Zoey hasn’t done her homework again. It’s not like she has time for that after school. Not after collecting her baby brother from her mother’s work, then meeting her younger siblings off a bus. Getting home and often cooking dinner too, takes up a lot of time.

It’s a nice enough home. Mum’s boyfriend Lenny is a clean and tidy freak, so his trailer is too. At least it’s better than the time they had to live in their car for a while. Sharing a room with a demanding pre schooler and elementary school (primary) siblings doesn’t bode well for sleep either, so Zoey does the best she can.

It’s not like Mum means to take her for granted but since she’s been with Lenny, Mum has lost her spark. ‘Getting-it-done Mum’ seems to have gone, and Zoey misses that.

Zoey wishes she were an octopus. They have eight arms to get things done. They are slippery, which would help all the taunts and teasing by the richer kids to slide off. And an octopus can jet away when in danger or squirt a screen of black ink to hide in.

Zoey’s homeroom teacher is nearby one day as Zoey is late to meet her siblings off the bus. When her teacher holds her back to talk to her one day, Zoey can’t hide anymore. She tells the teacher nothing, and escapes as soon as she can, thinking about what her teacher is offering. A place in Debate Club after school.

Her knee jerk reaction is not to go, but she does and Debate Club begins to teach her things about life in school and at home. Zoey also begins to find her courage to help her mum see what is happening within their family. Lenny might not hit them, and his trailer is the best one yet, but a home is more than just four walls. It needs to be safe, physically and mentally.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus is a powerful story, and one many children live every day. Zoey is only in middle-school (Intermediate) but has so many responsibilities on her young shoulders. She doesn’t complain however as many would in this situation, but becomes even stronger during the story with the help of a teacher who sees her young self in Zoey.

This teacher doesn’t solve all Zoey’s problems like some education avenger, but allows Zoey to find and see her own potential. This process is gradual and authentic as she deals with bullying, a lockdown at school with a gun scare, and a man gaslighting her mother.

Zoey is the ‘super hero’ in this novel, saving herself, her family and a friend in physical danger.

Heart breaking, tension filled reality with a character I wanted to stay with long after the last page.

Author – Ann Braden

Age – 11+

Awards:

One of 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 / Maine’s Student Book Award List / Louisiana Young Reader’s Choice Award List / Rhode Island Middle School Book Award 2020 List / Middle School Virginia Readers’ Choice Titles for 2020–2021 / Charlie May Simon Award 2020–2021 List, and a multi award nominee for 2020 – 2023.

(2021, Poverty, School, Friendship, Gun laws, Gun debate, School Lockdown, Gaslighting, Relationships, Controlling personality, Family, Siblings, Courage, Benefits, Restraining order, Octopus, Bullying, Debating, Inspiring Teacher, Middle School, Intermediate, Welfare, Crime, Growing up, Coming of age, Love)