in a way that will keep readers engaged to the end. Recommend to fans of Adam Gidwitz’s The Inquisitor’s Tale.” — Booklist