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1.48k reviews by:
libraryalissa
I totally get why this won a Newbery Honor. This is a compulsively readable story with excellent writing. Based on the nature of the story (alcoholism, colorism, poverty, etc.) it would be easy for this to veer into a tone that is too heavy to attract middle grade readers, but Williams perfectly straddles this line. She treats her themes with the seriousness they deserve while embedding them with friendship and humor. Genesis is an incredibly endearing yet complex character who you can’t help but root for.
This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality
Debbie Levy, Jo Ann Allen Boyce
I knew this book would be smart and insightful, but I didn’t expect it to be so laugh out loud funny! Great character building, strong illustrations, super clever. A great read for kids and adults.
Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for a review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus is a skillfully written debut novel for middle grade readers. Braden uses the story of 7th grader Zoey to interweave the themes of poverty, domestic abuse, and gun violence with nuance and compassion. I was impressed by Braden’s commitment to neither oversimplify or overdramatize the complicated topics she is addressing. She was frank about the realities of Zoey’s everyday life, while also being sensitive to the emotions of young readers. The Benefits of Being an Octopus is an accessible read that brings some important representation of often overlooked themes and characters to middle grade lit.
The Benefits of Being an Octopus is a skillfully written debut novel for middle grade readers. Braden uses the story of 7th grader Zoey to interweave the themes of poverty, domestic abuse, and gun violence with nuance and compassion. I was impressed by Braden’s commitment to neither oversimplify or overdramatize the complicated topics she is addressing. She was frank about the realities of Zoey’s everyday life, while also being sensitive to the emotions of young readers. The Benefits of Being an Octopus is an accessible read that brings some important representation of often overlooked themes and characters to middle grade lit.
*I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This book sits comfortably in the emerging genre of books that are not quite YA and not quite Middle Grade. I think roughly 12-14 would be the target age. It strikes a more mature tone than the average middle grade novel but the subject matter itself is not any more intense. Brie is an eighth grader wrestling with questions concerning religion, family life, her dreams/ambitions and her sexual identity. I haven’t seen quite this combination of themes in a teen novel before and I found that refreshing. We have a definite need for more books for kids who aren’t quite ready for YA but feel to old for Middle Grade and this is a great contribution to that small but growing collection.
This book sits comfortably in the emerging genre of books that are not quite YA and not quite Middle Grade. I think roughly 12-14 would be the target age. It strikes a more mature tone than the average middle grade novel but the subject matter itself is not any more intense. Brie is an eighth grader wrestling with questions concerning religion, family life, her dreams/ambitions and her sexual identity. I haven’t seen quite this combination of themes in a teen novel before and I found that refreshing. We have a definite need for more books for kids who aren’t quite ready for YA but feel to old for Middle Grade and this is a great contribution to that small but growing collection.