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.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? August 13, 2018

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers. A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Night Diary

By Veera Hiranandani

Set in the late 1940's, this is a powerful story about what happens to a family who is forced to leave the newly "created" Pakistan and make the dangerous journey to India.

The Cardboard Kingdom

By Chad Sell

A great graphic novel about a group of diverse neighborhood kids and how they decide to entertain themselves over the summer.

Illegal

By Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin

A heartbreaking graphic novel about a young refugees journey from Africa to Europe. Definitely more young adult than middle grade!

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster

By Jonathan Auxier

I loved this middle grade story about a young orphan and her hard life as a chimney sweep in Victorian London.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus

By Ann Braden

WOW! I haven't read a book this powerful in quite some time! A full review coming this week.

The Dollar Kids

By Jennifer Richard Jacobson

I enjoy everything by Jennifer Richard Jacobson and this one is no different! Another good, and pretty powerful, middle grade story about how Lowen, the main character, deals with some serious guilt that he has after something terrible happens to someone he knows.  

Pay Attention Carter Jones

By Gary D. Schmidt

Both funny and serious, an entertaining story that includes a lot about cricket! :)

Wonderland

By Barbara O'Connor

Another great story about friendship by Barbara O'Connor!

Here are the books I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Mad Wolf's Daughter

By Diane Magras

I was lucky enough to meet Diane Magras at a book signing last week. I have heard a lot of good buzz about this book and am excited to start it!

Louisiana's Way Home

By Kate DiCamillo

Kate DiCamillo...enough said!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? July 16, 2018

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers! A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Great Treehouse War

By Lisa Graff

This title had been on my to read list for quite some time. Then, about a month ago, I was cleaning off one of the rarely looked at bookshelves in my bedroom and lo and behold I realized I had a copy! I think maybe I had gotten it at an NCTE before really knowing anything about it and then when I got home I put it on the bookshelf and forgot about it. The story was as entertaining as I had heard it would be. I will look forward to adding this one to my classroom bookshelves in the fall!

The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora

By Pablo Cartaya

I listened to the audio version of this one and it was really good! I really enjoyed the voice of the person narrating the story. This story is a bit older (the main character has a love interest), but I think I may still get a copy for my classroom because it is such a good story.

The Outlandish Adventures of Liberty Aimes

By Kelly Easton

This one had been my independent reading time book at the end of the school year. I hadn't quite finished it by the last day of school so it came home with me! A really cute and entertaining story about a girl with pretty crummy parents who has never been allowed to leave her house. One fateful day she breaks into her fathers basement "laboratory" and discovers some things that will change the course of her families life.

Halfway Normal

By Barbara Dee

I got this one from NCTE last November. Every time I picked it up and reminded myself of the story, I decided that it sounded too sad for me at that moment and put it back on the shelf. A few weeks ago I decided that I was finally ready to tackle it and it turns out that it didn't need tackling, that it wasn't quite as sad as I had expected it to be! It ended up being a really good story about friendship, bravery, and figuring out who you really are. 

This one is a bit older so I think I will send my copy over to the middle school.

A Corner of the Universe

Ann M. Martin

So, unlike Halfway Normal, this one ended up being quite a bit sadder then I had anticipated! I was still happy I read it though as it is a pretty powerful story about family, friendship, acceptance and understanding.

Sunny

By Jason Reynolds

This is the third book in Jason Reynolds' Track series. I really enjoyed Ghost and Patina and therefore was not surprised that I enjoyed this one as well! Though this one was written in a bit of a different style than the first two books and it took me a few pages to get the "rhythm" of the story. I look forward to the last book in the series, Lu, due out at the end of October.

Here are the books I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Thief Lord

By Cornelia Funke

I'm not sure how I haven't read this title before now as I absolutely love Cornelia Funke! Her Inkheart trilogy is one of my top favorite series, right there with Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings! I am listening to the audiobook on CD and am looking for reasons to get in my car as often as possible (only place where I have a CD player)! I was hooked within the first five minutes of listening and will be sad when it's over.

See You in the Cosmos

By Jack Cheng

I have had this one on my to read list for awhile, but as I thought it might be too old for my classroom, I had been waiting to get it from the library. The idea of the story is a very interesting one. The main character is making recordings that he plans to send to outer space so that whatever other life forms are out there can learn a little bit about earth. Each chapter is one of the recordings. I am definitely enjoying the story so far!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 28, 2018

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers! A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list.

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Front Desk

By Kelly Yang

I finished this one in just 2-3 days! A very interesting story about an immigrant family who is trying to make it in America. The main character Mia, and her parents, end up managing a hotel under the harsh supervision of the mean and racist owner. The thing that made this story even more interesting was the fact that much of it is based on the author's life! I think it may become my first or second read aloud next school year.

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

By Stephanie Burgis

This title is on our state's student book award list (Maine Student Book Award) for 2018-2019 so I decided to give it a read! An entertaining story about a young female dragon who sneaks out of her families cave in order to prove herself. She's only out of her cave for a few minutes when she is tricked by a mage and is turned into a human. The rest of the story is how she survives as a human and how she finally figures out what her passion is. I can see why this one made the list and imagine it will be passed around the classroom quite a few times next school year!

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Podkin One-Ear

By Kieran Larwood

Still reading this one during independent reading time in my classroom. Still enjoying it!

Posted

By John David Anderson

This one has been in my to read pile to quite a while. I finally decided to read it because it is also on our student book award list for 2018-2019. I am only on the second chapter, but I have high hopes!

The Way of Mindful Education

By Daniel Rechtschaffen

I am reading this one for a graduate level course I am taking this summer.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? May 21, 2018

Wow! Again, it has been way too long since I have written a blog post! With the end of the school year drawing closer, I vow to try and keep up with my blog and post on a more regular basis. I am really looking forward to some of the amazing books I have in my to read pile as summer quickly approaches! For all you other teachers out there, good luck with the last few miles of the school year marathon!

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers! A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list!

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Star Girl

By Jerry Spinelli

I'm not sure why I had never read this one before. I think I was under the impression that it was way too old for m 4th grade classroom, so it just kept getting put further and further down the pile. While the characters are a little on the older side and there is a bit of kissing, the theme itself is a good one. I think most of my 4th graders could handle the mild kissing scenes and would get a lot out of the message of be yourself and accept others the way they are.

Rebound

By Kwame Alexander

I had this one preordered and started it the day it arrived in my mailbox. I loved The Crossover and was really looking forward to learning more about Chuck Bell when he was a kid. I enjoyed the story almost as much as The Crossover, and I really liked the connection this book made back to The Crossover at the end of the book!

The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell

By Chris Colfer

This series has been in my classroom for ages, but for some reason I never had much desire to read it.  I suppose part of the reason is that I was being a bit judgy and didn't hold out a whole lot of hope that Chris Colfer, Glee star, would be able to write a decent chapter book. But as I was poking through my book stacks a few weeks ago I came across this title again, and for some reason, this time, I decided it was time to give it a read. Turns out my students had been right all along, and indeed I had been too harsh to judge Chris Colfer, because this book is very entertaining! I love the fairy tale aspect of it as well as how the two main characters deal with a really tough time in their life. I might even have to read book #2!

Marabel and the Book of Fate

By Tracy Barrett

As was The Wishing Spell, this title was also a pretty entertaining fantasy! The thing I liked most about this story is that everyone in the story looks up to Marabel's twin brother Marco because he is a boy, but in the end Marabel is the one who actually saves the day.

Bob

By Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead

With a title and cover like this, how could you not pick this one up off the shelf! Really sweet story about family, friendship, and helping one another out.

The Stars Beneath Our Feet

By David Barclay Moore

I listened to the audio version of this one and it was amazing! It was narrated by Nile Bullock who seems to be a similar age to the main character Lolly. This fact really made me feel like Lolly was telling the story. This made me feel that much more connected to him and his story. The story itself is also a great one about a boy who is trying to survive life living in a tough neighborhood where everyone expects you to grow up to be a nobody or die trying.

The Parker Inheritance

By Varian Johnson

Great mystery about two kids who are each having a rough summer for different reasons and how they band together to solve a mystery that no one believes is real. Johnson did an amazing job of tackling tough topics such as divorce, bullying, racism, and sexual identity in a way that is appropriate for the younger MG reader!

Amal Unbound

By Aisha Saeed

As soon as it was announced that this book would be the MG title for this year's Global Read Aloud, I preordered a copy! It took me about 2 days to read this amazing story about what life is like for those living in countries where indentured servitude still exists. A powerful story about what is possible when you dare to have the courage to speak up for yourself and fight for your rights. I will definitely be reading this to my 4th graders next October as part of the Global Read Aloud (https://theglobalreadaloud.com/)!

The Someday Birds

By Sally J. Pla

This book moved to the top of my pile when a colleague of mine told me how much she loved it. Another great story about how to overcome your fears and how to survive really uncomfortable situations when a loved one needs you.

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Front Desk

By Kelly Yang

Really excited to get an early copy of this one through my last Scholastic book order! I have been hearing so much about this book that I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and get started. I started it last night and am already having a hard time putting it down!

Podkin One-Ear

By Kieran Larwood

This book is on our state's student book award list for 2018-2019 so I decided to make it my independent reading time book at school. I am only a few chapters in, but I can already tell that this one is going to be popular with my 4th graders!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? April 2, 2018

March was a busy month for me with parent/teacher conferences, report cards, state testing, etc and I let my blog posting slide a bit. I didn't let my reading slide though! Check out all of the great books I read in March!

A great meme hosted by Jen at Teach Mentor Texts and Kellee at Unleashing Readers! A place for people to talk about books they have recently read and are currently reading. Also a great place to find books to add to your "must read" list!

Here is what I have recently read (click on the title to learn more about the book):

The Cruel Prince

By Holly Black

I listened to the audiobook of this one and really enjoyed it! I am a fan of Holly Black and liked the more "grown up" feel of this story.

A Whole New Ballgame

By Phil Bildner

I had fun reading this book alongside one of my students. I appreciated the diverse set of characters that Bildner put into this story and I look forward to reading more about Rip and Red in Rookie of the Year!

Words With Wings

By Nikki Grimes

As always, Nikki Grimes doesn't disappoint! I loved everything about this book: the way it was written, the characters, the topic, the message...everything!

The Magic Misfits

By Neil Patrick Harris

How could I pass up reading an early MG fantasy book written by Doogie Howser/Barney Stinson! Well I couldn't and I am glad I didn't. A very fun and entertaining book about family, friendship, and of course, magic! Looking forward to the next one, The Magic Misfits: The Second Story!

Hello, Universe

By Erin Entrada Kelly

This year's Newbery medal winner so of course I had to read it as soon as I could get my hands on a copy! Get it, read it!

Anne of Green Gables: A Graphic Novel

Adapted By Mariah Marsden

Loved watching Anne of Green Gables when I was a kid and loved this graphic novel adaptation!

The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

By Leslie Connor

I had been hearing a lot of buzz bout this book so was very excited when it showed up in my students Scholastic book order flyers! I purchased a copy for my classroom, but took it home so that I could read it first. I truly enjoyed getting to know Mason and couldn't put the book down as I watched his story unfold.

Here is what I am currently reading (click on the title to learn more about the book):

Absolutely Truly

By Heather Vogel Frederick

This one had been sitting on my shelf for quite some time and I finally decided to open it up and give it a read! Only a few chapters in, but so far so good!

The Wild Robot Escapes

By Peter Brown

I read The Wild Robot to my students last year and we all loved it so much that I immediately preordered The Wild Robot Escapes! It just came out about two weeks ago and I only have a few chapters remaining. I don't usually enjoy sequels as much as the first book, but that is not the case with Roz! Loved the first one and am loving the second one as well!

Review of The Science of Breakable Things by By Tae Keller

The Science of Breakable Things

By Tae Keller

Published By Random House Books for Young Readers

March 6, 2018

ARC Obtained through NetGalley

Goodreads Summary:

How do you grow a miracle? 

For the record, this is not the question Mr. Neely is looking for when he says everyone in class must answer an important question using the scientific method. But Natalie's botanist mother is suffering from depression, so this is The Question that's important to Natalie. When Mr. Neely suggests that she enter an egg drop competition, Natalie has hope. 

Eggs are breakable. Hope is not. 

Natalie has a secret plan for the prize money. She's going to fly her mother to see the Cobalt Blue Orchids--flowers that survive against impossible odds. The magical flowers are sure to inspire her mother to love life again. Because when parents are breakable, it's up to kids to save them, right?

My Thoughts:

I was excited to get a copy of this ARC through NetGalley as I had been hearing a lot of buzz about this book! I was not disappointed!  

I really enjoyed getting to know Natalie as she tries to navigate through a tough time in her life. Natalie's mother seems to have given up on the things that she used to enjoy in life. Natalie spends her days trying to figure out ways to help her mother love life again. Along the way, Natalie realizes how important friendships are. She also learns some important things about herself and about family.

I would recommend this book for grades 4 and up!