Remarkably Bright Creatures
Sale price
$2849
Chapter Book · 2022

Remarkably Bright Creatures

By Shelby Van Pelt

A widow and an octopus uncover secrets of a long-lost son.

4.4/5 Goodreads · 1,532,916 ratings
368 pages· 98,020 words
$29.99Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Tova Sullivan, a grieving widow, finds solace in her night job at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. There, she befriends Marcellus, a perceptive giant Pacific octopus. As they bond, Marcellus unravels the mystery of Tova's son, who vanished decades ago. Can this unlikely duo uncover the truth before time runs out? Dive into a tale of friendship and discovery where the past holds the key to an unexpected future.

From the publisher

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA Read With Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick!NAMED A BEST BOOK OF SUMMER by: Chicago Tribune The View Southern Living * USA Today”Remarkably Bright Creatures [is] an ultimately feel-good but deceptively sensitive debut. . . . Memorable and tender.” – Washington Post For fans of A Man Called Ove, a charming, witty and compulsively readable exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope that traces a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopusAfter Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors–until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late. Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
368
Words
98,020
Audience
Adult
Themes & topics
Books about animalsBooks about familyBooks about mother-son relationshipsBooks about human-animal relationshipsBooks about octopuses
For readers who can't stop at one

The next favorite is already out there.

Age-appropriate books selected to help their love of reading grow, delivered right to their door.

Find their book club
Bookroo club box with books for growing readers
Your next read

Books that feel like this one

See all similar books
Room
Sale price
$1699

Room

2010
Life of Pi
Sale price
$1595

Life of Pi

Ages 18–99 · 2001
#1 in Series
Sale price
$1499

A Dog's Purpose

2010

Reminders of Him

2022

Me Before You

Ages 18–+ · 2012

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Ages 18–+ · 2007

The Secret Life of Bees

Ages 18–+ · 2001

Jaws

1974
The fine print

Book details

Publication
Published
May 3, 2022
Publisher
Ecco
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9780063204157

Surprise a reader with their next favorite book.

Spotted a mistake or something missing? Improve this page.

Are you the author or illustrator? Claim your book.

Top contributors: Elaine R.

Bookroo

Book Clubs

Follow Bookroo