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    The Benefits of Being an Octopus
    The Benefits of Being an Octopus
    The Benefits of Being an Octopus
    Audiobook6 hours

    The Benefits of Being an Octopus

    Written by Ann Braden

    Narrated by Amy Melissa Bentley

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateFeb 12, 2019
    ISBN9781977343413
    The Benefits of Being an Octopus
    Author

    Ann Braden

    Ann Braden writes books about kids struggling to find their voice amid the realities of life. She founded GunSenseVT, a grassroots group focused on championing the common ground on the issue of guns in Vermont. She also founded the Local Love Brigade, which now has chapters all over the country sending love postcards to those who are facing hate. Ann lives in southern Vermont with her husband, two children, and two insatiable cats named Boomer and Justice. Visit her online at www.annbradenbooks.com.

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    Reviews for The Benefits of Being an Octopus

    4.5/5

    115 ratings10 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Powerful look at poverty, domestic abuse, and the possibilities of escape. I like that there were no easy answers, but the characters were still able to start a new life. It's bleak, but there's some significant hope in the corners.

      7th grade protagonist Zoey provides most of the childcare/parenting for two of her younger siblings, while her mother works and cares for the baby. They live in the best physical space that they've ever been in -- a trailer park with her mom's new boyfriend, but it starts to become apparent that the price they are paying is for her mom to bear the brunt of a constant stream of verbal abuse. Meanwhile, Zoey has come to the attention of a teacher in her school who sponsors the debate club and wants to encourage her to find her own path. This is a tough love kind of book. There's also a situation in which gunshots are fired on school grounds by a different abusive boyfriend, and the school is polarized by gun debates and wrongly targeting a kid who hunts for the incident.

      There's a lot of subtlety in this book -- from the subtle ways the boyfriend breaks down her mom's confidence, to the pervasive bullying one of her friends endures, to the friendships that offer small bright moments in Zoey's day.
    • 2/5
      Picked up because I love octopus but book itself just ok. I hate guns and hunting.
    • 5/5
      Honestly one of the most engaging and eye opening middle grade books I've ever read. Perfect for getting young minds to either think about those who have to struggle to make ends meet or it's a mirror for others to see that they aren't alone. Seventh grader Zoey doesn't have time for homework or crushes or other fun middle school things - she's barely making ends meet. She has to take care of her three younger siblings every day after school while her mom works and it doesn't leave her much time to be a kid. Changing diapers, soothing tears, giving baths - it's exhausting - but when you're stuck in a cycle of poverty you have to do anything and everything to stay afloat. She wished she could be an octopus so she had eight arms to do eight things at once, plus they have great protective defenses. But she's at least grateful that they live in a clean trailer with her mom's boyfriend - but even though they live somewhere "nice" they have to put up with a lot of mean things from the owner. A story of finding your voice, gaining confidence, overpowering the odds, and not judging those who are trying their best. A great book about empathy.
    • 4/5
      This was an emotionally taxing listen. Zoey has a lot of responsibility in her life caring for her siblings. It definitely impact her life as a student. Her mom's boyfriend has a nice trailer, but she wonders what is happening to her mom. Zoey gets some tough love and encouragement from her social studies teacher who asks her what kind of life she wants, what kind of person she wants to be - questions that Zoey never previously considered. Zoey finds her voice and helps her mom question her choices. The family has a stable place to live, but the situation is taking its tool. Zoe is a character to root for!
    • 4/5
      Zoey is one of those girls who tries to blend in at school and go unnoticed. She doesn't have time for regular 7th-grade stuff likes clubs and stuff like that. She barely has time for homework as she takes care of her three younger siblings while her Mom works. They live in a trailer with her Mom's current boyfriend and his Dad. It's actually a step up for them.

      I read this book in one sitting and then had to wait a couple days before writing a review. Zoey's lifestyle(in rural Vermont) is one shared by (probably) millions of US kids today and that in itself is heartbreaking. Let's put it this way if you placed these characters on the South Side of Chicago or any other urban area it all plays out the same. I think this paired with anything by Jason Reynolds or Angie Thomas would make for some interesting discussions on social justice in the US and or how we can help those around us who are struggling. It's books like this that can change how this generation of kids think about wealth and poverty and hopefully will encourage them to be kind to their peers.

      Highly Recommend for ages 10 and up.

      Please note that I received a free advance ARC of this book from the Kid Lit Exchange without a review requirement or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that, I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

      The Benefits of Being An Octopus By Ann Braden

      September 4, 2018
    • 5/5
      It is a rare book indeed that ever gets a 5 from me, but The Benefits of Being an Octopus deserves nothing less than top marks. It’s heart wrenching and believable and thought provoking and brutally honest. I absolutely love Zoey and at multiple points in the story wanted to applaud her courage and resilience and how she absolutely became her own hero. I could not put this book down and you won’t be able to either. Get yourself a copy asap; you can thank me later.
    • 5/5
      This book was SO amazing! It covers some really tough topics in a really great way for the age group it is written towards. It touches on gun control, domestic abuse, bullying and teaching that even though you might be young you still have a voice and need to use it. Zoey is such a strong, intelligent main character and I instantly felt for her and her situation. She learns to stand up not only for herself but for her mother and her friends. I also really loved her teacher and hope there are some out there in real life like her. I would love to see all middle and even high school students reading this book. There is so much to learn from it!I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Skyhorse Publishing and Netgalley!
    • 4/5
      Zoey and her mom have been homeless before. Now they live in Lenny's clean, well-organized trailer. Zoey has taken on responsibility for her three younger siblings while her mother works, and her school work often isn't done. After a teacher puts her in the debate club, she realizes that she can't always hide.
    • 5/5
      I received an ebook copy of THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS via netgalley. Boy am I glad I read this book. It is a must have in the middle-grade classroom and school libraries. The main character, Zoey, allows children who live in poverty to see themselves in a book. Something they may have never experienced before. It is well-written. The characters are likable. All the praise this book has received so far is right on. You must pre-order this book. I am getting a copy for our elementary school library and recommending it to our intermediate-grade teachers.
    • 4/5
      I was immediately drawn to this book because of the cover. It's simple, yet colorful and aesthetic, and it fits the vibe of the story very well!The Benefits of Being an Octopus follows Zoey, a seventh grader who doesn't have time to deal with crushes or even homework. She's too busy taking care of her younger siblings while her family barely scrapes by. But one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club, and Zoey can't stop thinking how much easier life would be if she was an octopus with eight arms and the ability camouflage. Surprisingly, joining the debate club helps Zoey see things in a different light and with everything going on at home, at school, and with Zoey's best friend Fuchsia, that's exactly what she needs.This was quite a quick read and the writing style was very engaging. The narration was authentic and it really sounded like everything was from a seventh grader's perspective. Although I understand that the age factored in, I personally still felt a little frustrated at the simple terms the narrator thought in, even towards the end.Another frustration factor was regarding character development. It was definitely there, but it didn't quite pick-up until the 70% mark, and waiting for it was quite a task. I think the author captured the binary thinking of younger students very well; in fact, I really loved how I could truly empathize with the main character, even though I may disagree with them. This book really made me look at people beyond their arguments, and it points out that what's frustrating about politics aren't the people on the other side, it's close-mindedness by anyone and often, everyone.Regarding the rest of the characters, I'm not sure I felt as much love for them as I could have. I think that some of them could have been fleshed out more and I'm not 100% satisfied with how much backstory I got. Fuchsia was a character that could have used more screentime and personality before she became a plot device.The plot was very interesting overall, though I did feel like it got a little messy. The book bounced between subplots, and I think the resolution tying them together was a little weak, and I'm not sure how satisfied I am.Overall, I'd still recommend this book to everyone, and I think even adults could learn a lot from this book, which really makes the reader take a step back and look at both sides of every coin.