Octopus Moon

November 25, 2024
As an aspiring marine biologist, 10-year-old Pearl Graham has always felt connected to the loggerhead turtles at the Florida aquarium where her mother works (their beaked noses and protective shells remind her of herself). But recently she has felt more like the exceptionally sensitive
octopus, with “no barrier between what an octopus feels and its world.” Previously enjoyable activities and traditions have become excruciating, and with the mean voice in her head getting louder, “pretending to be/ Used to Be Pearl” is draining, prompting Pearl to withdraw from her family and friends. She’s initially annoyed when her parents bring her to a therapist, but when she’s diagnosed with depression, she’s comforted by the fact that it’s a treatable illness “like diabetes or asthma.” As she comes to understand more about her diagnosis, Pearl learns to manage her “dark fog” and realizes that her beloved grandfather also has the same illness. Pyron (Stay) employs a raft of apt ocean similes to elucidate Pearl’s depression with complexity in this perceptive, instructive, and hopeful verse novel, taking care to note that the moon is always full, even when “we can’t see that from/ down here.” Characters read as white. Ages 10–up. Agent: Alyssa Eisner Henkin, Birch Path Literary.

December 15, 2024
On the outside, Pearl's life seems perfect, so why is she feeling so down? Ten-year-old Pearl lives in Crescent Beach, Florida, where she spends her summers skateboarding, running, and dreaming of becoming a marine biologist. But with fifth grade just around the corner, Pearl finds herself worrying more than usual. After school starts, her teachers share their concerns about her declining academic performance, "sad" essays, and forgetfulness, leading her parents to bring her to Jill Axline, a therapist who diagnoses Pearl with depression. Over time, Pearl becomes an advocate for destigmatizing depression, and she encourages others to seek the help they need. When she finds out that a grant to rehabilitate injured sea turtles at the aquarium is in jeopardy, Pearl needs her new tools from therapy to overcome the darkness of her depression. Pyron artfully presents Pearl's navigation of her new diagnosis in relation to her family and friends. The descriptions of symptoms, including physical exhaustion, provide a window into her experiences. Although many of the cast members are minimally described in the spare verse, which is divided into brief chapters, Pearl's relationships to the secondary characters are rich and evocative. The author's concluding personal note includes useful information for those who are suffering from depression themselves or supporting someone with mental illness. Main characters present white. A full-bodied and authentic exploration of living with depression.(Verse fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

January 1, 2025
Grades 5-8 Pearl used to like skateboarding, spending time with friends, and running track. But fifth grade brings many changes: Pearl notices shifts in her friendships, her family, and how she feels--especially when that voice in her head is cruel to her. This novel in verse details Pearl's depression, from initial struggles to accepting help. Pearl's therapy journey opens her eyes to her grandfather's ""headaches"" and the stigma around mental illness, and helps her forge a path onward. She learns to apply what she's learning in therapy to multiple areas of her life, from setting boundaries to advocating for herself. Pyron's author's note offers informative details on depression as well as resources for finding help. The narrative itself offers excellent coping strategies, though not as a focal point; the emphasis is on how using these skills affects her character. Pearl's love for sea turtles and her understanding of her world through ocean-life metaphors weave together with additional plot threads of fundraising for sea-turtle rehabilitation and healing her relationship with her grandfather. Pearl's resilience, hope, and bravery shine like her namesake.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from March 1, 2025

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. VERDICT This is an important purchase for all children's and teens' library shelves.-Tracy Cronce

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