Skip to content

The Library will be open on Monday, May 19 (Victoria Day) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more.

Loading... See Hours
Give
 Go to site search
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • Books & Media
        • Catalogue
        • New Books, DVDs, & More
        • Ebooks & Audiobooks
        • We Recommend
        • World Languages
        • Magazines & Newspapers
        • Music & Video Online
        • Suggest a Purchase
        • Featured Collections

          • North Shore Authors Collection
          • Health + Wellness Collection
          • For Book Clubs
          • Orchestra Collection
          • West Vancouver Collection
          • Permanent Art Collection
        • Adult Summer Reading Club
  • Events & Programs
        • Events Calendar
          • See All Events
          • For Adults
          • For Kids
          • For Early Years
        • About Our Programs
          • 75th Anniversary
          • Art Gallery
          • Music
          • English Language Learning
          • Technology
          • Climate Future
          • Honouring Reconciliation
          • Shared Journeys
          • Remembrance
          • Program Proposal
  • Research & Learn
    • Databases & Online Resources
    • Recommended Resources by Topic
      • Anti-racism
      • Coping with World Events
      • Income Tax
      • Indigenous Peoples in Canada
      • Newcomers
      • Seniors
      • See All / Search Resources
    • Online Courses
  • Kids & Teens
    • Books & More
    • Storytimes
    • Kids’ Programs
    • For Teens
    • For Educators
    • Supporting West Vancouver Students & Educators
  • Using the Library
    • Renovations
    • Ask Us / FAQ
    • Get a Library Card
    • How to Borrow
    • Interlibrary Loans
    • Location & Hours
    • Accessible Services
    • Public Spaces & Room Rentals
    • Computers & Technology
      • Recording Studio
      • Digitization on Demand Station
    • Exam Invigilation
    • Donate Materials
HomeRemarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

  • Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Read the book here.

  •  Last updated: September 23, 2023

on the web

Looking for reviews, author bios, and discussion questions to stimulate conversation? We’ve compiled these for you!

Loading...

*Shelby Van Pelt Biography

From the author's website.

Harper Collins Publishers: Reading Group Guide

Hypertext Magazine: Interview with Shelby Van Pelt

Kirkus Reviews: Remarkably Bright Creatures

A debut novel about a woman who befriends an octopus is a charming, warmhearted read.

LibroManiacs: Remarkably Bright Creatures Book Club Questions

Los Angeles Public Library Interview with Shelby Van Pelt

Reading Group Guides: Guide for Remarkably Bright Creatures

Seattle Times: ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ author Shelby Van Pelt on growing up in Tacoma, ‘stuckness’ and more

Washington Post: In ‘Remarkably Bright Creatures,’ an octopus tells a feel-good story

Humans love a good, old-fashioned morality tale told from the perspective of an animal. “Watership Down,” “Animal Farm,” “The One and Only Ivan”

UI / Icons / Top
75 wvml logo 350 x 100

Site Search

 Go to catalogue search
 Go to Events Calendar search
MENUMENU
  • Books & Media
  • Catalogue
  • New Books, DVDs, & More
  • Ebooks & Audiobooks
  • We Recommend
  • World Languages
  • Magazines & Newspapers
  • Music & Video Online
  • Suggest a Purchase
  • Featured Collections
    • North Shore Authors Collection
    • Health + Wellness Collection
    • For Book Clubs
    • Orchestra Collection
    • West Vancouver Collection
    • Permanent Art Collection
MENUMENU
  • Events & Programs
  • Events Calendar
    • See All Events
    • For Adults
    • For Kids
    • For Early Years
  • About Our Programs
    • Art Gallery
    • Music
    • English Language Learning
    • Technology
    • Climate Future
    • Honouring Reconciliation
    • Shared Journeys
    • Remembrance
    • Program Proposal
MENUMENU
  • Research & Learn
  • Databases & Online Resources
  • Online Courses
  • Recommended Resources by Topic
MENUMENU
  • Kids & Teens
  • Books & More
  • Storytimes
  • Kids’ Programs
  • For Teens
  • For Educators
  • Supporting West Vancouver Students & Educators
MENUMENU
  • Using the Library
  • Ask Us / Frequently Asked Questions
  • Get a Library Card
  • How to Borrow
  • Interlibrary Loans
  • Location & Hours
  • Accessible Services
  • Public Spaces & Room Rentals
  • Computers & Technology
  • Exam Invigilation
  • Donate Materials

West Vancouver Memorial Library

1950 Marine Drive
West Vancouver, BC
V7V 1J8

  •  604.925.7400
  •  Contact Us
  •  Google Map
MENUMENU
  • About
  • Policies
  • Plans & Reports
  • Library Board
  • Careers & Volunteering
  • History & Future
  • Reconciliation
  • Sustainability
  • Friends of the Library
MENUMENU
  • WVML Foundation
  • Who We Are
  • Ways to Give
  • Donor Recognition
  • Events
  • Recent Projects and Sustained Funding
  • Contact the Foundation
  • News
MENUMENU
  • News
  • In the News
  • Media Releases

Stay in touch!

 Subscribe to our newsletter

Past issues

Sign up for the What to Read Next newsletter

Facebook-f Instagram Linkedin Youtube

Privacy policy

Site by Affinity Bridge

© 2020 West Vancouver Memorial Library