Octopus Moon

Gr 3-7–Pearl, 10, is at the beginning of her fifth grade school year in Florida and trying to get a grip on the anxiety and dark feelings that have been washing over her. She’s like an octopus, with touch receptors all over its body and feeling everything. In years past, Pearl has been able to settle into the routines of a new school year, but this year is different. Despite having two best friends and a supportive family, Pearl finds her emotions continuing to crash like waves on the shore. She struggles to eat, sleep, smile, or enjoy the daily activities she once did. Even her beagle, Tuck, can’t seem to pull her up for air. Finally, Pearl’s parents take her to a therapist, where she learns some useful coping skills to navigate the ups and downs of depression. Pearl’s struggles will resonate with readers who grapple with feelings of not being enough. Secondary characters are fleshed out in her two best friends, who are also having personal challenges. Pearl adopts good management skills in the form of setting goals, using beads on a string to document the things she’s able to do each day, as well as repeating some mantras—“My family will always love me. The ocean will always be there. The moon is always full”—to assist her in moving forward in life. All characters read as white.