The Benefits of Being an Octopus

by Ann Braden

Edutopia's "25 Essential Middle School Reads from the Last Decade," NPR Best Book of 2018, Bank Street List for Best Children's Books of 2019, Named to the Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher List, Maine's Student Book Award List, Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award List, Rhode Island Middle School Book Award 2020 List, 2020 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Nominee, 2021 South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee, 2020-2021 Truman Award​ (Missouri) Nominee, Middle School Virginia Readers’ Choice Titles for 2020–2021​, Charlie May Simon Award 2020–2021 List, South Carolina Book Awards Nominee, 2020–2021, and 2023 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award nominee​.

Some people can do their homework. Some people get to have crushes on boys. Some people have other things they've got to do.

Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer.

At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it's best if no one notices them.

Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses.

Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia's situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they're better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?

This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.

• ISBN10: 1510737529
• ISBN13: 9781510737525
• Publish Date: 18 September 2018
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
• Imprint: Sky Pony Press
• Format: eBook (EPUB)
• Pages: 256
• Language: English

Reviews

[jnkay01]

Rating by the 11-year-old niece, who I think felt empowered by the story: "She was about my age and it was simply awesome!"

[mrs_mander_reads]

It was a happy coincidence that I read this on the heels of a YA novel about the same topics, but this was another graceful handling of the issues surrounding blended families, homelessness, food insecurities, etc. Great for middle grade readers who need to see themselves in books, or to expose more blessed kids to new issues.

[Sam@WLABB]

If Zoey were more like an octopus, she would have eight strong arms to help her take care of everything she has to juggle. If she were more like an octopus, she would be able to camouflage herself and go unnoticed at school. If she were more like an octopus, Zoey would be able to better protect her family and herself.

• Pro: Zoey owned my heart. Her emotions leapt off the page. I felt her frustration, exhaustion, and fears. She was weighed down with responsibilities and constant worry. Despite all that, her strength and her spirit, along with her "get it done" attitude still shone through.

• Pro: The relationship between Zoey and her siblings was very sweet. Did I think she should have practically been the primary caregiver for them? No, but she loved them, would sacrifice her own needs for them, and would do anything to protect them.

• Pro: Watching Zoey become more empowered was quite satisfying. She found her inner strength and her voice, which allowed her to speak up herself and for those who couldn't.

• Pro: I am not even going to pretend I knew a lot of octopuses before I read this book, but I think Zoey has convinced me as to what incredibly magnificent creatures they are. I loved all the octopus facts scattered throughout the book, and the way they were incorporated into the story. Utterly fascinating.

• Pro: Debate is quite an interesting activity, and I like seeing it featured in books. I loved when Zoey started using her debate techniques outside of debate club. Debate allowed Zoey to find her confidence and her voice, while also facilitating Zoey's examination of many of the issues affecting her life.

• Pro: There are a lot of issues touched upon in this book at some point: homelessness, addiction, foster care, gun control, mental abuse, but the one that stuck me the hardest was the examination of poverty. Zoey's situation broke my heart, and when I learned how grateful she was for what she had, my heart ached even more.

Overall: A sometimes sad, but ultimately hopeful portrait of young woman forced to grow up too quickly in the face of poverty and abuse, but who was able to find the strength, courage, and confidence to turn her situation around.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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