Lucy the Octopus

by Richy K. Chandler

Lucy is an incurably uncool teen, and an octopus. For no reason at all (other than that she isn't very "girly"), she is very unpopular, and even her parents don't like her! The only friend who will hang out with her in public is Puffy, her pet puffer fish. But Lucy's haters don't know that she is secretly an awesome guitarist, and she has been picked to join everyone's favourite local band, Lamington Fuzz. While Lucy rocks at doing her own thing, her classmates realise that spending time with the "cool kids" isn't all it's cracked up to be... Richy K. Chandler's latest graphic novel is a celebration of being who you are, and a story about why it pays to be kind. Bubbling with fun and wit, it will buoy up the self-esteem of children aged 9+, and is a delight to read for big kids of any age.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Animals

136 pages, Hardcover

First published April 19, 2018

About the author

Richy K. Chandler is a writer, illustrator and comic maker.

He is the creator of webcomic "Lucy the Octopus" and "WASP (Webcomic Artist Swap Project)", and co-creator of fairytale manga "Rosie and Jacinda". His comic publishing imprint, Tempo Lush, has released two "Tempo Lush Tales" anthologies, which Richy conceived and edited as well as contributing writing and artwork.

Richy is also the author and illustrator of the graphic novel "When Are You Going to Get a Proper Job?" published by Singing Dragon and the children’s picture book "You Make Your Parents SUPER HAPPY!" published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Richy has worked as a freelancer for Titan Comics, both writing (Almost Naked Animals, Wallace & Gromit, Adventure Time) and drawing (Dreamworks’ Home). He also illustrated Apples and Snakes’ The No Panic of Book of Not Panicking.

Richy runs comic workshops for children and adults, and shares a studio with a cat who also handles his finances.

Reviews

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucy the Octopus by Richy K. Chandler is a book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This book is for younger teens and is in graphic novel form. It is clever in how the author uses the sea and sea creatures to get his message across. Lucy is considered uncool even by her family until she ends up somewhere else. She also gains self esteem herself. The subject of bullying, low self-esteem and group perception is explorer tactfully. Enjoyed the artwork and creativity!

[Etienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny easy humor about a octopus that just don't fit in in any way. Teah it laugh about being rejected by others, so some people may find it offensive, but I think you can laugh about anything, doesn't mean everyone one need to find it funny, but there is a difference between humor and reality. It's still very soft and good, a bit repetitive by the style of humor, it's always more or less the same and it's done in three cases «jokes» but there is still an evolution, kind of a continuity between every three cases and there is a «story» that goes through all the book. Not awesome, but good, entertaining and it make me laugh so I think it has achevied it purpose!

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am highly disappointed in this book. Lucy is picked on by everyone. Her siblings, her schoolmates, her parents. She does make a friend, but wants to be a secret friend so the cool kids don’t find out. I thought things would pick up once Lucy earned the spot as the lead guitarist for her favorite band, but nope. She has to wear a watermelon helmet so her Uncool does not rub off on others. It doesn’t matter that she is the best guitar player, only how she looks. But it’s not just that. The author has other characters call Lucy and “fag”, a “dike”, etc. It just gets on my nerves. I almost didn’t finish this book. It was really close. Yes it does redeem itself in the end, but it takes over ¾ of the book for that to even begin. Just UGHHHH and NO!

[Jessi Bone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This adorable tale of Lucy the Octopus graphic novel for kids. Has adorable tales and beautiful artwork. It is an all-ages good read. The illustrations as well done and support the storyline beautifully. The Comic style helps keeps children and adults engaged. He short lesson between chapters is well done and reminds me of a lot of Pearls before Swine. Definitely, worth the cost for the book and the digital copy worked great on my tablet.

[Brooklyn || The Wild Library · Rating 1 out of 5]

NO. NO NO NO. I full review is coming but this book is absolutely terrible. Not only does it insult its main character, Lucy, by calling her a "fag," "dyke," and telling her that her purse and sandwich are "so gay," but 90% of the book is just other people (including Lucy's parents, siblings, and schoolmates) emotionally abusing and bullying her.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations in this book were well done. The book had its humorous moments and in the beginning, the bullying by peers and family did not seem that extreme but as the book progressed the bullying just seemed to be overdone. I am guessing this book is supposed to show that you can go through anything and still be a be a good person, that in the end you can overcome anything and things will get better. I would have enjoyed the book more if the positive aspects would have started earlier in the book. The end of the book was more enjoyable and things for our main character were more positive in the end. The illustrations and the end of the book are the only things that redeemed this book for me.

I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book supplied by NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of the publication via NetGalley.

The illustrations in this story are lovely, but like a lot of the other reviews, I felt like the bullying and abuse that Lucy took at the hands of family, peers, and pretty much everyone was a bit too much. I think that maybe half of the book could have been edited out and we'd have understood how awful people were being to her and how she was such a nice and decent individual.

I'm glad I did stick with it, because the ending is worth the ride. And for that alone, I bumped it up to 3 stars.

[Keily · Rating 1 out of 5]

I would not read this book to my children. I am so disappointed.

A book highlighting bullying - it could of been handled in a better way to raise awareness to children.

There are words used in this book that I do not want to say to my children IE Dyke and Fag. I feel as though the use of words were not correctly used.

It’s a no from me I’m afraid!

[Marlena Lang · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun, easy read but it tackles a tough topic. I believe this is a great comic for kids to teach them the results of bullying. I very much enjoyed the art style and the portrayal of Lucy. I would recommend this comic

[The Endless Unread · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely disgusting. This is satire at it's worst. Do not read this book. It is all about bullying in the worst possible sense. I felt disgusted at all the characters and even the octopus' own family?? This book just doesn't sit right with me.

[Elle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Let's rock monkeys!"

I used to think that art exaggerates the cruelties of the world to create sensationalized appeal. But you go out into the world and actually be out there to see and experience it, and you soon realize that cruelty at this level really does exist.

Or, going by this comicbook - cruel octopuses are out there, but most of them are merely driven by preconceived notions of what's cool and uncool and are often just stuck too far up their own asses or are far too afraid to step away from the herd for fear of being labeled a "freak."

Lucy the Octopus is a typical high school girl who's had to deal with being called a "freak" and a "weirdo" all her life - both in school and at home. Her sense of self-worth is literally down to negative zero that simple compliments are shocking for her and a hand offered in friendship makes her fear for the other party's reputation.

All that's keeping her together are Puffy, her pet Amazonian puffer fish, her guitar, and the legendary local band Lamington Fuzz.

The life-sustaining power of music, of a band whose body of work resonates with the deepest part of your soul, is something I can understand on a very personal level. For while Lucy has Lamington Fuzz, I have this band, and when nothing and nobody else works, their music is the beacon that always leads me back to shore.

And I thought it was so fitting that this was where Lucy first found a place to shine, following the first brave step she took outside of her comfort zone. She did have to disguise herself to fit in at first, but this just made her eventual acceptance into the band a learning experience for both herself and the other members of Lamington Fuzz.

There was also that school trip incident that brought the blue sea dragon, Sydney and his "I don't care about being cool" attitude into Lucy's life, which in turn led to many other significant changes in Lucy's world, and in the process also proving that one brave mouth standing up against a faulty norm, who's not afraid to dish out the crudest truths and make fun of the stupidest lies we tell ourselves, can create a tiny ripple of change that can eventually inspire others to take a stand.

This is the kind of radical storytelling that I believe should be available to young readers. It is a cruel, cruel world out there, and they need to understand that what they choose to become in and as a result of it will not only affect them as individuals, but will also define the kind of environment they create for themselves and for everybody else around them.

Will they be bullies, will they be bullied, or will they be the ones who take a stand?

Plus, the illustrations are simply adorable and are hard to resist.♥

I received a digital review copy of this comicbook from NetGalley.

[Carolina Colleene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Language: PG (10 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Being cool is a big deal. As uncool as Lucy is, she doesn’t have any friends and even her family wouldn’t be upset if she forgot where she lived and didn’t come home. Despite the opinions and actions of those around her, Lucy finds ways to thrive and pursue her dreams. Others can knock her down, but Lucy is the kind of octopus who gets back up and keeps going through prejudices, bullies, and sea monsters.
While this book exaggerates the need to be cool, I think it honestly reflects how it can feel to be labeled as “uncool” in school. I love that Lucy’s experiences highlight how optimism and talent can thrive despite bullying from others and encourage readers to find success being themselves -- even if it takes longer and is harder than looking for acceptance with the “cool” crowd. Throughout life, there are many times that we might feel excluded and picked on like Lucy, and I hope that we can all be a little more like Sydney: brave enough to be someone’s first friend and not care about the construct of being “cool.” Both the story and the illustrations were amazing and made me want to keep reading through the end.
Reviewed for https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Lucy the Octopus' by Richy K. Chandler is a series of comic strips about a very unpopular octopus.

Lucy is considered uncool by everyone in her life, even her siblings and parents. Her attempts to change that seem to fail, but Lucy just seems to roll with it. When her favorite band needs a new guitarist, Lucy ends up with the job, but only hafter wearing a watermelon over her head. But Lucy has her own ways of winning others over.

I really liked this story of an outsider. I liked how the story built over the course of the book. The art is bright and fun, and there are even some different art styles along the way.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Jessica Kingsley Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Rakie Keig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a bit surprised by the number of negative reviews of this. It was (imo) a perfectly fine book of comic strips about an octopus who's bullied by pretty much everyone she knows. The kids at school are (almost all) horrible, homophobic, racist, and completely unrepentant; the teachers turn a disinterested eye; Lucy's parents are almost cartoonishly neglectful. It's an overblown and distorted version of a comic staple, a bit like Charlie Brown turned up to 11, if Charlie Brown was an octopus. In that way, it's not going to be easy or funny for a lot of people, but I liked it.

[Jacob Coats · Rating 1 out of 5]

Narrative centers around the main character being emotionally abused by everyone in her life, which is played for laughs. Said abuse goes unchallenged by the narrative, as does the use of homophobic language ("fag" and "dyke"). I don't know who thought this was a good idea to publish as a kids book, or at all for that matter.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overstuffed with bullying and too little redemption too late in the book. About half of this book could have been paired down.

And not once did I actually see Lucy with 8 legs. Some octopus.

[Kai Alexander · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the art style and some of the humour within this book however the story itself did nothing for me. I felt as though I was having to drag myself to finish, even though it is a shorter graphic novel, the way our main character is treated really put me off of wanting to continue. Lucy is treated as uncool/unpopular and often forgotten about, even by her siblings and parents, until one day she is able to find confidence in herself. The story idea in itself is a good one and I think it has the potential to offer an important message to young teens. I understand that often times we can feel unseen and forgotten about even by the ones that are closes to us. It does redeem itself in the end but the way most of the characters behave is grating for the majority of the story.

*I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. *

[Andréa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Note: I accessed digital review copies of this book through NetGalley and Edelweiss.

[Emily · Rating 1 out of 5]

I quit reading “Lucy the Octopus” on page 15 because I couldn’t handle the intense bullying (it seemed gratuitous and like it was supposed to be funny, but failed.) I hope that a lesson showed up later, but I couldn’t read any more to find out, unfortunately. The art was colorful and I did like that.