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

"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