Song of a Thousand Seas

By Zana Frallon

Reviewed by Mia Macrossan

Zana is the much awarded writer of picture books including The Gargoyle and The Curiosities and books for older readers such The Lost Soul Atlas and The Way of Dog, both reviewed in StoryLinks. She says the idea for this book came to her in a dream. I was an octopus. I saw through octopus eyes and felt my way with octopus arms. Song of a Thousand Seas is her valiant attempt to get as close to that dream as possible.

Zana Fraillon, broke new ground  with the powerful and emotive verse novel told from a dog’s point of view in Way of Dog and here she uses similar techniqes to bring us the intense first person narrative of Houdini the octopus, trapped in a tank, who longs with all of her nine brains, three hearts, and 3,154 suckers to be back home in the sea.  Paul, her keeper, brings her toys and Puzzles and boxes with snacks deep inside and toys that hide treats to munch on. We know he does it so we don’t feel so trapped like our brains are too buzzed like our skin is too small like we are all too empty, p10.

Often at night she wanders outside, looking for a way to get home. She has an ally in Joe the cleaner who sometimes finds her wandering about. But he always returns her to the tank. It is Juno, Paul’s daughter, suspended from school and told to make herself useful who forms a closer bond, who understands Houdini’s need to leave and helps her finally escape.

Zana uses very short verses, usually four to a page, to tell Houdini’s story. Her way of telling narrative is intense and focused, rich in figurative language but always immediate, compact and vigorous. The major theme is home, what is home, where is home, but friendship, connections, empathy, daring and initiative are also important.

This story provides so many avenues to explore after reading: the life of an octopus, the role of aquariums, relations between humans and animals; intelligence in animals; treatment of animals in captivity and more. At the heart is a very personal and touching portrait of someone who desperately needs and wants to go home. The fact that Houdini is an octopus and very different from us becomes irrelevant as we become immersed in her world – all through the magic of Zana’s masterful way with words.

This accessible story for young readers provides a deeply satisfying and challinging glimpse inside the life of an intelligent but trapped sea creature and raises many issues to explore if so desired.

Teacher’s Notes

University of Queensland Press 2025

Zana Fraillon