Maile Meloy

See definition: orientalism.
This book has it.

I am so pleasantly surprised by this delightful read! She timed this historical fiction perfectly, and combined two opposite locations that sparked so much curiosity with the characters: L.A. & London. Using the Soviet & US atomic weapons race, blacklisted Hollywood writers finding work in England, the dreamy-sounding Chelsea Physic garden, an interesting bunch of characters, makes me want to read the second book. I liked the older age of the protagonists & the faced-paced adventure.

A bright, red-orange octopus loves his life in the ocean, and when he is scooped up and deposited in an aquarium, he plots his escape back home.

What a lovely book and a pleasant surprise! I had won a copy of this book years ago and never got around to reading it, but I'm so pleased I picked it up. The historical details are well-researched and woven into the story. The characters are fully fleshed-out and delightful. Janie, Benjamin, and Pip make a wonderful trio. The magical details added a fantastic element to a story full of courage, love, and friendship.