the benefits of being an octopus by ann braden

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. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she's ever had?

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. Unfortunately, she's not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. 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. At least there's Lenny, her mom's boyfriend-they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer.Īt school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. 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. Some people have other things they’ve got to do. Some people have other things they've got to do. ABOUT THE BOOK The Benefits of Being An Octopus By Ann Braden Published by Sky Pony Press ISBN-13: 9781510737488 Age Range: 8-12 Years Some people can do their homework. Edutopia's '25 Essential Middle School Reads from the Last Decade,' 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, South Carolina Book Awards Nominee, 2020–2021, and 2023 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award nominee.

The benefits of being an octopus by ann braden