The Octopus Effect

Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you love to read or not, whether you like science or not, and whether you're a boy or a girl, this book is for
you
. . . because everybody wishes they could fly.

 

DUTTON CHILDREN'S BOOKS

A division of Penguin Young Readers Group

 

Published by the Penguin Group • Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, U.S.A. • Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) • Penguin Books Ltd, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England • Penguin Ireland, 25 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd) • Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty Ltd) • Penguin Books India Pvt Ltd, 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi - 110 017, India • Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd) • Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd, 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa • Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

 

 

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2009 by Fire-Breathing Bunnies, Inc., and Michael Reisman

 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, or broadcast.

 

The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

 

CIP Data is available.

 

Published in the United States by Dutton Children's Books,
a division of Penguin Young Readers Group
345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
www.penguin.com/youngreaders

 

eISBN : 978-1-101-08234-8

It is a secret organization responsible for making sure the universe runs smoothly. Sometimes the members even succeed. Among them are:

 

Janathus Misht •
Overseer of the Science Orders

Standrus Presst •
Lead Examiner and Chief Executive of the Board

Madda Roobet •
Chief Analyst of Keeper Affairs

 

Ralfagon Wintrofline •
Keeper of the Order of Physics

Gilio Skidowsa •
Keeper of the Order of Biology

Olvero Lombaro •
Keeper of the Order of Chemistry

Allobero Foreedaman •
Keeper of the Order of Astronomy

Skyrena McSteiner •
Keeper of the Math League

Solomonder Smithodrome •
Keeper of the Order of Psychology

 

Eldonna Pombina •
Assistant to Ralfagon. Don't forget your earplugs around her.

Simon Bloom (co-Keeper) •
He's a good person to name a book after.

Owen Walters •
He controls direction and speed, but nothing's as fast as how he talks.

Alysha Davis •
The electricity she absorbs/discharges is almost as jolting as her attitude.

Loisana Belane •
She shifts solids, liquids, and gases; useful with melted ice cream.

Willoughby Wanderby •
He'll spin you like a merry-go-round set to ultra-scary-fast.

Mermon Veenie •
He's big, he's bad, and he throws a mean bolt of lightning.

Robertitus Charlsus •
He'll make the ground--and you--shake.

Myarina Myashah •
Get on her bad side and it'll be worse than seven years of bad luck.

 

Flangelo Squicconi •
It's a bird, it's a plane . . . no, wait, it's a bird.

Kender •
He may look like a big bug, but it's
he
that might squash
you.

Targa •
She's basically a human espresso machine that also works in reverse.

Cassaro •
He attacks with a cloud of fungus, which is just as disgusting as it sounds.

Grawley •
Sure, he's fuzzy, but his bear hugs could really ruin your day. Or your life.

Kushwindro •
Jungles are filled with life, but he makes them try to end yours.

Preto •
Part man, part fish . . . all bad.

Kostaglos •
Never get into a spitting contest with this venomous fellow.

Zillafer •
She may be full of hot air, but her spikes make her nastier than any balloon.

Baharess •
Trust me, her belch is worse than her bite.

Trurya •
Now you see her, now you don't . . . see anything!

Najolo •
Alone he's a noisy little ape; with hundreds of his friends he's a party—a bad one.

Demara •
You'd better have more than insect repellent if she sends her swarms after you.

Jaynu •
Just because she glows doesn't mean she's very bright.

Cubec •
He can find you wherever you go, but that's about all he can do.

Branto •
His control over hibernation even puts him to sleep.

 

Krissantha •
She can make you go to pieces. Literally.

LaCurru •
Not your usual mad scientist-type; he's madder.

 

Miss Fanstrom (Keeper) •
Watches over history and the present (the hair and now).

Greygor Geryson •
Narrator for Order of Physics (and this book); quite a snappy dresser.

Sirabetta •
Her colorful tattoos are as pretty as a picture--a violent, deadly picture.