Drawing inspiration from New Zealand’s real-life cephalopod Inky, Fraillon (Etta and the Octopus) and Luyken (The Arguers) present a moving verse novel that traces an aquarium resident’s yearning for home and budding friendship. Though curmudgeonly octopus Houdini—named for her numerous breakouts—longs to return to the ocean (“The Sea she is singing she is howling so strong she is/ calling us”), she waits for the perfect moment to flee for good. Until then, she endures visitors’ gawking by day, and by night leaves her tank, plotting her eventual escape. Upon meeting aquarium owner’s daughter Juno, whose skin tone echoes the white of the page, Houdini is stunned by a feeling of connection, like “a Tide pulling us closer.” Over the course of multiple visits, Houdini grows fond of the child, and their bond strengthens while “Juno holds our arms strokes our head between our/ eyes.” But as Houdini’s escape efforts grow increasingly dangerous (“pain is creeping across our skin seeping weeping”), she worries about whether Juno will understand her need to leave. Spare, eloquent verse relays big emotions with few words, while digitally rendered watercolor-like illustrations capture Houdini’s undulating movements and fluid environment in bold, inky swathes. It’s a tender and insightful outing. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Claire Wilson, RCW Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. (Oct.)

– Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW, 6/19/2026

Houdini the octopus yearns to escape her tank for the Sea.

Written in free verse vignettes (in first person plural, reflecting the fact that an octopus has nine brains), Fraillon’s tale chronicles the titular cephalopod’s life at an aquarium—from human visitors to enrichment puzzles to her late-night jaunts outside of her tank and the call of the Sea. The aquarium owner’s young daughter Juno (who isn’t described physically but appears to be neurodivergent) develops a deep well of compassion for Houdini. Juno wants a new tank for Houdini—one connected to the sea, with special latches operable by octopuses—but the aquarium lacks the funds. While Houdini’s human friends try to fundraise, Houdini can wait no more and launches a cunning escape plan. Fraillon’s compelling text balances tenderness for her characters—two-legged and eight-limbed alike—with tension and suspense. Information on octopuses is cleverly, and seamlessly, woven into the narrative; the author has a rare gift for convincingly conveying a cephalopod’s perspective, which results in some strangely beautiful passages. Fascinating backmatter details the real-life octopuses whose personalities and antics inspired the fictional Houdini’s story. Luyken’s inky black-and white illustrations depict Houdini, sea life, and humans (with racially diverse aquariumgoers), but the most special image comes in the author’s note: a sucker print from the actual Houdini.

A deeply empathic love letter to interspecies friendship, to freedom, and, above all, to octopuses. (Verse fiction. 7-14)

– Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW, July 15th issue