I'm a well read grad student who's bluntly honest about all things, although I try to be most honest about myself.
There's a book I wanted to look into and I forgot the author's full name. And the title. Smith is the last name, and it was letters - A C or something - but it was about a neglected girl who befriends a Kraken and makes him promise not to hurt humans.
When he gets captured, she's the only thing that can save him.
Blargh. I will figure this out! But my google-foo is not working right now!
ETA: Found it! Got the author's last name wrong. But still found it. Sea Change by S.M. Wheeler.