An Octopus Named Houdini by Zana Fraillon

I've been waiting to pick up today's read for a few months now. First, I find the cover grabbing...what is the girl's relationship with the octopus? Is it a fantasy or contemporary? I'm really curious. Second, it's written in verse. While I'm not a huge poetry fan, I do enjoy a well done one. I'm hoping this read falls into that category because a well done book in verse is a treat.

So, let's open it up and find out what these pages hold.

AN OCTOPUS NAMED HOUDINI

by Zana Fraillon

Illustrated by Corinna Luyken

Simon & Schuster

Middle Grade  /  Novel in Verse

160 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING NOVEMBER 24th!!!

Odder meets Growing Home in this “tender and insightful” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) illustrated middle grade novel in verse about an octopus named Houdini, her unexpected friendship with the aquarium owner’s daughter, and her deep yearning to return to the sea.

All day long we can hear
that Sea howl prowling wild
inside our brains and every part of us is straining
to feel it taste it twirl it whirl it swirl it
inside our body
again.

Houdini the octopus lives in an aquarium, but she misses her home in the wild Sea. She doesn’t like the visitors who bang on her tank. Or the way she can’t feel the sun on her skin or the wind rippling the water. It’s a dull existence for a creature with nine brains.

Then one day she meets someone who is different than the others. Juno’s busy brain buzzes with so many questions and thoughts that Houdini’s skin tingles with wonder.

But the singing of the Sea is growing stronger and harder to resist. Can Houdini make Juno understand what she needs before it’s too late?

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

By diving into the head of an octopus, readers see aquariums and humans from a different view and are left wishing they could become friends with this sea creature, too.

Houdini has lived in the aquarium for a long time but still dreams of escaping to the sea. While the caretaker does his best to keep her entertained, he doesn't realize that she's waiting for a chance to escape. She already takes occasional journeys through the halls and has been caught once or twice. Still, she knows that the humans have no clue how intelligent she is...or what she's planning. While she patiently waits for the big day to come, a small human joins the caretaker, a young girl who is so different from the normal groups of kids which pound on the glass all day. Houdini immediately feels a connection to the girl, and it appears that this is reciprocated. But true understanding is difficult between Houdini and the human girl...and Houdini's time is running out.

This is a carefully laid tale with tons of heart. The poetic writing matches the flow wonderfully. Each page holds  a scene, which gains its setting, meaning, and the point of view its coming from with a short title at the top of the page. The text flows very smoothly, carries exactly what is needed, and hits just right. It's never overly wordy or flowery but lets the personality and concerns of Houdini come across naturally. It's easy to sympathize with Houdini and her plight..and also that of the girl. The forming friendship touches the heart, while enough hope that Houdini can escape adds tension. There's also a gentle humor woven in as Houdini outsmarts the humans in little ways. 

Readers will come out of this with a new respect for octopi and aquariums, in general. The message fits the age group well, and even works great for school and homeschooling situations. It's a relatively quick read and the poetic form makes sure the plot stays on point, without wandering in unnecessary directions. It's an enjoyable read with heart.

And here they are...

Zana Fraillon (she/they) is an internationally acclaimed, multi-award-winning author of books for children and young adults. Her work has been published in over fifteen countries and is in development for both stage and screen. She has a doctorate in creative writing and degrees in history and teaching. Zana’s passion for empowering young people to find their voice is a feature of both her books and her work with writers of all ages.

Corinna Luyken is the author-illustrator of numerous picture books, including the New York Times bestselling My Heart, the “sublime” (The Wall Street Journal) The Book of Mistakes, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library selection ABC and You and Me, and NCTE Notable Poetry Book The Tree in Me. She also illustrated Patchwork by Matt de la Peña, a New York Times and Kirkus Reviews Best of the Year. Corinna lives in Washington near the Salish Sea, where she likes to dig in the dirt, surf, and read with a cat (or two) on her lap. You can see more of her work at CorinnaLuyken.com.