The Benefits of Being an Octopus

Chapters 1-4

Reading Check

1. The Pizza Pit (Chapter 4)

2. The Head Start program (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Zoey means that Zach has an easier life while her life is often like treading water trying to stay afloat. She must work harder just to survive. (Chapter 4)

2. Zoey is given responsibility way beyond her years. She saves food from school to eat at home later, may have a hygiene problem, frequently forgets her schoolwork, and is often battling the unsettling feeling of Lenny’s control. Zoey indicates that her parents live paycheck to paycheck and are sometimes in an environment where the utilities are not paid. (Various Chapters)

Chapters 5-8

Reading Check

1. She forgot her assignment. (Chapter 5)

2. In the trash (Chapter 8)

3. Herself (Chapter 7)

Short Answer

1. Matt’s assessment of the best animal indicates that Matt values sharing and fairness over predatory skill. The reader can infer that Matt is kind-hearted. (Chapter 5)

2. Zoey’s siblings panic because they fear Zoey has forgotten or abandoned them. Their fear reveals the instability of Zoey’s home life and what they are afraid of. (Chapter 6)

Chapters 9-12

Reading Check

1. Silas’s (Chapter 11)

2. Michael’s house/her mother’s boyfriend’s (Chapter 11)

3. A washing machine (Chapter 12)

Short Answer

1. Zoey doesn’t have access to clean clothing because her mother must walk 40 minutes to the laundromat, carrying the laundry basket. The author demonstrates the difficulty of a disadvantaged socioeconomic background, illustrating that simple tasks many take for granted are not available to those with fewer monetary resources. (Chapter 9)

2. Zoey is cuddled up with her siblings, watching a peaceful television show. The children are calm, and Lenny is not in the house to disrupt the family. (Chapter 10)

Chapters 13-16

Reading Check

1. An octopus (Chapter 13)

2. Connor (Chapter 14)

3. Silas (Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. Zoey believes that Lenny was correct in his assessment of her mother’s incompetence simply because Lenny called her incompetent. As Zoey grows in her debate class, she realizes that arguments are unjustified because someone says they are. Zoey realizes that Lenny’s arguments are not valid and he does not have evidence to support his claims. (Various Chapters)

2. Lydia and Matt immediately silence people who disagree with them by launching a personal attack on Zoey. Lydia says she wears camo and is, therefore, “one of them,” referring to gun owners, and Matt calls gun owners either dumb or evil, which breaks Ms. Rochambeau’s rule that debate should use logic, not resort to personal attacks. (Various Chapters)

Chapters 17-20

Reading Check

1. Stupid (Chapter 17)

2. The power bill (Chapter 18)

Short Answer

1. Zoey notices that Bryce is beginning to treat his siblings like Lenny treats Kara. Zoey realizes that this treatment comes from the abuse the children witness in the household. (Chapter 19)

2. Fuchsia has experience with the Department of Children and Families and was placed in foster care in the past. Fuchsia is concerned her mother will side with her boyfriend rather than with Fuchsia. (Various Chapters)

Chapters 21-24

Reading Check

1. Prank call him (Chapter 21)

2. Fuchsia (Chapter 22)

Short Answer

1. Zoey has bigger problems to solve than most of her classmates. She becomes resentful because of the unfairness and differences between their trivial concerns and her much greater concerns. (Chapter 21)

2. Zoey asks her mom to consider moving in with Fuchsia’s mom so they can split the rent and not have to live with abusive partners. (Chapter 24)

Chapters 25-28

Reading Check

1. She borrows Connor’s. (Chapter 26)

2. A protective order (Chapter 28)

Short Answer

1. Zoey and her family live in a one-bedroom apartment with Fuchsia and her mother. Although the problem with abusive boyfriends has been resolved for both families, Zoey and her mother must face the reality of finding affordable housing. (Various Chapters)

2. Zoey vows to tell real stories about her life experiences and to speak up in places like debate class. (Chapter 28)