Octavia Boone's Big Questions About Life, the Universe, and Everything

Gr 5—8—For Octavia Boone, seventh grade starts out well enough, but when her mother, a life-long seeker of faith, joins the Fellowship of the Redeemer Church, her world rapidly changes. For her artist father, Henry David Thoreau seems to have had all the answers, but her mother finds very different answers and wants Octavia to accept them as well. Then, when her parents' disparate world views collide and Octavia is forced to live with her mother and a couple of fellow Redeemers, the girl's anger overflows. She must confront her own prejudices, explore her feelings about God, and discover a way to move forward. Ellen Grafton does an excellent job of giving voice to Octavia's emotional turmoil in Rebecca Rupp's novel (Candlewick, 2010). Her pacing and varied tone and pitch will keep listeners engaged. Middle school students will connect with this engaging character and come away hoping for a sequel.—Deanna Romriell, Salt Lake City Public Library, UT