Moon Rising on an Octopus

 

Two strong contenders. Either could be a zombie pick.

Two desperate families, both with absent fathers. Two teenagers in impossible situations.

Did Ed do it? We mostly believe his story. Does it matter? It's his brother Joe's tale

While most of our students can't identify with the level of poverty Zoe faces, her family struggles do hit a bit closer to home than Joe's. Can you believe Zoe's mother? She made us angry, and when you're emotional, you know it's an impactful book. More kids could likely connect to this one than Moonrise; most of us will never be visitors on death row. Maybe that's part of the reason we need to read it though; it offers a unique perspective far beyond our own experiences, especially in Canada.

Although it was close, we have a slight preference for The Benefits of Being an Octopus. We'd also be more likely to recommend it to our students.

Renee, Dianne, Megan
Ottewell Junior High