Octopus Moon is a cute story told in verse about finding your way by helping others. It’s beautifully written poetry shows the rhyme of life as it happens when you least expect it. This is definitely one for the shelves in your library.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of the best middle grade books I've read in awhile. It was a great novel (in verse, too!) that addresses mental health and illness in children. This is a must read for everyone, including those who are going through depression or have a loved one going through depression.

This book was the most spot-on representation of anxiety and depression that I’ve read, especially in middle grades fiction. I loved the characters and how they interacted. I loved the honest friendships of the young people in the story. As soon as I finished reading, I emailed my librarian and told her to order it for our middle school ASAP!

Octopus Moon hit me right in the heart. It’s a beautifully written novel in verse about Pearl, a fifth grader dealing with depression while everything around her is changing—school, friendships, and even how she sees herself.

Pearl connects deeply with octopuses—creatures that feel everything—and sometimes wishes she had a turtle’s shell to block it all out. Her journey really resonated with me. When she starts seeing Dr. Jill and tries doing one “Impossible Thing” each day, it’s slow, hopeful progress that feels so real and gentle.

This book doesn’t shy away from hard feelings, but it handles them with so much care. It reminded me that healing doesn’t look perfect, and that even when we don’t feel whole, we’re still enough. Quiet, powerful, and deeply moving.

I'm not sure I have ever read such an honest book about depression that is meant for children. It should be in every public library, school library, and therapist's office. Pearl is a likeable, sweet character that kids (and adults) will really identify with.

A much needed story for the middle grade audience.
Pearl shows signs of depression as 5th grade starts; she has a strong support system in her family.
The choice of the author to tell Pearl's story in verse was perfect.

his book. I can't begin to describe how moving it was. Here is a list of things I loved:
Verse format - perfect for the story
Tuck - a faithful pup
Laurel - a wonderful big sister, no stereotypes here!
Mama and Papa - againan, no stereotypes. Fabulous support!
Real therapy - no magic curves

Readers with depression and readers who love someone with depression will get so much out of this beautiful book.

Oh! Turtles! It's always a good idea to have turtles in a book.

I really enjoyed this story and it actually put some of my own feelings in perspective. I believe this book would help so many students.

A verse novel about a girl, Pearl, going into fifth grade developing depression with all of the adjustments and changes in her life, this is just another one she's going to have to work through and gets that help with Dr. Jill.

The book moves through Pearl's starting fifth grade and her friends and family starting to notice that Pearl is distancing herself from the things she's enjoyed like learning and sharing about loggerhead turtles and joining in activities at school. But then when a few events happen including anxiety ridden attacks and cutting her hair plus a parent-teacher conference, everyone recognizes that Pearl needs professional help. Moving through this help to get to a goal that helps her cope with the every day is what the book focuses on.

It's a helpful tool for kids to recognize themselves or others in what Pearl experiences and working through what depression looks like and calling it such.

A touching novel-in-verse about a young girl battling with the beginnings of depression. This story flowed beautifully and covers such important topics- accepting therapy and help, family stigma against mental illness, and self-acceptance. I can’t say enough good things- EVERY library for middle graders should have a copy of this book. Thank you to the author for this important work, and thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7498880426

Octopus Moon is a middle grade novel-in-verse about the important, but often overlooked, topic of mental health in children. The main character, Pearl, experiences depression and anxiety and throughout the book she has to deal with many common stigmas related to mental illness. I think that this book is a must-read for parents, caregivers, and educators that work with young children because it can lend some insight into what depression and can anxiety look and feel like. I also appreciate that this book is presented in a verse format, which makes it more accessible to the readers that may need it the most.

Pearl is getting ready to start fifth grade. While her friends are busy planning their exciting first day of school as the oldest in the building, she starts feeling the weight of change and uncertainty push her down. Things that used to be fun and easy-hanging out with her two best friends, running, talking with her grandfather, walking her dog-now seem nearly impossible. As the fog wraps around her, simple tasks such as getting out of bed and getting dressed are now chores.

This book explores depression and its effects on people including children. Pearl is able to gain a better understanding of her disease after some intervention by a teacher and support from a counselor. Eventually she is able to help her friends and members of her family understand it better too.

I enjoyed reading about the support system that surrounded Pearl as she navigated this new challenge in her life. I think there will be students and adults alike who will relate to and benefit from her story.

Pearl is a young girl going through changes in her relationships with friends and family. When she experiences a depression that overpowers her existing coping skills, she falls into despair and eventually asks for help. With the help of a therapist, she begins to see that she is not alone in depression.

Beautiful prose keeps the story moving quickly. As an adult who has struggled with depression since childhood, this was a hard read. I would have appreciated reading it when I was young, and maybe it would have helped me to recognize that the people I loved were facing the same challenges. I would recommend it to children who have depression, or a history of depression in their families. I really appreciated the coping mechanisms the therapist taught Pearl that were age appropriate and incremental.

Excellent story written from the point of view of a 10 year old happy girl with nothing to complain about until she 'suddenly' becomes depressed and can barely get out of bed. Her parents and teachers pick up on her symptoms and get her to a therapist. The story is told by Pearl.as she is helped to gradually recognize her illness and learn to cope with it. Would suggest dropping it in front of your unhappy child (after parent figure reads it). it helps to explain how depression can affect a family, from the elders to the children. The author was depressed as a child herself. She lists resources to help families, and is very reassuring about hope for situation.

Octopus Moon was heartbreaking and hopeful at the same time. So many of our children suffer from depression in today's world and I am glad there are more and more books written about depression. I hope that it encourages more children to reach out to someone when they are struggling. Some often hide it so well from everyone. This story also teaches about the signs of depression and how to look out for your friends and family's well being. I can't wait to get this for my classroom!

Octopus Moon is a raw story about a young girl struggling with depression. This novel in verse will touch your heart as you feel her struggle and pain. This book highlights what it is like to have depression and how hard it is to find your way out of it, especially if you are a child.

Octopus Moon is a middle grade novel-in-verse about the important, but often overlooked, topic of mental health in children. The main character, Pearl, experiences depression and anxiety and throughout the book she has to deal with many common stigmas related to mental illness. I think that this book is a must-read for parents, caregivers, and educators that work with young children because it can lend some insight into what depression and can anxiety look and feel like. I also appreciate that this book is presented in a verse format, which makes it more accessible to the readers that may need it the most.

I thought the title of the book, Octopus Moon, was an interesting one, but as I read the story I understood why that title was chosen (a great talking point for parents or educators that read this book with students). One of my favorite aspects of this book was how the relationships of the characters progress over time. Of course Pearl was the main character, but we also got to see quite a bit from her parents, grandparents, sister, best friends, and therapist. The side characters added a lot of depth to the story and made it so many different perspectives were represented, so I feel like many young readers will be able to relate to at least one of the characters in some way.

Overall, this book is one that I would highly recommend to young readers. I'm so glad that more authors and publishers are working to incorporate mental health into books for the middle grade audience and this one presents so many opportunities for adults to begin conversations with young readers. I also appreciated the way that the author shared her personal experiences with depression and anxiety in the author's note...I think that this element will help young readers understand that the story isn't entirely made up and that they're not alone in their thoughts and feelings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to review an eARC of Octopus Moon!

This was a really sweet, if simple, look at what childhood depression looks like. A book maybe more for gatekeepers to read with their kids to start conversations together.

Octopus Moon is a moving look at tween depression and does an excellent job of conveying both the personal struggles as well as the difficulty getting friends and family to understand depression as a disease rather than a choice. Verse was definitely the right vehicle with which to tell the story as it allowed for lots of emotion while also leaving enough unsaid for readers to infer/impart their own feelings. A definite rec for readers struggling with depression and the perfect younger tween counterpart to books like How to Become a Planet.

At first I picked this book soley based on the beautiful, sweet cover. Then I read the description and knew I would enjoy it. We meet Pearl in 5th grade, and learn alongside her that she is struggling with depression. As she navigates her own self discovery, we learn coping techniques and communication tips with her. This is such a serious and important subject, handled with grace and dignity and perfect for a young audience. I would love to place this book lovingly in the hands of very specific readers at their point of need. This is perfect.