Octopus Ocean: Geniuses of the Deep

by Mark Leiren-Young

With their blue blood, big brains and eight arms, octopuses are dramatically different from any other being.

Octopuses are masters of camouflage and known for their incredible escapes from tight spots. New research shows that they are highly intelligent creatures, and while they prefer to be alone, they will interact with humans and display unique personality traits.

In Octopus Ocean, discover the mysteries and histories of octopuses big and small―their biology, habitat and habits―and explore the top threats to their future, including warming oceans, over-fishing and pollution.

Genres: Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Animals, Science

104 pages, Hardcover

First published February 11, 2025

About the author

“Mark Leiren-Young is a playwright, author, screenwriter, novelist, journalist, editor, podcaster, producer, director, documentarian, comedy performer, satirist, memoirist, university lecturer, occasional actor and full-time environmentalist.” -David Lennam, Yam Magazine.


Mark has been dubbed "Canada’s greenest writer." Many of his projects feature a green theme, such as his award-winning films, The Green Film (a comedy short about going green), and his feature "The Green Chain," (starring Tricia Helfer and August Schellenberg). And now, his newest book, "Greener Than Thou."

Mark wrote and directed the award-winning documentary, The Hundred-Year-Old Whale, and hosts the Skaana podcast - which features stories about orcas, oceans, eco-ethics and the environment.

As half of the popular comedy duo "Local Anxiety" he released the 2009 CD "Greenpieces," and cuts from the satirical album have been featured on CBC Radio and NPR and are available on Spotify and YouTube.

Leiren-Young's first full-time journalism job was at "The Williams Lake Tribune," a small newspaper in Williams Lake, British Columbia. He turned these experiences into a comic memoir, Never Shoot A Stampede Queen, which won the 2009 Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour.

His news and feature writing, humour pieces, reviews and columns have appeared in a host of publications in Canada and the U.S., including Time, Maclean's and The Utne Reader.

Mark also has extensive television writing credits, with over 100 hours of produced work. His love of comic books inspires his work on a number of animated series, including ReBoot and Beast Wars: Transformers. He also has many credits writing for drama series, and credits include PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal and Blood Ties.

Mark's plays have been produced around the world. His latest play, Playing Shylock, starring Saul Rubinek, makes its American debut at the Polonsky Shakespeare Centre in New York in October, 2025.

His most popular play, "Shylock," about the tensions surrounding theatre's most famous Jewish character. Shylock has been produced around the world and is published by Anvil Press.

Reviews

[Dana Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book about cephalopods, especially with pictures and little Fun Facts (“Ink Spots”) sprinkled around. It's meant for middle schoolers, which makes it a great entry level book for almost any age, from science-driven third graders through adults. The author draws on research from some of the most popular recent books, but also did his own observations at the Salish Sea Aquarium and in interviews with outstanding researchers.

[Kerry Scales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Octopus is quickly becoming my second favorite animal. They are fascinating and so, so smart.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been waiting for this beauty so when it finally came in to our HS library I snatched it right up. Between the selection of photos of the coolest cephalopods out there (and their related friends) and the informative approach that pulls in pop culture, it provided a unique spin on profiling these geniuses. From famous escapes to their sad demises usually after having their offspring, there is new factoids to discover and the "Ink Spots" are the best approach.

Either way, it has an energy about it that highlights all the people that root for the octopus including all the things we still don't know but the misconceptions that are being corrected that we all must adopt (like they're not tentacles, they are ARMS and that the bulbous part of them is NOT their head)

Lovely nod to a favorite sea creature.

"In 1998 writer Lyle Zapato created a website about an octopus who lives in the forests of Canada's Pacific Northwest. To make it clear that this was a joke, his site claimed that the biggest predator faced by this rare species was the Sasquatch. Octopus expert James Cosgove told me that some people did not get the joke and are still convinced that somewhere in BC's rainforests there are octopuses who live in trees. I promised I would make it clear that this octopus does not exist- except on the internet, where the tree octopus finds a home on more than 15,000 websites."

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic, and, atm, up-to-date. But we're learning more all the time!

"There are at least 300 other kinds of octopuses, and they live in every ocean.... if there were a world championship for hide and seek, the octopus would win all the gold medals and then stash them somewhere they 'd never be found."

"Octopuses don't taste with their tongues. They use their tongues more like we use our teeth. And they use their suckers like we use our tongues."

"Author David Scheel looked at the names octopuses were given by indigenous nations on the West coast of North America for his book Many Things Under a Rock: The Mysteries of Octopuses - the title is a rough translation of the Eyak word for octopus and also conjures a wonderful image." [Cf Devilfish.]

"Most species we consider smart also have teachers. But octopuses are smart and solitary ]and short lived]."

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love octopuses, really, really love them. Whenever I come across a book about them at the library, I end up taking it home. This was 100+ pages of great stories, facts, and debunked myths about the mysterious octopus. It talks about all the species, their references in books, movie, culture, etc.... I read it in little snippets and liked it. Beautiful photos

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of excellent facts about various species of octopuses. Gorgeous photos and a few drawings decorate the text. The book would have been even better if the author had not included all the evolutionary fairy tales.

[Mrs. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful creatures & book—conversational writing makes clear the author’s awe of the intelligence & complete coolness of octopuses! Top non-fiction for middle grades & above.

[Wondra Vanian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this was meant for kids, but it's so interesting everyone should read it.

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of information about these intelligent creature that makes me rethink my diet and other actions that could have an impact.