The Benefits of Being an Octopus ~ Ann Braden
Ann Braden is the reason that I am behind on grading right now. I’ll admit it! I have several days of online classwork to look through, but I’m totally putting it off for just a few more hours because I had to finish this book and share it with you.
I loved this novel because it is unlike anything else I have on my shelves. Seventh grade protagonist Zoey has a lot on her hands. She often wishes she were an octopus so that she had enough arms to wrangle her three younger siblings, clean the house, cook dinners, and complete her schoolwork. But instead, she is human, and left feeling inadequate and hopeless much of the time.
She lives in a trailer with her mom’s boyfriend, Lenny, and his grumpy dad, Frank. Though Lenny keeps a tidy trailer, has a steady job, and paid for her mom’s new set of teeth, something about him isn’t right. When Zoey begins spying on her mom and Lenny through a tiny hole in the wall, she learns that Lenny isn’t the boyfriend or role model she hoped he would be.
Meanwhile, in school, Zoey is made fun of for her unwashed and smelly clothes. She keeps to herself and is used to the disappointed looks from her teachers when she has to tell them that she forgot her homework, again. Things change, though, when Ms. Rochambeau asks (forces) Zoey to join the debate club. Slowly and painfully, Zoey begins to find her voice.
This novel is so special because it addresses issues that many books don’t. Zoey lives in rural poverty, witnesses emotional abuse in her home, experiences the effects of gun violence, and deeply understands that almost nothing in life is black and white. In The Benefits of Being an Octopus, Ann Braden tackles these complex topics in a nuanced manner, leaving the reader with more questions than answers. Every student can learn from this book.
Maturity: 2/4
This novel is ideal for students age 11+. Though it tackles mature content, there are no explicitly violent or mature scenes.
Pages: 256
Lexile: 770L
Lexile is a score that helps educators and parents match students with an appropriate text. A Lexile score is a measure of both a child’s reading ability and a text difficulty. However, Lexile does not take into account the content of a novel. So, pairing readers with a text is a complex process, and knowledge of a novel’s themes and plot is necessary to make a high-quality recommendation.
If you are curious about the grade-level equivalent to Lexile scores, check out the conversion chart here!
Happy Reading!
♥ Kara & Riley
