Characters and Relationships
These are the names of the three siblings that Zoey takes care of.
Who are Bryce, Aurora, and Hector.
This is an ability of an octopus that Zoey uses to protect herself at school.
What is camouflage (blending into the background)?
This is the topic selected for the middle school debate.
What is gun ownership as a right?
This is where Zoey and her family live at the start of the novel.
What is in Lenny's trailer?
This is the single event that mark's Zoey's biggest turning point in finding her courage.
What is speaking up at the Debate Club?
This teacher actively recruits Zoey for the debate team?
Who is Ms. Rochambeau
This is why Zoey wishes she had eight arms.
What is so she could juggle all her chores, domestic work, and sibling care at once?
Zoey accidentally leaves this at home before the day of the first classroom debate
What is her debate packet?
This is the major obstacle preventing Kara from easily getting her own apartment.
What is she doesn't have a security deposit, there is a long waitlist, and she has no car.
One of those oughta do it.
This is the central phrase that best describes the important truths Zoey realizes she must speak aloud (the author turned it into proper nouns)
What is "Things That Need To Be Said"?
This is Zoey's close friend whose situation parallels Zoey's domestic struggles.
Who is Fuchsia?
Other than camouflage, this is another defense mechanism an octopus may use.
What is releasing an ink cloud?
This is a key piece of information that the debate participants do NOT know ahead of the actual debate.
What is the side (pro/con) they will be on?
What is the form for the electric company?
This is one way the overall message of the book concerning education and self-advocacy can be summed up.
What is some form of the concept "Knowledge and confidence empower people to change their life circumstances"?
This character's manipulative and controlling behavior makes Zoey's home life unsafe
Who is Lenny
Symbolically, this is one way Zoey's way of seeing herself as an octopus changes by the end of the book.
What is she no longer feels the need to hide/blend in?
This is why Zoey is initially torn and conflicted about the debate topic
What is that she knows gun owners who aren't bad, but that she has also seen a gun used to threaten someone?
Or something like that.
This is the practical solution Zoey proposes so her family can afford rent
What is to move in with Fuchsia and her mother Crystal so they can split expenses?
This is how Zoey shows her leadership when planning her family's escape from Lenny.
What is she calculates costs, finds housing options, and (maybe most of all) convinces her mother to act?
This person shows Zoey the tattoo that helps her realize she is a complete person with inherent value
Who is Connor?
This is the animal Kaylee Vine researched and debated about.
What is an owl?
This is the food item Zoey carefully saves during school lunch to share with her siblings
What is a pudding cup?
This is where Zoey's mother works.
What is at the Pizza Pit?
This is how Zoey's relationship with her classmates changed by the end of the book.
What is she forms real friendships and realizes people care about what she thinks?