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The Keeper of the Octopus
Engaging, heartfelt and imaginative - magical realism from the award-winning author of Evie and Rhino
Since her father sailed away, Uncle Isaac is the only family Pippy has left. Together they spend their days fishing off the coast, until one day Pippy is knocked into the sea and rescued by a gentle, giant creature …
Uncle Isaac knows it’s time to tell Pippy the truth. Pippy is the descendent of a long line of Keepers – the Keeper of the Octopus, responsible for the giant octopus who protects the fisherfolk of the village. At first, Pippy is hesitant to meet Octavia, but soon the octopus is sharing her dreams with Pippy and they recognise each other as kindred spirits. But when the Calamary Brothers come to Portablow, she learns of their search for a particular giant octopus. It's up to Pippy - and her rag-tag crew of a cat, a dog, a hobgoblin called Ferg and an albatross – to rescue Octavia from the Calamary’s clutches.
Since her father sailed away, Uncle Isaac is the only family Pippy has left. Together they spend their days fishing off the coast, until one day Pippy is knocked into the sea and rescued by a gentle, giant creature …
Uncle Isaac knows it’s time to tell Pippy the truth. Pippy is the descendent of a long line of Keepers – the Keeper of the Octopus, responsible for the giant octopus who protects the fisherfolk of the village. At first, Pippy is hesitant to meet Octavia, but soon the octopus is sharing her dreams with Pippy and they recognise each other as kindred spirits. But when the Calamary Brothers come to Portablow, she learns of their search for a particular giant octopus. It's up to Pippy - and her rag-tag crew of a cat, a dog, a hobgoblin called Ferg and an albatross – to rescue Octavia from the Calamary’s clutches.
- GenresFantasy
269 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 12, 2026
This was a heartfelt tale about a 10 yr old girl, Pippy, who inherits the job of Keeper of the Octopus when her mother dies. Her dad, consumed by grief, sails away leaving Pippy with her Uncle Isaac whose memory is not what it once was. The giant octopus, Octavia, lives in the bay and Pippy must learn her responsibilities to keep her fed and close by to protect the town from sharks.
This would be an excellent read for those children moving on from chapter books. The age of the mc is right, the language is accessible and the story is full of animals, adventure, and heart.
This would be an excellent read for those children moving on from chapter books. The age of the mc is right, the language is accessible and the story is full of animals, adventure, and heart.
August 3, 2025
Book Review: Keeper of the Octopus
Pippy is fierce and brave, but she is also openly grieving the devastating loss of both her mother and father to the sea. Now living with her uncle — who is battling early dementia and memory loss — Pippy’s life is filled with emotional challenges. The story handles her uncle’s condition with gentleness and respect, showing the strength of family bonds even as memories begin to fade.
With the support of her cleverly-named, ocean-themed friends, Pippy embarks on a journey of self-discovery, ultimately realising she is not only the Keeper of the Octopus but also the protector of the ocean itself.
When three villainous brothers begin greedily hunting and overfishing the waters, Pippy knows she must take a stand. The ocean creatures, voiceless and vulnerable, cannot defend themselves — but Pippy can. With fierce determination, she fights to protect the delicate balance of life beneath the waves, facing off against the brothers' ruthless exploitation of the sea.
Alongside her is Octavia, a kind, patient, and intuitive giant octopus who watches over the town at the river mouth. Octavia carries a secret of her own, one that entwines with Pippy’s destiny in surprising ways.
Keeper of the Octopus is a heartwarming and adventurous tale of courage, friendship, and environmental guardianship. It explores themes of grief, memory loss, and caring for loved ones with sensitivity, while celebrating the importance of standing up for those who cannot defend themselves — whether they are family, friends, or the creatures of the ocean.
Pippy is fierce and brave, but she is also openly grieving the devastating loss of both her mother and father to the sea. Now living with her uncle — who is battling early dementia and memory loss — Pippy’s life is filled with emotional challenges. The story handles her uncle’s condition with gentleness and respect, showing the strength of family bonds even as memories begin to fade.
With the support of her cleverly-named, ocean-themed friends, Pippy embarks on a journey of self-discovery, ultimately realising she is not only the Keeper of the Octopus but also the protector of the ocean itself.
When three villainous brothers begin greedily hunting and overfishing the waters, Pippy knows she must take a stand. The ocean creatures, voiceless and vulnerable, cannot defend themselves — but Pippy can. With fierce determination, she fights to protect the delicate balance of life beneath the waves, facing off against the brothers' ruthless exploitation of the sea.
Alongside her is Octavia, a kind, patient, and intuitive giant octopus who watches over the town at the river mouth. Octavia carries a secret of her own, one that entwines with Pippy’s destiny in surprising ways.
Keeper of the Octopus is a heartwarming and adventurous tale of courage, friendship, and environmental guardianship. It explores themes of grief, memory loss, and caring for loved ones with sensitivity, while celebrating the importance of standing up for those who cannot defend themselves — whether they are family, friends, or the creatures of the ocean.
October 27, 2025
Fans of The Last Bear and Neridah's earlier book, Evie and Rhino will enjoy The Keeper of the Octopus; a middle grade fiction story inspired by a real-life vintage news article (as described in the Author's Note). This book features fantasy with a hint of magic and a ton of heart. It is a maritime adventure about friendship and finding your inner strength, touching on modern environmental themes of overfishing and habitat destruction.
October 21, 2025
‘Pippy knew, then and there, that she needed Octavia, and that Octavia needed her.’
MGM Review #39 - The Keeper of the Octopus
After Neridah’s middle grade debut, Evie and Rhino, was shortlisted for CBCA’s Young Reader Book of the Year, you just knew we were in for a little bit of magic with this one
Young Pippy lives in the seaside village of Portablow with her aging Uncle Isaac, house brownie hobgoblin Ferg, and a line of loyal animals in her wake. But her world changed 9 months ago when her Mama died in a boating accident & her Papa, filled with grief, never returned from a fishing trip. To aid her grief, Uncle Isaac reveals to Pippy that she is the descendant of a long line of Keepers, responsible for Octavia the Octopus, who protects the fisherfolk of the village. No sooner has she found this out, when the Calamary brothers come to town, in search of a certain giant octopus whilst also wreaking havoc on the local sealife. With her motley crew by her side, will Pippy be able to save Octavia & rebalance the seas or will the Calamary brothers take away everything that is precious to Pippy & her village?
This was magic realism at its best, with vivid depictions of the unique connection between Octavia & Pippy, alongside some mesmerising descriptions of the underwater scenery, and some heart in your mouth moments at its conclusion. With themes of grief, loss, friendship, community & environment, there’s something for everyone in this one & the story lends itself to many rich discussions in the classroom. Personally for me, it was the beautiful collection of characters alongside Pippy that stood out - the comforting dog, the loyal albatross, the sassy cat & of course the majestic octopus. But I just loved young Wally - he was a broken boy, a downtrodden sidekick, and even though he was battling his own limitations & confidence, he always stood by Pippy’s side.
Congratulations Neridah on a beautiful story.
MGM Review #39 - The Keeper of the Octopus
After Neridah’s middle grade debut, Evie and Rhino, was shortlisted for CBCA’s Young Reader Book of the Year, you just knew we were in for a little bit of magic with this one
Young Pippy lives in the seaside village of Portablow with her aging Uncle Isaac, house brownie hobgoblin Ferg, and a line of loyal animals in her wake. But her world changed 9 months ago when her Mama died in a boating accident & her Papa, filled with grief, never returned from a fishing trip. To aid her grief, Uncle Isaac reveals to Pippy that she is the descendant of a long line of Keepers, responsible for Octavia the Octopus, who protects the fisherfolk of the village. No sooner has she found this out, when the Calamary brothers come to town, in search of a certain giant octopus whilst also wreaking havoc on the local sealife. With her motley crew by her side, will Pippy be able to save Octavia & rebalance the seas or will the Calamary brothers take away everything that is precious to Pippy & her village?
This was magic realism at its best, with vivid depictions of the unique connection between Octavia & Pippy, alongside some mesmerising descriptions of the underwater scenery, and some heart in your mouth moments at its conclusion. With themes of grief, loss, friendship, community & environment, there’s something for everyone in this one & the story lends itself to many rich discussions in the classroom. Personally for me, it was the beautiful collection of characters alongside Pippy that stood out - the comforting dog, the loyal albatross, the sassy cat & of course the majestic octopus. But I just loved young Wally - he was a broken boy, a downtrodden sidekick, and even though he was battling his own limitations & confidence, he always stood by Pippy’s side.
Congratulations Neridah on a beautiful story.
February 1, 2026
The Keeper of the Octopus was a charming and adventurous Australian middle-grade novel that completely immersed me in its sense of time and place. The author’s vivid descriptions of the small, seaside town of Portablow, the local marine life and the world beneath the waves were some of the book’s greatest strengths and I felt I was part of the community.
Young Pippy and her friend Wally were standout characters: resourceful, brave, intelligent, and deeply compassionate. Their bond, and their determination to do what was right, anchored the story beautifully. The supporting cast of animals was equally delightful, from the grumpy sea cat Buccaneer to the loyal albatross Fairweather and old Mussels, Poppy’s steadfast dog. However, the true star, was Octavia, the giant octopus who protected the town at the mouth of the river. She was wonderful - mysterious, wise, tender, and filled with personality, and she reminded me of Marcellus in Remarkably Bright Creatures, whom I adored. The unique bond between Pippy and Octavia was touching.
Despite its whimsy, the novel didn’t shy away from serious themes: grief, loss, dementia, friendship, community, deep-sea dredging, environmental sustainability, and the ethical complexities of keeping wild animals in captivity. These topics were handled with sensitivity and depth, offering excellent opportunities for classroom conversations without ever overwhelming the narrative. The cephalopod facts woven throughout were informative but never intrusive, and enhanced the depth of the story.
Overall, The Keeper of the Octopus was magical realism at its best - engaging, heartfelt, imaginative, and thought-provoking. I’d love to see it shortlisted for the 2026 CBCA Book of the Year. A wonderful read for middle-school students.
Young Pippy and her friend Wally were standout characters: resourceful, brave, intelligent, and deeply compassionate. Their bond, and their determination to do what was right, anchored the story beautifully. The supporting cast of animals was equally delightful, from the grumpy sea cat Buccaneer to the loyal albatross Fairweather and old Mussels, Poppy’s steadfast dog. However, the true star, was Octavia, the giant octopus who protected the town at the mouth of the river. She was wonderful - mysterious, wise, tender, and filled with personality, and she reminded me of Marcellus in Remarkably Bright Creatures, whom I adored. The unique bond between Pippy and Octavia was touching.
Despite its whimsy, the novel didn’t shy away from serious themes: grief, loss, dementia, friendship, community, deep-sea dredging, environmental sustainability, and the ethical complexities of keeping wild animals in captivity. These topics were handled with sensitivity and depth, offering excellent opportunities for classroom conversations without ever overwhelming the narrative. The cephalopod facts woven throughout were informative but never intrusive, and enhanced the depth of the story.
Overall, The Keeper of the Octopus was magical realism at its best - engaging, heartfelt, imaginative, and thought-provoking. I’d love to see it shortlisted for the 2026 CBCA Book of the Year. A wonderful read for middle-school students.
November 8, 2025
This is such a heartwarming story. Even though it is written in a simple, childlike style perfect for middle grade readers, I enjoyed the charm and love in the story as an adult.
Since her father sailed away, Pippy has lived with Uncle Isaac, spending her days fishing until she is rescued from the sea by a gentle, giant octopus. She soon discovers she is part of a long line of Keepers, responsible for protecting the village’s octopus. With her rag-tag crew of a cat, a dog, a hobgoblin and an albatross, Pippy must protect Octavia from the Calamary Brothers.
It is a sweet, adventurous tale full of friendship, courage and wonder.
Since her father sailed away, Pippy has lived with Uncle Isaac, spending her days fishing until she is rescued from the sea by a gentle, giant octopus. She soon discovers she is part of a long line of Keepers, responsible for protecting the village’s octopus. With her rag-tag crew of a cat, a dog, a hobgoblin and an albatross, Pippy must protect Octavia from the Calamary Brothers.
It is a sweet, adventurous tale full of friendship, courage and wonder.
November 25, 2025
A delightful read! Even as an adult the book was very enjoyable. The book covers some big themes like loss, grief, letting go and sustainability really beautifully and would be great for young kids. I really have no complaints for this book, recommend
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January 18, 2026What a giant octopus hug of a book. I loved every word!
January 24, 2026
A beautiful story! I can see this being a read-aloud book to 10 + year olds. Another book that some adults will enjoy as well.
April 30, 2026
Slowly reading this book over the month.
Really nice story.
Really nice story.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews