Inked: A Graphic Novel

by Karen Wasson, Jake A Minton (Illustrator)

★ The bestselling new-release Australian graphic novel of 2025! ★

For fans of Remy Lai's Pawcasso and Raina Telgemeier's Drama comes this hilarious enemies-to-besties graphic novel, about a kid who just wants to blend in and an opera-singing octopus who loves to stand out ...

When 12-year-old Sid discovers a talking octopus in his family’s fish shop, he is shocked – and annoyed. Otto the octopus is cheeky, demanding, and won’t leave Sid alone until he helps Otto get to the ocean … roughly 300 kilometres away!

But Sid has bigger fish to fry. He has to figure out how to get into the art school of his dreams, or else high school next year will be a nightmare. 
 
Can these frenemies find a way to work together, or will it all end in disaster? Or even worse … will Sid and Otto realise they actually make a pretty great team?

Brimming with hilarity, hijinks and plenty of heart, the first graphic novel from author Karen Wasson and CBCA-acclaimed illustrator Jake A Minton sparkles with slapstick humour and fish-out-of-water misunderstandings. With extraordinary full-colour artwork and a bonus 'making of' section at the end, readers of all ages will be surprised and delighted with this stand-out suburban adventure for middle-grade readers.

Prepare to get INKED!

★Inked is the first release from Figment Books, the home of the best, boldest and most exciting graphic novels in Australian publishing.

Inked is perfect Independent readers aged 8-12 Fans of graphic novels like Pawcasso, Drama and Treasure in the Lake. Parents, teachers and librarians seeking entertaining friendship stories with high-quality visual storytelling. Gift-givers looking for a kids' graphic novel with beautiful artwork, memorable characters and plenty of belly laughs. Graphic novel and young readers' book clubs wanting an entertaining story with opportunities to explore themes such as bullying, friendship dramas and decision-making.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Animals, Graphic Novels Comics, Childrens, Fantasy, Comics

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2025

Reviews

[Emily Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun graphic novel and so well deserved to be CBCA Shortlisted! I loved the little twist at the end, it didn't go how you expected and I loved that.

Highly recommend, whether you've got kids or not! I laughed out loud multiple times.

[David Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun little read with quirky illustrations. well deserved of its CBCA award! 3.5 stars

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous middle grade graphic novel about Sid and the talking/singing octopus he accidentally befriends, who might just be the answer to all his problems. Stunning illustration.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

CBCA shortlist - I'm not super into graphic novels, but this is a fun adventure with a great ending.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great story and I love Otto (the octopus). The art is just amazing and all the characters are so expressive. The only drawback was Sid, I like that he wants to be an artist and I get that he is getting bullied but I didn't like that Sid is mad/angry, at Otto, well, at just about everything for most of the book. Was he this mad at everything before he met Otto?

[sleepyeyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute graphic novel! It had such incredible artwork and an equally amazing story.

We follow Sid Crackin, a sixth-grader whose ambitions to attend a prestigious arts school fall through when he doesn’t win a tuition scholarship. Unbeknownst to Sid, when returning to his family’s failing seafood shop, Crackin Calamari, he discovers the talking octopus, Otto, who has mistakingly arrived in their small town Rone instead of the Italian capital, Rome. Otto is now hundreds of kilometers away from the ocean and needs Sid’s help to fulfill his operatic dreams in Italy. Will Sid be able to help Otto return to the sea, and find his way into the art school of his dreams?

This was a beautifully crafted graphic novel, touching on the importance of friendship. Otto’s and Sid’s relationship was a delight to watch grow, especially with all the fishy sarcastic comments. I loved how Dee was so supportive of her friends, and helped Sid stand up for himself.

The illustrations were so gorgeous! I loved how the main characters were designed after an octopus (with Sid’s messy hair that is always stuck in eight directions mimicking an octopus), and the supporting characters were designed after two sea creatures: one that helps octopus hunt, and one that hunts octopus. Very clever and well thought out!

Highly recommend to younger audiences who are looking for a graphic novel filled with amazing illustrations, role-model characters, and fishy puns.

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inked has been sitting on my TBR pile for a while, its bright, bold cover practically begging to be picked up. I haven’t read many graphic novels, but Karen Wasson and Jake A. Minton have created something genuinely charming and surprisingly heartfelt.

What stood out most was the simplicity and clarity of the storyline — that universal desire to figure out where we belong — paired with artwork that does a lot of the emotional heavy lifting. I've seen it often mentioned how expressive the characters are, and I completely agree: Sid, Otto, and Dee’s faces carry so much humour, tension, and warmth.

I loved watching the friendships develop, especially the evolving dynamic between Sid and Otto. Their reluctant, slightly chaotic partnership is a highlight — funny, prickly, and ultimately very tender.

The book balances quirky humour with thoughtful themes like belonging, bullying and chasing big dreams. It’s imaginative without being overwhelming, heartfelt without being heavy, and visually rich without ever feeling cluttered.

A vibrant, expressive and quietly powerful graphic novel — absolutely worth the read.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Super cute and genuinely original story for middle grade readers. If you liked Remarkably Bright Creatures and Marcellus, you’re going to love Otto. Otto is a braggadocious octopus who’s smart, hilarious, and never misses an opportunity to remind the nearby humans that he has nine brains and three hearts. He’s also chasing his dream of becoming an opera singer in Rome, because apparently being intellectually superior to humans in almost every way wasn’t enough.

There’s a familiar middle-grade storyline here involving kids trying to get into a prestigious arts high school, but Karen Wasson puts such a fun spin on it that it feels fresh. The art is well done, the characters are engaging, and Otto pretty much steals every scene he’s in. At this point I believe it’s only a matter of time before octopi overtake humans in all ways, so we might as well enjoy the ride—and apparently the opera—while we still can.

[Judy Wollin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this funny graphic novel. The story is engaging and humorous, and the illustrations are excellent. They add to both the story and the humour.
Sid finds a talking octopus in his school bag. That is not good news. School is hard enough, and he attracts enough bullying without being weirder.
Otto the octopus escaped from a fish food van and wants to get to Rome, Italy. He’s in Rone, a little lost and miles from the sea. The octopus baits Sid enough that he enters a competition where the prize is a strip to Sydney. Sid agrees, it is near the sea, and Otto could swim to Rome. It is the beginning of serious problems for Sid and Otto.
Recommended for readers aged eight years or older. Especially attractive to reluctant readers.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read as short-listed for CBCA younger readers 2026. Not usually a GN reader so this was a newer style of reading for me. I really enjoyed it. Sid’s family own a fish and chips shop and he comes across a lost talking octopus. They work together to try and make a plan to get him back home. Sid wants to go art school but can’t afford it so hatches a plan with Otto the octopus to enter the talent show. Otto is a great singing octopus, and eventually realises that he belongs at the fish shop with Sid’s family.
A sweet fun GN - year 4 and above is (even younger if mature reader)

[Lauren Makepeace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nominated for the CBCA awards for 2026, in the younger readers category, Inked follows the story of a boy in year 6 who needs money to get to art school. He meets Otto, the opera singing octopus, and while they don't get along, they devise a plan to win a talent show, get the cash for art school, and get Otto to the ocean so he can get to Rome.
This book has bullies, anxiety, financial stress, friendships, and themes of working together.
There were a few funny moments, and overall it's short and sweet.
Would recommend for ages 9-12.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inked is one of those graphic novels that completely surprised me. As a CBCA Notable Book, it absolutely deserves the recognition. It's delightfully absurd, laugh-out-loud funny and full of unexpected twists, but beneath all the chaos is a genuinely heartwarming story about an unlikely friendship, believing in yourself and finding where you belong. It's quirky, clever and the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after you've finished the last page.

[Isa Rive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky, funny with a big heart. About blending in, standing out and chasing your dreams. When a talking octopus Otto turns up in his parents shop, Sid thinks he’s going crazy. They both have big plans- Otto wants to sing opera in Rome, Sid desperately hopes to get into a prestigious art school. Stand out characters you love and gorgeous illustrations. Highly recommend to GN fans.

[Smitchy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story about a boy and an octopus who together can both achieve their dreams. I did this one as an audio book but I feel the graphic format would do better justice to the story. But the audio was still good. Happy to recommend to middle grade readers.

[Kirra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for the characters, five stars for the story, five stars for the illustrations (I'm obvs biased on this last one but they're so good and cute and perfect, Otto's little hands and Sid's grumpy little face and Dee's cute little cardigan and all the adorable little background details UGH IT'S SO GOOD).

[Shane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel was a cute read. I expected the talking, singing octopus to present a lot more hilarious moments, but enjoyed the overall storyline. I loved how supportive Dee was of Sid and the depiction of their friendship the most.

[Underland_Queen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic. Great plot and pacing. Bright and colourful comic book style illustrations based on fish with a message about sustainability and ocean conservation. Read in the Western standard of left-right, front to back.

[Zino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read and well deserved winner of the CBCA Book of the Year for Younger Readers! Loved all the characters and the illustrations were amazing. I slowly fell in love with the characters as the story progresses. Saw a lot of character growth and warmth in the story.

[Cat Panuccio · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

[Jen Nishi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartfelt and hilarious. Expertly drawn and written. I think this book will be ripped apart and held together with tape (and that is high praise from a school librarian)!

[Katie_Potatie · Rating 5 out of 5]

a quirky, silly, adorable kids story about an Octopus who wanted to leave the same place a young boy is trying to leave. It's just a cute story!

[Alice Malseed · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so so good! I would recommend to anyone! Is it a long read? No, but it’s great if you just want a book in your hand that will give you some laughs!

[Gisela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there was a way of attaching a photo of my favourite panels to explain why I love this book. You’ll just have to take my word for it that’s it’s charming and genuinely funny.

[Sarah Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Anna Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun, quirky graphic novel celebrating friendship.

[Helen.Styan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous little story. A detailed problem, cool characters with an unusual main character. Funny in parts. Loved it.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and ticks the Book Bingo Board!

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute, wonderful art work.

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 *

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute. A nice feel-good story.