Pearl is a young girl who is struggling with depression and how to cope with it in her life. I really enjoyed the story and how well it describes depression. I especially liked the relationship between Pearl and her Granddaddy and how she comes to realize that he also struggles with depression even if he won't call it that. There are also lots of coping mechanisms descriped and I think a lot of kids will relate to this book. It's a very well written book, easy to follow, easy to read, and easy to connect with all the characters. Will definitely be recommending that we add this to our school library.

Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron is a middle grade realistic fiction written in verse. This novel follows Pearl as she navigates her fifth-grade year and all the changes it brings. On the outside, Pearl appears to have it all: the perfect family, great friends, her love of sea turtles and running. But inside she is suffering from depression.
This novel provides an authentic description of what depression can look and feel like, as well as coping techniques provided by Pearl’s therapist. It also includes realistic examples of reactions from Pearl’s friends and the adults in her life. Pearl is a character that all children can empathize with, not just those who may be experiencing depression themselves. Pyron’s managing of this sensitive topic is done with care, and she gives insight into her personal experience in the author’s note at the end.
This would be a powerful addition to a library servicing upper elementary or middle school students. I would recommend this to fourth grade & up.
Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This middle-grade novel, written in verse, follows a young girl as she grapples with depression and anxiety. The protagonist is struggling with emotions she doesn’t fully understand, but she is fortunate to have a supportive family and friends by her side. This book will resonate with middle-grade readers, especially those dealing with similar challenges or those supporting friends who are struggling with mental health. It’s a heartfelt story that offers both empathy and hope. I can’t wait to get this book in my school library! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

Pearl is a rising fifth grader in Florida, and she’s living the dream. Her wonderful parents and sister love her unconditionally, as do her beloved grandparents who live just down the road. Her sweet beagle Tuck goes everywhere with her, and Pearl’s best friends Rosie and Mia brighten her life every day. Pearl spends her days with her loved ones, running on the beach, and falling in love with sea turtles, and life is so beautiful…until it isn’t.

Depression lies.

It lies to Pearl when it whispers “loser; you’re a bad friend; you can’t do it.” It lies when it tells her that her friends don’t like her, that she should stop trying, that it will never feel better.

This book is a deeply moving and very personal portrayal of the realities of experiencing depression. My heart ached for Pearl as I followed her journey of trying to understand the feelings that she didn’t have words for. I love that her family and friends are so supportive of her, and that therapy is celebrated instead of stigmatized; so many children would benefit from support like Pearl receives here.

The author’s note in the back is also not to be missed. Pyron explains her own childhood journey with depression and recounts the people in her life who helped her through it. She writes that this is the book that she needed when she was 10, and I felt yet another tug at my heartstrings because my own 10-year-old self would have greatly benefitted from this, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and @PenguinKids for a galley! Octopus Moon will be published on March 25, 2025.

Pearl is beginning fifth grade with a lot of anxiety about all the changes. When she no longer finds joy in hanging out with her friends or running with her dog, her inner voice starts to speak negatively to her. Pearl's parents notice a change with her but it isn't until parent teacher conferences that they realize there is something big going on. Author Bobbie Pyron does a wonderful job addressing the delicate issue of depression in children. The choice to write this book as a novel in verse was perfect. Her author's note at the end is a must read. Kids need this book in their life, to promote empathy or to see there is hope.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free Arc!

A wonderful and moving novel in verse about a fifth grade girl named Pearl who is diagnosed with depression. The book gives a very realistic and gentle account of what life is like for a 10 year old with depression. As a lover of the ocean, Pearl identifies with the octopi who feel everything and wishes to be more like the turtles with a hard outer shell. The beginning of fifth grade is a lot for her and she starts exhibiting symptoms of depression. With caring parents and teachers, Pearl is referred to a wonderful therapist who works with her throughout the book to help her understand herself better and provide her with tools and strategies. With the help and support of the people in her life, Pearl learns to deal with her ups and downs while her love of turtles and her friends shine through. The author, who has depression herself, wrote this as the book that she would have wanted to have in her hands when she was 10 years old.

It is so important to have mental health books available. And even more important to have them accessible to children from a child’s perspective. This book handles Pearl’s depression with care and respect. I also appreciate the layout of the book, not sure if it’s intentional but the sentences are broken up into small chunks with shorter chapters. Books can feel like homework to a child. Especially, a child who is struggling with mental health. And this layout seems feasible to anyone who is struggling with concentration or just finishing books.
Octopus Moon is beautiful story for children who struggle with depression and want to be seen and heard.
✨
“And the changes at the start of fifth grade don’t feel good to Pearl at all. New teachers, lockers, and being in different classes than her friends is unsettling. Pearl tries her best to pretend she’s fine, but she starts to struggle with things that used to come easy, like schoolwork, laughing and skateboarding with her best friend, Rosie, running and even sleeping.”
✨
I appreciate this story so much and the multiple mental health resources at the end of the book. Thank you for allowing me to read this in advance.


Goodreads: Brenda (jadore_2read)

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this title.

I read this book in the hopes that it would be something I could pass on to my son, and I definitely will. I felt like the fact this is written in verse makes it such an easy read. I liked that we got to see the main character's family support her and help her get help. I liked the author's note and that the author provided resources for anyone dealing with depression.

This book discussed a very tough topic in a very approachable way.

Depression strikes younger and younger, and this novel-in-verse helps put a word to feelings.
Pearl's journey downward into depression wasn't overdone for her age, and I was so glad that those around her (parents, teachers, older sister) noticed the signs and intervened.
It was empowering to read of her journey through depression and steps toward healing not being a perfect straight path. Her verse will help readers have a words to describe the feelings, or have a way to describe to others what they feel.
It may be important for some readers to note that in the book, medication is not used. (The therapist specifically says that it is not the first step for someone of her age; it didn't feel to me like medication was villanized.)

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Nancy Paulsen Books for the ARC!

Wow! I can’t wait to add this to my classroom library. This is a moving and poignant depiction of a young girl struggling with depression. I loved how the novel was in verse - it makes the beautiful prose and meaningful message more accessible for some students who can feel overwhelmed by the amount of text on a page. The verse truly amplifies the gorgeous writing. I’m always looking for novels in verse to help my more reluctant readers fall in love with reading. This book will be perfect and will surely capture the heart of young readers. Octopus Moon does a beautiful job addressing the stigma around mental illness. This belongs in every middle grade classroom and school library!

Although I enjoyed how this book showed depression is an illness and many people struggle with it I felt it focused too much on that for our elementary level students. It was well written and I enjoyed the verse writing.

This is a book that everyone needs to read. It teaches so much about depression. Even if you don't have it, it can help you understand someone around you.
Pearl suffers from depression, but she doesn't really know that she has it. She just knows that a deep fog is taking over and she doesn't feel like doing things she once loved to do.
She loves running and sea turtles and being with her friends and her grandparents. But she is feeling different and is hearing a "mean" voice in her head.
As her parents notice that something is not right they get her to talk with a counselor that helps her figure out ways to be more of herself again.
I loved the talk of writing things down on good days, so that you have them to look back on during not so good days.
I liked that this book looks at other people in Pearl's family that may have depression, like her grandaddy, who has "headaches" and struggles as her grandma calls them.
The verse in this book is really beautiful and is a great way to express what Pearl is feeling.
I have depression and I felt so seen reading this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC

I loved how Octopus Moon follows Pearl into her struggle with depression. As Pearl struggles feeling unable to reach the surface, unable to enjoy the things in life she previously took so much joy in, she begins to realize that a dear family member may have a similar struggle. As she finds help, and shares with friends and family her experience, her journey through depression helps others see the depression plaguing their loved ones, too. And the whole community is affected for good. Talking about mental health struggles can be so hard. But I love how Octopus Moon shows that decreasing stigma around speaking up can spark a chain reaction of others also seeing their need for help, and getting that help. The image system throughout was lovely. I enjoyed the aquatic facts, and Pearl's attachment to the aquarium, and helping ocean life flourish. Beautiful!

Thank you, NetGalley for allowing me to read this before its publication date.

Wow! This was powerful. The story centers on Pearl, who is feeling anxious and many other new emotions about starting 5th grade. She struggles to put those feelings into words. The beauty in the story is only emphasized by the format. This is a beautiful novel in verse.

For ten-year-old Pearl, the summer before fifth grade is supposed to be excellent, leading up to an even better school year ahead. Unfortunately, things do not go exactly as planned, and Pearl can not help but notice that everything around her is beginning to change. When the school year starts and even more change surrounds her, Pearl tries leaning into running to clear her heart and her mind. But soon, everything that used to make Pearl happy no longer holds her interest, and it takes a network of support for Pearl to navigate her way through the darkness that surrounds her. This middle grade novel in verse is told in the first person from Pearl’s perspective, giving readers a direct look inside of Pearl’s mind. Short phrases and brief chapters define the pacing of the story, and even though Pearl often wants to retreat from the world, a relentless forward motion is always present in the narrative. The hopelessness Pearl feels is palpable to the reader, especially when Pearl actively notices the reactions of those around her yet is unable to find her way back to the person she once was. Though this novel is intended for a middle grade audience, adult caregivers will also appreciate the way in which Pearl is pulled into and through the depths of her depression. This is a thought provoking exploration of the onset of depression in one’s youth, and it is an important addition to library and classroom collections for middle grade readers.

Pearl’s story is one I know many students will relate to. And those who don’t relate will be able to learn about how their classmates might be feeling. This book left me feeling hopeful and proud of Pearl!

Thank you @NetGalley for the ARC. This book is a novel in verse and it was beautiful. I loved Pearl so much and felt all her feels. I have depression since I was in middle school but did not know what it was till college. I loved how her parents got her help fast, even though dad was not fully on board. Having her grandfather suffering from depression shows how it can be hereditary and that not everyone knows how to deal with this disease.
This book should be in every school library, well done Bobbie Pyron.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars (Outstanding)
Setting: Florida
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, Realistic Fiction, and Contemporary Poetry

Bobbie Pyron’s Octopus Moon is a luminous, deeply moving novel-in-verse that captures the raw, often unspoken experience of childhood depression with breathtaking honesty and compassion. Through Pearl’s tender and aching voice, Pyron paints a story of struggle, resilience, and the quiet strength it takes to heal—one small step at a time.

Pearl is a character who lingers in the heart long after the final page. Sensitive and deeply perceptive, she sees herself in the octopuses at the aquarium—creatures that feel everything. She longs to be more like the turtles, protected by a hard shell, immune to the overwhelming emotions that come with starting fifth grade. But life doesn’t work that way, and as school changes, friendships shift, and the weight of the world presses down, Pearl finds herself sinking under the surface.

The novel’s verse form is beautifully evocative, mirroring Pearl’s emotions in a way that feels both delicate and profound. Pyron’s writing never simplifies Pearl’s depression, nor does it rush her journey. The introduction of Dr. Jill and the “Impossible Thing” challenge is handled with grace, allowing Pearl’s path to healing to unfold naturally, bead by bead. The metaphor of the moon—always present, even when not full—perfectly encapsulates Pearl’s discovery that she is still whole, even in her hardest moments.

What makes this book truly special is its authenticity. Pyron draws from her own personal experiences, and that emotional truth resonates in every line. For readers who have faced depression or loved someone who has, Octopus Moon offers both solace and understanding. It’s a story that acknowledges the darkness while gently reminding us that the light is never truly gone.

This book is a gift—one that belongs in the hands of young readers, parents, teachers, and anyone who has ever struggled to find their way back to themselves. Octopus Moon is not just a novel; it’s a lifeline, a reminder that healing is possible, even when it feels impossible. #netgalley #octopusmoon #booked_this_weekend

Octopus Moon is a book I didn't know I needed in my life, but I'm so glad I found it. It is about a young girl named Pearl who is dealing with many changes in her life as she starts fifth grade. She is having a difficult time finding the energy and the willpower to do what she needs and wants to do. The story is written from her perspective in verse as she navigates her life and deals with depression.

"Depression lies."

This was such a touching story which I related to on so many levels. I haven't had depression since I was Pearl's age, but it has been a part of my life for many years. Never thought I'd see myself so much in this ten year old girl.. So much of what she expresses in these beautiful lines of verse is what I feel on my darkest days. It had me tearing up as I read many parts of her story.

Over the years, I have had to learn to cope just like she does with her therapist. I like how the author also shows how depression can be generational and the stigmas against it. She shows how hard it is to have an invisible disease that is only in your own head.

One of the best parts is watching Pearl and her family/friends working together to help Pearl get through the bad and the good days. It was beautiful to see her with such a healthy support system in her life. They are not perfect and it is important to show young readers how everyone learns and grows.

"Love is a verb."

Pearl's fascination with marine life, especially turtles and octopuses plays a big role in the plot too. I enjoyed reading the sections where she got excited about these creatures. It was heartwarming.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It will be great for the middle grade readers in your life, but I also believe adults should read it too. Pearl's story is one I'm sure many people will relate to and one I think needs to be read. Definitely, one of the best middle grades I have read in my life.

Pearl is about to start fifth grade and, though she has her two best friends Mia and Rosie by her side, she is feeling overwhelmed at all the changes it brings. New teachers, switching classes, and a new locker are just a few of the changes. Pearl's biggest problem, though, is the growing darkness that chases her and brings its mean voice in her head. The voice tells her that she's a loser and can't do anything right. It tells her she's a bad friend and a bad daughter and that things will never get better. Pearl tries to be the "Used to be Pearl" who was excited about loggerhead turtles and wanted to run track and be a marine biologist but everything is just overwhelming.

When her family and friends ask her about her changes, Pearl tries to pass it off as being sick or tired or just growing up and having new interests. Eventually one of her teachers reaches out to her parents and they decide to take Pearl to see Dr. Jill, who diagnoses Pearl with depression. At first Pearl is reticent to talk to Dr. Jill, but eventually she begins to open up and tries to do just one "Impossible Thing" each day. Slowly, Pearl finds her way back to herself and discovers that "the best way out is through."

As someone who struggles with depression, I found this novel-in-verse to be a moving and realistic portrayal of depression. A few of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Depression lies. Depression will tell you things about yourself that are not true."

"Gram says love is a verb. It's what you do rather than the words you say."

"It means if you want to get out
to the other side where things
are better, " I say,
"you have to take the steps to get there.
You can't stand still or
pretend depression is something else.
Like a phase.
Or a headache.
And you can't hide away."

"I know having a mental health problem
isn't anything to be ashamed of. And
I know there's more to who I am
than my depression."

This book brought me to tears and made me smile and left me feeling hopeful. It should be in every library, available to every child who struggles with depression or anxiety, or knows someone who struggles. It's a hopeful, but realistic portrayal perfect for middle grade audiences and I give it my highest recommendation! 5 enthusiastic stars


Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.