Review of The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

The Benefits of Being an Octopus

By Ann Braden

Published by Sky Pony Press

September 4, 2018

ARC Obtained Through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

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.

My Thoughts:

I had been hearing a lot of great things about this book so needless to say I was very excited when I was able to get an ARC from NetGalley. Zoey, the main character, lives a hard and busy life. She is trying to survive middle school while at the same time taking care of her younger siblings. Unlike other kids her age, Zoey doesn't really have time to be a kid because she has to get her siblings up and to daycare in the morning, get herself to school on time, get them off the bus after she gets out of school, then make sure they behave at "home" so that they don't disturb her mother's new boyfriend Lenny and his angry father. This is a tough job in and of itself seeing as they are all packed into Lenny's trailer and her brother and sister are young and full of energy. Dealing with Lenny is also hard because of his often uncaring and hurtful words towards her, her siblings, and especially towards her mother. But Zoey's family doesn't have enough money to move out on their own so Zoey believes that this is how her life will always be...dirty second hand clothes, barely any food in the fridge, listening to her mother get verbally abused, and feeling like her peers are better then her.

I was sucked into this book right away. I was desperate to find out what was going to become of Zoey and her family. Zoey's story also made me think about the number of students in my classroom every year that probably also live in situations similar to Zoey's and feel the same way she does, that they are trapped in a life where they are worthless. I thought this story was one of the most powerful stories I have read in a long time. I think it might be a bit old for my 4th grade classroom library, but I am definitely going to purchase a copy to keep in my closet, as I know that at some point I will have a student in my classroom who really needs it.

I would recommend this book for grades 5 and up.