The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy
£6.99
When Marina discovers a boy with a head of tentacles and crab claws for hands, she resolves to help him unravel the mystery of his past … ‘Charming and delightful … a whimsical adventure story stuffed to the flippers with fish puns and fun.’ SAM SEDGMAN, CO-AUTHOR OF THE ADVENTURES ON TRAINS SERIES ‘The story has been polished like a pebble in a gift shop …
so charming and quirky is our voyage’ THE TIMES ‘Crammed to the gills with everything I want in a middle-grade book … I was swept right into the vivid world of Merlington and adored the larger-than-life characters deftly drawn in technicolour – they sing from the pages!’ JASBINDER BILAN, AUTHOR OF ASHA & THE SPIRIT BIRDMarina lives in Merlington, a fish-obsessed seaside town. Unfortunately, she doesn’t care for fish; she loves telling stories.
Marina finds her best story yet when she explores the ruined, haunted pier: a boy called William with a head of tentacles and crab claws for hands. He has lived on the pier all his life, cared for by a fisherman who has since disappeared and who warned him always to remain hidden. Together, the pair resolve to unravel the mystery of his past – but danger isn’t far away …
The debut novel by Richard Pickard, a fresh new voice in children’s fiction and winner of the Times/Chicken House Chairman’s Choice Award 2019. A funny, dark, core middle-grade story touching on themes of lies, storytelling, secrets, acceptance and, of course, fish! Perfect for fans of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and Edward Scissorhands!
