The Benefits of Being an Octopus: A Novel
- Downloads：6577
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-07-10 06:51:58
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Ann Braden
- ISBN：1510757678
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
NPR Best Book of 2018， Bank Street List for Best Children's Books of 2019， Named to the Vermont Dorothy Canfield Fisher List， Maine's Student Book Award List， Louisiana Young Reader's Choice Award List， Rhode Island Middle School Book Award 2020 List， 2020 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Nominee， 2021 South Carolina Junior Book Award Nominee， 2020-2021 Truman Award （Missouri） Nominee， Middle School Virginia Readers’ Choice Titles for 2020–2021， Charlie May Simon Award 2020–2021 List。
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。
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。
Reviews
Chris
，
As a parent and a school social worker， my heart broke for zoey and her siblings。 This is an all too familiar story of a family struggling to stay afloat。 An important read for all educators， to more fully understand for challenges that some of our students are facing every day when they come to school。
Abby
，
Great middle school read。 So many of my students can relate to the characters in this book， and the students who can't relate need to hear this story。 I thought Braden did a great job of weaving complicated issues through the narrative， providing opposing viewpoints and nuance。。。all in a kid-friendly way。 It's almost like a Jodi Picoult book for kids。 Recommend for grades 5+ Great middle school read。 So many of my students can relate to the characters in this book， and the students who can't relate need to hear this story。 I thought Braden did a great job of weaving complicated issues through the narrative， providing opposing viewpoints and nuance。。。all in a kid-friendly way。 It's almost like a Jodi Picoult book for kids。 Recommend for grades 5+ 。。。more
Mandy Anderson
，
Zoey is a 7th grader who has a lot more than school work and boys on her plate。 I loved this story。 It deals with single moms， poverty， abuse， and traumas that many children face that make it difficult for them to be successful
Thushanthi
，
I've had this book recommended to me numerous times and after finishing it， I can see why。 Actually， I understood just after the first chapter。 Ann Braden writes such a powerful story about poverty， abuse， gun violence， and desperation。 But this isn't a serious， literary masterpiece that can only be appreciated by some。 No， this is straight up middle-grade- charming， captivating， and heartwrenching。 I was drawn into Zoey's world and immediately invested in her story。This is just the kind of stor I've had this book recommended to me numerous times and after finishing it， I can see why。 Actually， I understood just after the first chapter。 Ann Braden writes such a powerful story about poverty， abuse， gun violence， and desperation。 But this isn't a serious， literary masterpiece that can only be appreciated by some。 No， this is straight up middle-grade- charming， captivating， and heartwrenching。 I was drawn into Zoey's world and immediately invested in her story。This is just the kind of story aspire to write and one I'd love for my kids to read someday 💜 。。。more
Wendy
，
This was really SO great。 The best books are empathy books。
Audrey Stewart
，
This was a very good book。 It spoke about things like poverty and gun usage and was also very informative as well as entertaining and fun to read。 It was a very deep book， and not one of those funny light reads。 Although it was very good， just in a different way。
Czarina
，
This should lose a star for not being longer， but my sadness at it being over doesn't make it a worse book。 I want more！！！ I love the characters， how the story is told， all of it。 Definitely has some content that could be uncomfortable for some to read especially if they've been in similar situations， but it's so good！ This should lose a star for not being longer， but my sadness at it being over doesn't make it a worse book。 I want more！！！ I love the characters， how the story is told， all of it。 Definitely has some content that could be uncomfortable for some to read especially if they've been in similar situations， but it's so good！ 。。。more
Sarah
，
Picked up because I love octopus but book itself just ok。 I hate guns and hunting。
Ben Zimmerman
，
This was an impressive read。 The theming in particular stands out。 Braden writes about poverty and abuse， but covers a wide range of serious subjects in a way that is approachable without being reductive。 This is absolutely going on my class shelves。
Angela Wessel
，
Great Juvenile fiction read。 Pretty predictable。
Merissa Jones
，
I was thinking this book was something else。 Obviously I need to read the backs of books better。 After getting into the story I really enjoyed it。
Maia Boell 🐞
，
I thought the story was awesome。 Reading the book also gave me a whole new perspective of the struggles many people unfortunately face。 I’m inspired to become better at appreciating everything I have in my life after reading this story。 There are also two typos - which I’m not mad about， I just thought I’d put it out there :）
Mia Lahav
，
I read this for school and this was a really fun read， super entertaining loved the characters！！ Would definitely recommend reading！！！
Nicola Robyn
，
i cry
Sara Riggle
，
4。5 stars
Vshipp
，
4。5 🌟 a YA book covering poverty， gun rights， and middle school。 All wrapped up in an octopus theme。 Recommend！
Vickks
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Touched on a lot of current issues like poverty， racism/police violence， gun control， domestic violence， abusive/unhealthy relationships， etc。
Tia
，
I listened to this entire story in one day。 I loved the way this author dealt with very real and serious topics in an age appropriate and engaging way。
Katie
，
5 Stars！ Benefits of being an Octopus follows twelve-year-old Zoey as she is dealing with an enormous number of responsibilities for a 7th grade student。 Zoey， her mom， and her three younger siblings have just moved into her mom’s boyfriend’s trailer， and while her mom is trying to keep her job， Zoey is responsible for getting her siblings up in the morning for school。 She must help them get ready， feed them， and get them to the bus stop on time。 She also helps them with after school homework an 5 Stars！ Benefits of being an Octopus follows twelve-year-old Zoey as she is dealing with an enormous number of responsibilities for a 7th grade student。 Zoey， her mom， and her three younger siblings have just moved into her mom’s boyfriend’s trailer， and while her mom is trying to keep her job， Zoey is responsible for getting her siblings up in the morning for school。 She must help them get ready， feed them， and get them to the bus stop on time。 She also helps them with after school homework and bedtime stories。 One day at school， Zoey has an assignment where she needs to choose the best animal and defend her reasoning。 Zoey has always been obsessed with the octopus， so she decides to write her paper about how the octopus is the best animal， but when it is her turn to share， she gets nervous and throws her assignment away。 Ms。 Rochambeau finds Zoey’s paper in the garbage and after seeing how well Zoey did on the assignment， she asks her to be a part of the debate team。 This is where Zoey starts to learn that her mom might not be in the best relationship and where she finds the confidence to finally say something to mom about the psychological abuse her mom is experiencing。 This book is about empowerment and finding your voice。 It is also about a teacher being perceptive and brave enough to make a difference in a student’s life when so many other adults missed the flags。 Instead of getting frustrated with Zoey for not having her homework done， Ms。 Rochambeau takes time to investigate why Zoey can’t find time to get her assignments completed。 She realizes she is helping raise three younger siblings， one which is an infant。 Being a teacher myself， this made me step back and realize how important my job is to EVERY single student in my classroom…maybe even more so for the kids who are tardy every day， don’t have their work completed， etc。 I know students who can’t afford dress clothes for concerts or who might not even be able to afford to wash their clothes…this book is for them。 This is their voice！ I think everyone in middle school should read this book。 It would hopefully open eyes to other people’s struggles。 Zoey is instantly likeable as the main protagonist and will be relatable to middle school students。 It teaches empathy and understanding。 This book is real， and I think everyone needs to read it。 The only part that felt a little out of place and choppy for me， was the gun rights debate。 It was nice that the reader got to hear both sides， but it felt a little out of place and glossed over。 I would have rather had omething about affordable housing or the minimum wage debated in this book。 Everyone should read this book。 Everyone should be more aware of the students in their classrooms。 Everyone should be nice and more understanding。 Everyone should have a teacher like Ms。 Rochambeau。 Read this book。 。。。more
Jessie Otto
，
This was a book I could not put down。 I read it all in one day。 There were so many aspects of the book that I could relate to in my life experiences。 There were many heavy issues discussed in this book， and in some situations I agreed and others I disagreed with from a moral standpoint。 Although I really loved this book， I don’t think it is appropriate as a 4th-6th grade level selected read。 The topics in this book are more mature for late middle to high school and beyond level。 However， I know This was a book I could not put down。 I read it all in one day。 There were so many aspects of the book that I could relate to in my life experiences。 There were many heavy issues discussed in this book， and in some situations I agreed and others I disagreed with from a moral standpoint。 Although I really loved this book， I don’t think it is appropriate as a 4th-6th grade level selected read。 The topics in this book are more mature for late middle to high school and beyond level。 However， I know that there are young kids going through similar situations as Zoey， which are difficult and unfortunate。 Overall， my appreciation of this book comes from life experiences， but I think I got much more out of it as an adult reading this as opposed to reading it when I was a 4th grader。 。。。more
Catherinealice
，
Great middle grade read - rural poor， complicated domestic abuse， debate club and funding your voice。 Symbol of octopus adds complexity and beauty。
Anne S
，
I loved this book。 I do not know how I found out to read it but I would recommend it to teachers and anyone who likes a good story。 This is the story about a 7th grader named Zoey who loves the Octopus because of its ability to blend in。 Zoey's teacher takes an interest in her and through the debate team is able to look at herself and her life in a different way。I read the backstory from the author。 A friend of hers told her she never sees good stories about the single mom doing her best to get I loved this book。 I do not know how I found out to read it but I would recommend it to teachers and anyone who likes a good story。 This is the story about a 7th grader named Zoey who loves the Octopus because of its ability to blend in。 Zoey's teacher takes an interest in her and through the debate team is able to look at herself and her life in a different way。I read the backstory from the author。 A friend of hers told her she never sees good stories about the single mom doing her best to get by and what the kids are going through。 I think that this story does a good job of this。Zoey's mom is struggling to take care of her family （Zoey， and three siblings， including an infant） without a father being in the picture。 There is a man in the picture but he is not the father of the kids and seems to be more of a bully to Zoey's mom。 Zoey wants her to see the picture from someone else's eyes instead of the eyes of the man who continually bullies her。Even though the story is hard in parts regarding the issues the 7th graders and their families are going through， they also survive and continue on。 I think that is what the outcome is。 。。。more
Leela
，
Really good message。 I love the meaning， the teacher， the characters， all amazing。 It’s one special book， I don’t have it， I read it from a library， I hope I get my own copy so I could reread！！
Karen
，
WOW！ Such a powerful story！ Braden's novel should be a "must read" for every educator。 It is told from the view point of a middle school student who has had to grow up way too fast。 Due to circumstances out of her control， Zoey has to face daily battles that threaten to destroy her。 Luckily， one very special teacher reaches out。。。。FYI: I listened to the audio version， and the narrator did an excellent job。 WOW！ Such a powerful story！ Braden's novel should be a "must read" for every educator。 It is told from the view point of a middle school student who has had to grow up way too fast。 Due to circumstances out of her control， Zoey has to face daily battles that threaten to destroy her。 Luckily， one very special teacher reaches out。。。。FYI: I listened to the audio version， and the narrator did an excellent job。 。。。more
Heather Galvas
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 4。7 starsGoing into this book， I was expecting friend drama， small fights with parents， things like that。 But I got something so much better and so much more worth reading。The Benifits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden is a book about a girl named Zoey， and how her family of her， her mom， and her 3 younger siblings， don't have a ton of money， so they live with Zoey's mom's boyfriend， Lenny， in his nice， clean trailer。 Lenny， however， turns out to be very manipulative， making Zoey's mom feel smal 4。7 starsGoing into this book， I was expecting friend drama， small fights with parents， things like that。 But I got something so much better and so much more worth reading。The Benifits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden is a book about a girl named Zoey， and how her family of her， her mom， and her 3 younger siblings， don't have a ton of money， so they live with Zoey's mom's boyfriend， Lenny， in his nice， clean trailer。 Lenny， however， turns out to be very manipulative， making Zoey's mom feel small， unimportant， and incompetent。 But no one really notices， or they just think that this is how things are， and that's that。 Meanwhile， Zoey's teacher asks Zoey to join a debate class。 She doesn't want to， but decides to try it out。 She is perfectly fine just attending and staying unnoticed the whole class。 In the debate class， however， Zoey finally starts to notice things she hadn't before about her mom's relationship with Lenny。To add to Zoey's story， her best friend， Fruchsia， has been going in and out of foster homes， and now her and her mom are going to move in with her mom's boyfriend， Michael。 Fruchsia knows that this guy is bad， but nothing she does will convince her mom of this。 When Michael threatens Fruchsia with a gun after picking her up after school， Frushcia decides it is time to tell aomeone about how bad her situation is。Zoey and Fruchsia try hard to convince their mothers that both these men are horrible， and they need to leave them。 Finally， they agree， and they all move into Frushcia and her mom's small apartment。 It isn't the best situation， but they make it work， because where they were before was so much worse。Overall， this book was a very good read。 It covered multiple subjects that I was not expecting to read from this very lighthearted-looking book， but I am not upset about it in the slightest。 I think it is good to let kids know when they get around the ages 11-13 that people like this exist。 It is easier not to make mistakes such as dating or being friends with someone who is very manipulative when you are taught it at a younger age。 Obviously this is just my opinion， and you do not have to listen to me。 I just wanted to say this， and thank you for reading this review。 I hope you have an amazing day。 。。。more
Lonna
，
DNFed the audiobook at 2:15 of 7:00。 It just didn’t grab my interest， I wasn’t attached to the characters， and felt very slow-moving。
Sora O'Doherty
，
As an adult， I enjoyed reading this young adult novel。 It definitely has the value of shedding light on others who don't enjoy all of the benefits most of us do。 It presents characters who are varied and interesting， and a young protagonist who is warm and loving and strong and determined。 She couldn't change the circumstances in which she finds herself， but， as a reader， I had to question them a little。 As an adult， I enjoyed reading this young adult novel。 It definitely has the value of shedding light on others who don't enjoy all of the benefits most of us do。 It presents characters who are varied and interesting， and a young protagonist who is warm and loving and strong and determined。 She couldn't change the circumstances in which she finds herself， but， as a reader， I had to question them a little。 。。。more
Rayley Fugal
，
Great for building empathy
Lisa
，
The first time I tried to read this， it was just too painful to see the way the main character judges her mother。 Fortunately， I gave the book another try， this time on audio; fortunately， it does not take the main character long to start to see the truth about her family's challenging situation。 Not an easy book， but an important and good one。 The first time I tried to read this， it was just too painful to see the way the main character judges her mother。 Fortunately， I gave the book another try， this time on audio; fortunately， it does not take the main character long to start to see the truth about her family's challenging situation。 Not an easy book， but an important and good one。 。。。more
Gigi
，