#iLoveMG is my continuing series where I share middle grade books recommended by my fifth graders. (Please note that my fifth graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for fifth graders.) For younger readers, #3rdfor3rd for recommendations from when I taught third grade.
My book is The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden. The book is about a girl named Zoey. Zoey lives with her mom's boyfriend, Lenny, in a trailer situated in a neighborhood full of rich kids. She has to deal with all sorts of issues as well as taking care of Aurora, Bryce and baby Hector. At school, she tries to be invisible and go unnoticed. Unfortunately, her teacher Ms. Rochambeau forces her to join the school debate club. Debate club eventually leads to Zoey seeing things in a different way, like her mom’s relationship, her best friend Fuchsia’s issues, and her own place in the world.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus
Recommended by Ash/Max
I enjoyed The Benefits of Being an Octopus because of its descriptive imagery and underlying messages about the cultural divide and the gun debate. I probably wouldn’t have picked this up and read it, but I’m glad I did. This was overall a pretty good book.
