This is the kind of middle-grade book that teachers and librarians love because it does the hard work of building empathy while telling a compelling story. Zoey's world—taking care of siblings, living in her mom's boyfriend's trailer, feeling invisible at school—is real for too many kids, and this book doesn't sugarcoat it.

The octopus metaphor is clever without being cutesy, and the debate club angle works as a vehicle for Zoey to find her voice. The book tackles gun politics and domestic instability head-on, which is brave and necessary, but also means it's not for every kid or every family.

The 4.6 Amazon rating and pile of award nominations tell you this resonates. It's not a light read, but it's an important one—the kind that helps kids understand lives different from their own or feel seen if this is their life. Just make sure your reader is emotionally ready for the weight of it.