In a Nutshell Reviews: Middle Grades Edition

In a Nutshell Reviews are my version of mini-reviews, because sometimes, you just want the highlights.

The Benefits of Being an Octopus
Ann Braden
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary
Publisher: Sky Pony Press
Rating:  4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

"This is a compassionate look at poverty, hard choices, and defending one's right to be treated humanely. A very fine first novel, written with a deft hand." –Newbery Medal Winner, Karen Hesse

Some people can do their homework. Some people get to have crushes on boys. Some people have other things they’ve got to do.

Seventh-grader Zoey has her hands full as she takes care of her much younger siblings after school every day while her mom works her shift at the pizza parlor. Not that her mom seems to appreciate it. At least there’s Lenny, her mom’s boyfriend—they all get to live in his nice, clean trailer.

At school, Zoey tries to stay under the radar. Her only friend Fuchsia has her own issues, and since they're in an entirely different world than the rich kids, it’s best if no one notices them.

Zoey thinks how much easier everything would be if she were an octopus: eight arms to do eight things at once. Incredible camouflage ability and steady, unblinking vision. Powerful protective defenses.

Unfortunately, she’s not totally invisible, and one of her teachers forces her to join the debate club. Even though Zoey resists participating, debate ultimately leads her to see things in a new way: her mom’s relationship with Lenny, Fuchsia’s situation, and her own place in this town of people who think they’re better than her. Can Zoey find the courage to speak up, even if it means risking the most stable home she’s ever had?

This moving debut novel explores the cultural divides around class and the gun debate through the eyes of one girl, living on the edges of society, trying to find her way forward.

If Zoey were more like an octopus, she would have eight strong arms to help her take care of everything she has to juggle. If she were more like an octopus, she would be able to camouflage herself and go unnoticed at school. If she were more like an octopus, Zoey would be able to better protect her family and herself.

• Pro: Zoey owned my heart. Her emotions leapt off the page. I felt her frustration, exhaustion, and fears. She was weighed down with responsibilities and constant worry. Despite all that, her strength and her spirit, along with her "get it done" attitude still shone through. 
• Pro: The relationship between Zoey and her siblings was very sweet. Did I think she should have practically been the primary caregiver for them? No, but she loved them, would sacrifice her own needs for them, and would do anything to protect them. 
• Pro: Watching Zoey become more empowered was quite satisfying. She found her inner strength and her voice, which allowed her to speak up herself and for those who couldn't. 
• Pro: I am not even going to pretend I knew a lot of octopuses before I read this book, but I think Zoey has convinced me as to what incredibly magnificent creatures they are. I loved all the octopus facts scattered throughout the book, and the way they were incorporated into the story. Utterly fascinating. 
• Pro: Debate is quite an interesting activity, and I like seeing it featured in books. I loved when Zoey started using her debate techniques outside of debate club. Debate allowed Zoey to find her confidence and her voice, while also facilitating Zoey's examination of many of the issues affecting her life.
• Pro: There are a lot of issues touched upon in this book at some point: homelessness, addiction, foster care, gun control, mental abuse, but the one that stuck me the hardest was the examination of poverty. Zoey's situation broke my heart, and when I learned how grateful she was for what she had, my heart ached even more. 

Overall:  A sometimes sad, but ultimately hopeful portrait of young woman forced to grow up too quickly in the face of poverty and abuse, but who was able to find the strength, courage, and confidence to turn her situation around.

No Fixed Address
Susan Nielsen
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary
Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

From beloved Governor General Literary Award--winning author Susin Nielsen comes a touching and funny middle-grade story about family, friendship and growing up when you're one step away from homelessness.

Felix Knuttson, twelve, is an endearing kid with an incredible brain for trivia. His mom Astrid is loving but unreliable; she can't hold onto a job, or a home. When they lose their apartment in Vancouver, they move into a camper van, just for August, till Astrid finds a job. September comes, they're still in the van; Felix must keep "home" a secret and give a fake address in order to enroll in school. Luckily, he finds true friends. As the weeks pass and life becomes grim, he struggles not to let anyone know how precarious his situation is. When he gets to compete on a national quiz show, Felix is determined to win -- the cash prize will bring them a home. Their luck is about to change! But what happens is not at all what Felix expected.

Another Nielsen book, another winner for me. I am so happy I discovered Susin Nielsen, because every one of her books end up on the "makes-me-happy" list. She has done it once again with No Fixed Address, which was, as intrepid reporter Winnie Wu stated in the book, a feel-good story.

• Pro: Nielsen does so many things well in her books, but most importantly, she crafts these incredible characters. Felix was one of those incredible characters. The kid won my heart as soon as he described himself as "Fifty percent Swedish, twenty-five percent Haitian, twenty-five percent French. Add it up and it equals one hundred percent Canadian." He was funny, quirky, and he charmed the pants off of me. 
• Pro: Felix was homeless or, as he liked to say, "between places". There was a chapter in the book called "A Brief History of Homes", where Felix told us about all the places he had lived. This chapter was a brilliant way to show how quickly one's circumstances can change. How you can be living in a big victorian house one day and in the back of a van the next. I am glad it was included, because it can combat some of the assumptions people make about why people are homeless. 
• Pro: The quiz show storyline was fantastic! I was so glad it was part of the story. 
• Pro: It was obvious that Astrid was not winning any parenting prizes. Her inability to keep a job combine with her mental health issues, often left Felix to fend for himself, but one thing was clear - Astrid loved Felix and he loved her. 
• Pro: Mental health and abuse are some of the issues addressed in this story. Both were handled honestly and with care. 
• Pro: It was really beautiful the way so many people rallied for Felix. I swear! My heart grew three sizes due to some really wonderful characters in this book and their acts of kindness towards Felix and his mom. 

Overall: A touching, funny, and heartbreaking look at homelessness, featuring a protagonists you will stand and cheer for.

Someone Else's Shoes
Ellen Wittlinger
Series: n/a
Age/Genre: Middle Grades, Contemporary
Publisher: Charlesbridge
Rating:  3.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Izzy, a twelve-year-old budding comedian, feels pretty miserable about her family life—her father is remarried with a new baby on the way, her mother is dating Izzy's dentist, Dr. Gustino, whose rebellious sixteen-year-old son Ben is a huge hassle, and now her cousin Oliver and Uncle Henderson are moving in with Izzy and her mother. Of course, Izzy feels bad for her ten-year-old cousin—his mother recently committed suicide—and Uncle Henderson has become zombie-like ever since.

When Uncle Henderson disappears one day, Izzy finds herself on an impromptu road trip to upstate New York with Oliver and Ben, the three of them seeking family and acceptance.

How do three sort of broken young people start to reassemble themselves? They make some bad choices, go on a road trip, and most importantly, they find each other and learn to open up about their losses.

• Pro: I wasn't sure about Izzy, but she grew on me. At first she seemed a little selfish. However, as she opened up more, I discovered she was also hurting. She did change quite a bit from her experience, and I saw it happening, bit by bit, and each time, I was quite proud of all the progress she made.  
• Pro: Ben, Oliver, and Izzy seemed so different from each other, but they all shared the loss of a parent in some way. Oliver's was probably the most devastating, but I like that Wittlinger didn't make Ben and Izzy's "losses" seem like non-events, because they weren't for them. The different degree of loss also gave the other characters some perspective, and helped them work through their issues. I like how it put that "in someone else's shoes" thing into practice. 
• Pro: The portrayal of a father in the throes of grief can be quite meaningful to a child, who is in the same situation. Men are so often portrayed as "strong", and this father wore his grief on the outside, in full view. Sometimes we need to see things like this. 
• Pro: The road trip was so wrong, but also pushed the characters in the right direction. It was an opportunity to see a different side of Ben and Izzy, as well as, finally see Oliver release all the pent up anger, fear, and sadness he had been hiding from his dad. 
• Pro: Wittlinger's discussion involving Oliver's mother's suicide was handled in a gentle and considerate manner. They discussed the mother's existing mental health issues and her battle with them, while also standing behind therapy and medication as a way to deal with grief and depression.  
• Pro: The ending was full of hope, and a story with so many heavy things needed to be capped off with a healthy does of hope. So, thank you, Ellen Wittlinger for that, and for the cute comedy bits in-between, which gave this story balance, and kept it from being too heavy. 

Overall:  A tender and heartwarming story of grief and loss, but also of connection and healing, which thoughtfully tackled some very big issues.  

** ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews.

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