My Friend the Octopus: from the author of Darwin's Dragons

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Set in Victorian times, the novel offers much to enjoy, both as a read aloud and as a key text to inspire work from a class, including the attitude of ‘collectors’ and animal well being, working conditions, the role of women and racism. Based on historical accounts written by Henry Lee, aquarium director at Brighton, it describes the arrival of a giant octopus to the aquarium. Aunt Bets is lovely and is the kind of mother that Vinnie should have rather than one who simply wants to show her off. She makes friends with Charlie (wannabe reporter) and Temitayo (the ward of an English gent who lives with a lady in Brighton). The adults are just as good, and I especially loved Mrs Heap, Temitayo’s governess, who would much rather scoff cake and gossip than keep an eye on her charge.

I was not ready to close the book when the story ended, so I was delighted to read on; the back pages of the author's notes explained the historical facts touched on in the book.The story is not predictable at all, in fact it quite boldly and unusually shows a leading character in a very poor light and the villain is truly villainous and quite scary.

The risqué nature of bathing and riding a bicycle show how women like Aunt Bets are enjoying new freedoms, but the story also exposes the frustrations of the rigid expectations for women at this time. The idea for a dragon discovery by Charles Darwin’s cabin boy was originally backstory, but gradually took over from the main story and I found out I loved writing historical fiction.

Our heroine learns so much about the octopus I couldn't help but think about three other middle grade books where the main character connects with sea creatures. Along with Vinnie, Mr Lee, the aquarist in charge of the animals, and his nephew, Charlie, show patience and curiosity, a willingness to learn about the octopus whilst caring for it. The two have never been separated yet now her mother has travelled to Paris on business, leaving Vinnie to a very different life with far more freedom and many new experiences. A filmmaker forges an unusual friendship with an octopus living in a South African kelp forest, learning as the animal shares the mysteries of her world.

It was so cosy working together in her four-poster bed, but now I wished we’d continued at the bureau where it was easier to stay awake. Set in Victorian times and told through a twisty mystery story, the book touches on victorian working conditions, child labor and gender norms. My Friend The Octopus is set during the 1800s, which is a time period I generally find quite fascinating. The book is beautiful in the first instance with wonderful illustrations at the start of each chapter.

Author Guy Bass introduces SCRAP, about one robot who tried to protect the humans on his planet against an army of robots. Her Aunt runs a small cafe in the aquarium and her mother just leaves her there saying she is going to Paris and Vinnie can't go with her. In 2010, suffering severe burnout, nature filmmaker Craig Foster took to freediving amidst the kelp forests in the frigid waters off South Africa. There he met and gradually befriended a female octopus, visiting her every day until she felt comfortable playing with him. My Friend the Octopus is one of the best books I’ve read all year and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Cinematography was directed by underwater cameraman Roger Horrocks with footage from Craig Foster and Roger Horrocks. She starts investigating the disappearance of her mother, while also making a unique friend in the biggest octopus England has ever seen. It flowed relatively easily, even though the plotting was more complex with various strands to the mystery.

We were working by candlelight, a few crumbs of ginger cake and the remains of my bedtime milk – laced with honey and brandy – on a tray. Believe it or not, when I started writing Darwin’s Dragons, I didn’t know it was going to be a historical story! Lavinia (who prefers to be known as Vinnie) unexpectedly finds herself staying with her aunt in Brighton when her mother, a society milliner, has to leave London for Paris at very short notice. In a later shark attack, she shows an incredibly improved creativity to survive, including sticking on the shark's back.