Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden

Image: Tantor Audio

The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden. Unabridged e-Audiobook, ~7 hours. Read by Amy Melissa Bentley. Tantor Audio, February, 2019. 

Middle Grade Monday features The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden. Seventh grader Zoey Albro's favorite animal is the octopus. Some qualities she admires are their strength, adaptability and ability to blend in and not be seen. She tries to do this every day, but it's kind of hard when your over-worked mother hasn't done the laundry and you're wearing dirty, old clothes, or when you've forgotten your homework yet again because you were trying to keep your three younger siblings from getting Lenny mad. She admires the ease with which her classmate, Matt, moves through the world- well-dressed, well-fed, probably well-loved and definitely not afraid of making the wrong move in Lenny's pristine trailer.

This coming-of-age novel is filled with heartbreak. Zoey is a bright girl with too much responsibility. But there's hope, especially when one of her teachers looks past the missing homework to understand her.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus was Ms. Braden's debut novel. It was named and NPR Best Book of 2018 and a Bank Street Best Book. The audiobook narration was well-paced and emotionally resonant.