The Benefits to Being an Octopus was a captivating read for me. I loved reading about Zoey and her life. Even after finishing the book I find myself relating Zoey to friends I have known, students I have had or will have, and adults too. Ann Braden has captured the true feeling of how a middle school student may feel when they are juggling more than one should deem fit for such a young soul. Not to spoil the read, but I found myself laughing, crying and wishing so much for the young lady in the story. I wanted to know more about her "friend" who lived next door. I cheered Zoey on through the book. I found myself helping her make plans and rooting for her every thought. I loved how she had adults that encouraged her and helped her find her way. I finished the book wanting more. I almost need a part two to know that she made a great life and maybe even helped others like herself in the future. I am so appreciative to Netgalley.com for allowing me to read an advanced copy and will be adding a copy to my own classroom library! If you haven't pre-ordered a copy you can! Just click the link in the first sentence and enjoy. I surely did!

I received this book as an ARC for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Zoey Albro is little girl with grown-up problems. She lives with her mother and three siblings in a trailer belonging to her mother’s boyfriend, Lenny. Life is difficult for all of them and life with Lenny is even more difficult. The tragedy is that Zoey, initially thinks living with Lenny is some great gift that has been bestowed upon them simply because it is a step up from their old living conditions.
In the beginning of the book we see that Zoey has a fascination with the octopus. Her quote “...because anything that can start out floating around defenseless in the ocean that size--and then defeat the odds to grow into this powerful creature--has to mean business.," is a foreshadow of Zoey herself.
This book gives us a glimpse into rural poverty and the children affected by it. Zoey’s character is three dimensional and believable. There is heartbreak in watching Zoey struggle, while all the chips are stacked against her. She has dirty clothes, her mother is in a toxic relationship, her best friend has similar struggles and she just cannot seem to get her homework in. There is a glimmer of hope when Zoey’s teacher begins to take an interest in her and asks her to join the debate club. The effect of having an adult treat her differently means something to Zoey. However, the real enjoyment, comes from watching Zoey find her voice.
This book doesn’t end with a perfectly clean solution to all of Zoey’s problems, but it does show some light at the end of the tunnel.
I loved that this book provided a voice for children living in rural poverty. I liked that all of the characters were more than just stereotypes of the impoverished. Zoey’s Mom was absentee and allowed her children and herself to be in a bad situation, but Braden shows the reader just why she would end up there. I even got the sense that Zoey’s mom might have once been a kid just like Zoey and therefore it’s not such a big leap to see how she ended up where she did.
Great story. Great writing. Highly recommended.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus (TBBO) follows Zoey, a 7th grader who is trying to survive Middle School but has more responsibilities than most adults. She tries to be invisible but when a teacher, Ms. Rochambeau, recognises part of herself in Zoey everything changes.

TBBO is a relatively short read but packs in many current topics such as friendship, bullying, domestic abuse, gun control, young carers, and poverty.

Zoey lives with her mother, Kara, her mother’s partner Lenny, Lenny’s father Frank, and Zoey’s three younger siblings – Bryce, Aurora and Hector. As her mother works shifts, the responsibility falls to Zoey to care for her siblings at a time when someone should be looking after her. Zoey starts to realise that her mother's relationship with her partner Lenny is not a healthy one, and Zoey finds herself on a path to self-discovery.

What I loved about this book is how it cleverly weaves in psychology, as we get to know the characters, their motivations and the impact of being exposed to an unhealthy domestic environment. We have a direct insight to Zoey’s psychology and the perceptions of the people around her, specifically how she comes to understand how her mother is suffering from psychological abuse and her gradual awakening to how that the situation can change and that she has the power within herself to determine that change.

There is also an interesting but subtle underlying narrative between Frank, Lenny and Bryce. There is not a lot said about Frank, but what is said only demonstrates aggression on his part. When Bryce started to mimic Lenny’s behaviour, I became aware that Lenny may have been mimicking what he had grown up with – an aggressive and domineering father. This is not to condone or excuse Lenny’s behaviour but it exposes how impressionable children are and how important it is for them to have people in their lives who tell them that things can be different. This story is about Zoey’s experience of that very scenario.

I won’t spoil the ending of this story but I will say that the author got the balance right. There is not necessarily a happy ending but a realistic one. For any children/young adults reading this book and facing challenges in their lives they will come to know what is realistic and possible – there are no fairy tales here, no princes or princesses, but the power within ourselves to change our situations.

It struck me that there is nothing melodramatic about this book. Zoey’s situation is entirely believable and more than likely a reality for many: past, present, and future. That is why I would love to see this book in schools. There is a message here for each child or young adult who reads it, no matter who they are or where they come from.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sky Pony Press for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It is evident that Ann Braden methodically planned The Benefits of Being an Octopus as the story is woven together like a tapestry. Readers follow Zoey as she struggles to overcome the challenges of raising her siblings, witnessing her mother lose her voice, being an outcast in school, and combating the effects of poverty. With the guidance of well-meaning adults, including her teacher, and friends, Zoey is able to define herself and encourage her mother to do the same. This is an excellent book that teaches children how layered life can be, but also how most obstacles can be overcome. I cannot wait to read this with my students this year!

I loved this book. But keep in mind, I'm a grown up, so my review may not be as relevant as a younger person's. I remember the middle grades, and seventh grade was not my favorite year in school, nor was it easiest, especially socially. I wanted to the read this book because 1) Octopuses are very cool and 2) I wish there were more books featuring young people living in poverty so that kids who have that experience see themselves in books with realistic, and hopeful narratives and so kids in other situations can related with greater empathy, rather than being the peer who makes fun of them for wearing hand-me-downs or clothes that don't get washed as often. Another plus for me was that the book is in a rural setting. Vermont! Not having a car in small town New England creates really big challenges for getting groceries and getting to work. Public transport is pretty meager if it exists at all.

The main character of Braden's The Benefits of Being an Octopus is a 7th grader name Zoey who takes care of her younger siblings and helps her mom while they live with her mother's boyfriend and his father in his trailer. Zoey goes to school, but generally stays quiet and keeps her head down. She has a friend the trailer park who is also really quiet at school, and another friend who lives across town and has a challenging situation with her mother and her mother's current boyfriend. The strands that are woven together in this book include Zoey being both seen, challenged, and supported by a social studies teacher who wants her to join the debate team and how gun violence and domestic violence affect kids, their families, and the community.

Some reviews mention that the ending doesn't work for them, but I really appreciated it.

4.5 stars

"The Benefits of Being an Octopus" is a very intense and emotional novel about an important and difficult subject.

The protagonist was really well drawn and I liked her development, it felt realistic and didn't seem rushed. I liked how the author managed to deal with such a difficult subject from the point of view of child without unnecessarily simplifying the issues the novel deals with.

The ending was open enough to show that the issues the characters have to deal with aren't entirely resolved, but it still ends the story on an hopeful point.

I just finished reading a NetGalley ARC of The Benefits of Being an Octopus, by Ann Braden, and my emotions are running high. The main character Zoey is one of the marginalized members of our society - her family is living far below the poverty line. She gives incredible voice to her story, although she is reluctant to use that voice. She has been looked down on for so long that she doesn’t believe she has anything to contribute - that is, until an assignment, and a teacher, help to bring out her opinions and her voice. Zoey begins to see her world in a different way, and believe in herself enough to stand up and speak up.I really felt that I could see the world through Zoey’s eyes, and feel her “awakening” from her acceptance of a bad situation to her determination to change her life. The metaphor of the octopus is woven throughout the story so beautifully, and is so significant in understanding how Zoey sees herself. I won’t spoil the storyline, but it is intensely emotional and gripping, bringing me to tears many times. This is a book I will buy and read again, and recommend over and over. I want every teacher I know to read it, and students age 10 and up. This book is full of heart, an empathy-builder, an eye-opener, a world-changer.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden tells a realistic story of Zoey, a seventh grade student. She deals with typical struggles of fitting in at school while doing more than her share of the raising of her siblings. Readers will love the teacher who helps her find her inner confidence as Zoey realizes, “Nobody has ever connected me with being important.” This one teacher makes a difference in her life and she is able to confront the issues head-on. An important story!

Excellent book. Readers will be quickly drawn into the lives of the characters. Zoey, her family, and their struggles are portrayed with compassion and honesty. This book will spark meaningful discussions about poverty and abuse in an age-appropriate way.

This is a "big" book as in one of those books that should be read. It's Young Adults but I think it's not an easy-buy for young adults, more for grown ups/teachers/parents who should recommend the read. It's a book to learn from and think about, important in any case.
For me as grown up it was like "oh, I want this so badly" right after seeing the cover and title. It promises one of these rare book gems every reader always is searching and hoping for, and the book doesn't disappoint. Main character is Zoey, and we learn about her life, her responsibilities, her wishes and how life sets limitations to what she is or wished to be for until she starts to find ways without leaving behind what must be done. It made me think, this book and the way the beautiful writing presents the life of a poor teen without holding up a pity card - which made it even more intensive. I hope the book gets the attention it deserves, I hope it's promoted on all places. I' certainly will.

Thanks so much for the publisher for providing a copy and best wishes for an enormous success!!!!

Zoey would like to be a good student in seventh grade, but for now, she's just trying not to draw attention to herself. She likes to do her homework, but she is constantly sabotaged by her living arrangements. Her mother has moved Zoey and her younger siblings into her boyfriend Lenny's trailer, which has some advantages. It's clean, there's usually food, and they can use his car occasionally. On the down side, Lenny doesn't really want to see or hear the kids, and he is very controlling of what Zoey's mom does. Zoey also has to make sure she is home to get her two siblings from school, and pick up her youngest from her mother's work at a local pizza parlor. When she does get her homework done, it often doesn't get to school with her. When the assignment is a debate on what animal is best, Zoey knows she'll do well because she has done a lot of background reading on the octopus. Not only does she forget her notes, but she is leery of speaking in front of the class. If she were like Matt, who rides her bus and seems to have the perfect life, it might be different. Her best friend, Fuschia, can be helpful, but there are some serious issues that Fuschia is facing with her mother's boyfriend. When her teacher tries to find out why Zoey isn't getting in her work, she offers her a way to a better grade-- participate in the debate club. While this involves some juggling to get care for her siblings, Zoey is excited to be able to use her knowledge, and also hang out with Matt. Through the debate team, she starts to see how Lenny is manipulating her mom, and how their situation isn't as good as she previously thought. Eventually, Zoey talks her mother into leaving Lenny's trailer and moving in with Fuschia's mother so that the two families have support without abuse.

Strengths: Reading about the ordinary, every day life of people whose situations were different from my own was always my favorite thing to read, and my students enjoy it, too. Zoey has a lot of responsibility for sibling care, food, and even doing paperwork for her mother, and this also has a lot of appeal to students who sometimes are not even allowed to bike to school. Zoey is realistically portrayed as wanting to be a good student but struggling to find the means necessary to accomplish this. While it is a somewhat sad book, it is hopeful, and Zoey works very hard to improve her own life. This was sort of a millenial version of Warner's The Boxcar Children. My grandparents lived in a trailer park towards the end of their lives, and I can certainly identify more with this experience than that of children with a nanny in NYC, although that sort of books are more windows than mirrors for me. Braden's note at the end of the book about wanting to write so that all children can see themselves portrayed in literature is appreciated.
Weaknesses: The cover will make this a hard sell, and the steps look more like ones that would go up to a house than a trailer.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and handing out as a follow up read to Walker's Why Can't I Be You.

The octopus theme is what initially made me interested in this novel by Ann Braden and I think that aspect of the book was done really well. Zoey's way of using the creature as a source of strength is absolutely wonderful. The story gives a pretty realistic view of what it is like growing up poor and in an abusive situation...until the ending. It wasn't done nearly as bad as many others have done in the past (ex: omg just leave, so easy, now life is perfect), but the way Zoey and her family escapes is a one in a million scenario. I would not be as bothered by it if at the end of the book the author had not mentioned part of the reason for writing The Benefits of Being an Octopus was so that kids in similar situations could see themselves in books.
Don't get me wrong, hope is a wonderful thing to have, but endings like the one in this story can lead to false hope, which can be dangerous in these situations. It also leaves things in a place that feels like things are going to go in a better direction...but the realist in me (or perhaps the cynic) could not help but ponder on the new problems Zoey, her friend and her family will now face. The likihood that DHS is not going to end up involved is very slim. The likihood that those kids are going to be allowed to stay in the small living space...very slim.
Outside of that little rant (sorry about that), The Benefits of Being an Octopus is actually a very good book and while I have spent the majority of the review/rant on the poverty/abuse aspects, it touches on several other very important issues like gun control (in a way that actually kind of challenged my feelings on the subject) and bullying as well.

*I received a digital ARC of this book from Sky Pony Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book tells a solid, age appropriate story of poverty and the multiple forms that abuse can manifest. It was lovely to read the story of the main character finding her own confidence and determination to forge her own path and I loved the use of the octopus metaphor.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So... I definitely did not expect to like this middle grade book as much as I did.

It was adorable, and thoughtful, and happily entirely escaped the plague of reading like an after school special. I squirmed and hurt along with Zoey instead of feeling sorry for her or feeling like I was watching her life from the outside. An uplifting read, and especially important for privileged middle school students to be able to see a world outside their own in an way that gives the people/characters agency.

Question, though - not really a spoiler, but just in case - [ Does Bryce have autism? The whole thing about his meltdowns and handing him rocks... it's not described explicitly, but I wondered.

This is a story about Zoey, a young girl living in poverty, whose teacher at school helps her to work up the courage to make change in her life, to remove herself from the types of problems these situations bring, including lack of good food and clean clothes, domestic violence, social isolation, drug use, foster homes, gender inequality, bullying, and her mothers reliance on her help to care for family members at a young age.

I feel that although the story launched straight into it, which caught me off guard, overall, this story was beautifully written, Zoey comparing herself to an octopus, and cleverly using the involvement with debating at school to give her insight into what is wrong at home, and with the way people are treated by different classes.

I was of the opinion this was a story for middle grade readers, but I personally would not recommend it to this age group, as it dives into some topics that not all parents would be happy having their child exposed to. In saying that, what makes this book so good, is that these are real problems that kids (and others) face in their lives, and rather than bury our heads in the sand and pretend they don't exist, it is story to opens our eyes to this type of life.

This is a great book, but I would recommend it for older teens and above, however parents should read this prior to determine if they feel the content is appropriate for their children.

There seems to have been a recent surge of quality when it comes to middle grade literature (see: <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Aru Shah</span> &amp; <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Breakout</span>), and let me tell you: I am here for it. Middle grade books have all of the drama and intense subject matter of young adult literature, but none of the romantic entanglements. There is rarely, if ever, any sort of romance in middle grade literature, and if there is it's simply a crush or a chaste first kiss. This tends to make the plots of middle grade move quicker, and leaves them more room to get their message across.

When I requested <span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Benefits of Being an Octopus</span> on NetGalley, I was figuring I'd get something about strained family dynamics and puberty. I had no idea what I was actually getting myself into, and it was something that will stick with me for a while to come.

<strong>Rating: </strong><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-475" src="http://bookishgeek.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/5cat-rating-1.png" alt="" width="263" height="50" />
<h2>How I'd Describe This Book to a Friend</h2>
Zoey is a seventh grader, and if any book character can remind me of what it's like to be in middle school, it's Zoey. We feel her tension in the classroom, with the boy she has a crush on who rides her school bus. We see her hatred for speaking up in class, her disdain for the popular girls. But there is something different about Zoey that we never see in other literature: Zoey is poor.

We meet Zoey when she and her family are in flux - they are living with her mother's latest boyfriend Lenny, sharing a cramped trailer between Lenny, his father, Zoey, her mom, and her three younger siblings (infant Hector, preschoolers Bryce and Aurora). Her mother works part time at the local pizza place, and they scrape by just enough day after day - but they have a roof over their head, and so Zoey doesn't mind shoplifting cans of Easy Cheese from the local convenience store to keep her siblings occupied. She is their sole caretaker for most of their day, and she must keep them quiet so they don't bother Lenny or his dad. This means that homework and school are not a priority. In fact, Zoey just doesn't do it - she doesn't have time. But her lifelong passion for the octopus - an animal that I have learned so much about through Zoey's eyes! - leads her to fill out an assignment packet for once, to participate in a debate about what the superior animal is. And that little packet will change everything.
<h2>The Bottom Line</h2>
There are so many hot-button topics in this story, and they are wound seamlessly here through the eyes of a twelve year old. We see poverty, child neglect and abuse, the failed foster system. There is a subplot about gun control that I honestly cannot applaud the author for enough - I myself am fairly anti-gun, and I found myself agreeing with some characters in the book who felt the same way as I did. But when Zoey started thinking about all the reasons they've helped her and her friends - people who rely on hunting, her neighbor Silas whose father hunts to make ends meet and put food on the table - it made me question my own belief systems as a 29 year old woman. This is not easy to do.

I absolutely adored Zoey. I saw her mother's quiet strength and dignity, the way she fell apart when she thought no one was looking and how she had to be strong for her children - how she always put them first, without fail. We see how growing up around anger affects children - little Bryce, who becomes stoic and withdrawn and just wants to fight everyone. We see Zoey's best friend Fuschia, a byproduct of a failed foster system who is now stuck with her mother she hates and her mom's boyfriend who is downright dangerous. And perhaps most influential of all, Zoey's Social Studies teacher, who won't let her fade into the backdrop. We meet all of these truly unique characters who are flawed, but not failing. And that's an important distinction.

Zoey draws parallels constantly between herself and an octopus - she yearns to have more arms, to wrangle her siblings. She utilizes her octopus camouflage to blend in when she feels uncomfortable. And as odd as that might sound, let me tell you it <em>works</em>, and it works well. I am absolutely captivated by Zoey's story, her family's journey, and the love that surrounds her. If you work with students or kids, please pick this book up - honestly, you should pick it up no matter what. I promise you won't regret it. Middle grade literature has set the bar very high for me in 2018, and I couldn't be more pleased.

<blockquote>“Sometimes if you don’t have a jacket and you’re sitting next to someone who does, you feel colder. But sometimes, if the right person is wearing it, you feel warmer.”</blockquote>

*I was given a review copy from the author and publisher. My opinions are my own*
Ann Braden has written the story of many children. This is a story that not only needs to be read by students, but also by teachers. Zoey is a teenage girl living in a trailer park with her Mom, her Mom's boyfriend, the owner of the trailer and her three siblings. Life isn't easy taking care of your siblings, keeping the away from certain people and balancing school life at the same time. Sometimes it takes one adult that actually sees you to help you get through and sometimes you just have to rely on your own gut to do what is right and speak up when it's time to speak up.
This story will stick with me long after putting it back on the shelf and it will be one that I revisit often. The voices of Zoey, Silas and Fuchsia are underrepresented on our bookshelves. Their stories need to be told. My hope is that Ann Braden continues to write books and fills them with all the Things That Need To Be Said.
Hands down, a must read for educators and a necessary addition to our classrooms and libraries.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC copy of this book!

This is a beautiful book. I was a little surprised at how powerful it was; usually it takes me a few chapters before I start empathizing with the characters I'm reading, but for this book it was from page 1. Braden's characters are so honest and real, and relatable even though I have never been in a situation like they are in.

My biggest issue with the book was the topic they picked for debate. It almost feels too soon, and it took me out of the story a bit. That being said, though, it made sense for the plot and was necessary for much of the character development that took place (which is really to say, it wasn't gratuitous, which I appreciated even if I didn't agree with it).

Overall, it was an excellent book that tackled tough topics in a way that was easily understandable for middle graders.

It was raining all day today and that was perfect for me because I finished this book in almost one sitting.

I was drawn in by the cover and immediately liked the main character Zoey a lot. I’m always happy to read books about strong willed young adult girls. And the influence of a good role model. And kindness. So inspiring!

I also love that the author finishes her acknowledgements with this: “To the young people who are speaking up for what’s right, even when it’s hard … You are heroes.” so true!!

This was a great book and I enjoyed reading it! Thank you to Net Galley and Skyhorse publishing for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

Really good read. The image of Zoey carrying a baby and a toddler on her 7th grade hips will stick with me for a long time. Full review on Goodreads.