The Benefits of Being an Octopus

Posted on 11 September 2017 by Ann Braden

This is a compassionate look at poverty, hard choices, and defending one s right to be treated humanely A very fine first novel, written with a deft handNewbery Medal Winner, Karen HesseSome 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. Read The Benefits of Being an Octopus Author Ann Braden – kino-fada.fr 4.5 stars for The Benefits of Being an Octopus This is a wonderfully written story about a young girl who has learned all too young that moral decisions aren t nearly as black and white as many people wish they would be.We follow seventh grader Zoey as she struggles to make it through each day Beyond the usual teen woes of homework and fitting in, Zoey also has to deal with shouldering a lot of the parental duties in her family She has three younger siblings including an infant she must car 4.5 stars for The Benefits of Being an Octopus This is a wonderfully written story about a young girl who has learned all too young that moral decisions aren t nearly as black and white as many people wish they would be.We follow seventh grader Zoe...I received an ARC of this book from Sky Pony Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review Thank you The review for this one is long due Basically, I finished it about ten days ago and didn t get the time to write a review I picked up The Benefits of Being an Octopus after I read Nina s interesting review It is a simple book that deals with powerful themes The central character, Zoey, a middle grader reveals about her struggles with poverty and domestic abuse As the book unfolds, s I received an ARC of this book from Sky Pony Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review Thank you The review for this one is long due Basically, I finished it about ten days ago and didn t get the time to write a review I picked up The Benefits of Being an Octopus after I read Nina s interestin... Check outreviews Perspective of a Writer7th grader Zoey has her hands full and thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus 8 arms to do 8 things at once Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision Powerful protective defenses Unfortunately, she s not invisible, and a...The Benefits of Being an Octopus is Ann Braden s wonderful children s debut, that both taught and humbled me as an adult reader The story is one of poverty, prejudice and the seemingly insurmountable odds that many families and children experience It focuses on seventh grader year eight in England and Wales Zoey and her brave fight to overcome the odds that are stacked against her Make no mistake, this is a powerful story with a beautiful message and an incredible heroine to boot A timele The Benefits of Being an Octopus is Ann Braden s wonderful children s debut, that both taught and humbled me as an adult reader The story is one of poverty, prejudice and the seemingly insurmountable odds that many families and children experience It focuses on seventh grader year eight in England and Wales Zoey a... All I need is to know something and I do And maybe, just maybe, if I do this and if I can rock it all the other kids will have their minds blown, and it ll be completely satisfying to watch Who would have guessed, they ll say, that Zoey knew so much cool stuff I had no idea I thought I knew who she was, but clearly I didn t at all Maybe Kaylee Vine would even stop holding her nose and switching seats on the bus to get away from me.The Benefits of Being an Octopus is a treasure of a book All I need is to know something and I do And maybe, just maybe, if I do this and if I can rock it all the other kids will have their minds blown, and it ll be completely satisfying to watch Who would have guessed, they ll say, that Zoey knew so much cool stuff I had no idea I thought I knew who she was, but clearly I didn t at all Maybe Kaylee Vine would even stop holding her...I received an ARC of this book from Sky Pony Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review Thank you This book was incredible I m surprised that this was Ann Braden s debut novel and a middle gradeThat s one of the things about the people on that beautiful tropical island they can t see who s floating about in the ocean around them Or maybe they can and they just choose not to look I don t know I ve never been there We followed Zoey in this story, a 7th grader with many unforI received an ARC of this book from Sky Pony Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review Thank you This book was incredible I m surprised that this was Ann Braden s debut novel and a middle gradeThat s one of the things about the people on that beautiful tropical island they can t see who s floating about in the ocean around them Or maybe they can and they just choose...I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book So in this book we follow Zoey who we follow through the novel as she faces different challenges and subjects like racism and gun safety and overall just her being able to fit in.I was very bland with my summarising but it s hard not to give too much away.Some parts of this book worked for me and some didn t, I just didn t feel emotionally attached to I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book So in this book we foll...It s been a long time since I dived into a Middle Grade contemporary novel, and I was a bit hesitant about going into The Benefits of Being an Octopus I needn t have worried, though, because I took a liking to this book from the very first page based on a quote The history of the octopus illustrates the brain s ability to evolve As they lost their ancestors protective shells they were forced to becomeintelligent The Octopus Graceful Cephalopod of the Deep by Derby KingAnn Braden It s been a long time since I dived into a Middle Grade contemporary novel, and I was a bit hesitant about going into The Benefits of Being an Octopus I needn t have worried, though, becaus...Wow, what a powerful book for teenagers and about teenagers If I could I would give this so muchthan just 5 stars It has the quality of an award winning short story and a pace of a thriller Spot on in every aspect.It isn t often when an adult writer actually manages to write for young readers in a way that both appeals and is also very insightful This book made me laugh and cry tears as big as kidney beans There were so many broken strings inside Zoey and myselfmemories of my own c Wow, what a powerful book for teenagers and about teenagers If I could I would give this so muchthan just 5 stars It has the quality of an award winning short story and a pace of a thriller Spot on in every aspect.It isn t often when an adult writer actually manages to write for young readers in a way that both appeals and is also very insightful This book made me laugh and cry tears as big as kidney beans There were so many broken strings inside Zoey and myselfmemories of my own childhood kept creeping up like those eight tentacles constantly mentioned or hinted at.It s like Zoey says at the beginning If I were an octopus, things would be so much easier I d have one arm to wipe Aurora s nose Twofor holding both kids hands when I pick them up...Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e copy in exchange for an honest review Actual Rating 3.75I 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 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e copy in exchange for an honest review Actual Rating 3.75I 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 homewor...

English
11 September 2017

Ann Braden