Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus living in an aquarium, and his “chapters”—written from his perspective—are grumpy, snobbish, and absolutely hilarious.
Tova Sullivan is a seventy-year-old widow who works the night shift as a cleaner at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. She finds peace in the quiet work, which helps her cope with the decades-old mystery of her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, who vanished on a boat in Puget Sound thirty years ago.
At the aquarium, she forms a secret, extraordinary bond with Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus who is much smarter than his human captors realize. Marcellus is a master escape artist who sneaks out of his tank at night to snack on tasty morsels in other exhibits. He has observed the humans for years and has pieced together the truth about what happened to Tova’s son. However, an octopus only lives for a few years, and Marcellus is nearing his end. He must find a way to communicate what he knows to Tova before his time runs out.or him long after you close the book.
“The Washington Post:
“A novel that manages to be whimsical without being silly. Van Pelt has done the impossible: she’s made a giant octopus a believable, relatable, and deeply moving protagonist. It’s a book about the power of connection in all its forms.”
Kirkus Reviews:
“Truly original and charming. The narration of Marcellus the octopus is the highlight—he is cynical, observant, and ultimately very sweet. A reminder that sometimes the best way to understand our own lives is to see them through a completely different set of eyes (or eight arms).”