The Benefits of Being an Octopus

The novel’s protagonist, Zoey Albro, is a seventh grader in a small Vermont town. She lives with her family in a trailer owned by her mother’s boyfriend, Lenny. The author provides few details about Zoey’s appearance. She’s white and has somewhat ratty hair and dingy clothes. Her favorite item of clothing is a pink camo jacket with faux leather sleeves. Zoey’s primary responsibility is taking care of her younger half-siblings. When Kara is home, she focuses on Hector and Lenny, so Zoey almost always cares for Bryce and Aurora. For most of the novel, Zoey isn’t a good student. She feels inferior to the middle-class students, who display confidence that she lacks.

Despite Zoey’s lack of participation in school, she’s observant and insightful. Her inner monologue, which guides the narrative, is witty and energetic. Zoey admires the octopus, and it’s a stand-in for Zoey in her imagination. Her identification with the octopus is a source of strength, like having an ally, and is a coping mechanism for managing her difficult emotions.

Zoey loves her mother and wishes that Kara would be the confident, capable person she once was.