Description
FACT: Octopuses have three hearts.
FACT: Octopuses have BEAKS, like BIRDS.
FACT: The octopus at the aquarium is psychic!
Sashi feels like she has three hearts and they’re all breaking. She’s losing her beloved Dadu to dementia, and her parents don’t even want her to visit him any more. She hides from her grief in the aquarium, and that’s where she meets Ian.
Like her Dadu, Ian is trapped. Like her Dadu, Ian should be at home with his family. And then Ian tells her he’s in danger and only she can help him escape.
Except Ian just happens to be an octopus…
A story about grief, friendship and an octopus, illustrated with comic-style art by Lucy Mulligan.
Praise for The Octopus, Dadu and Me:
“My biggest endorsement for this book is that it made me cry, and not many do! The cosiness & warmth of the book was exactly what I needed this winter, even while it grappled with some heavyweight themes.” Sarah Driver, The Huntress trilogy & Once We Were Witches series
“The Octopus, Dadu and Me is a charming, touching, exciting debut, with an irresistible cast of characters I didn’t want to leave behind. Now I’m off to case the local aquarium to get an octopus of my own…” David Owen, Alex Neptune: Dragon Thief
“A beautiful and compelling story that wraps its tentacles around your heart…a standout and thoroughly enjoyable debut.” Lucy Brandt, Leonora Bolt
“A heartwarming tale of changing family dynamics, friendship and it features the best octopus in literature – Ian! What a brilliant debut!” Maisie Chan, Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu.
“A touching tale of dementia, friendship and the wonder of an octopus told in a brilliantly contemporary and readable voice.” Emily Kenny, The Extraordinary Adventures of Alice Tonks
“Full of warmth, wonder, heartache and joy — not to mention fascinating octo-facts!”
Tasha Harrison, Clementine Florentine and The Thing About Lemons.
“Unwin’s debut is heartwarming and also compassionate in its exploration of grief, featuring an incredibly entertaining scheme to free an octopus. A delightful read!” Ravena Guron, This Book Kills and Catch Your Death
