OCTOPUS MOON by author @BobbiePyron is my #MGLit book pick for Mental Health Awareness Month. 💚 OCTOPUS MOON is beautifully crafted story that feels real. Many books invite readers to accompany the protagonists on their journey, like a quiet observer who simply watches while events unfold. But OCTOPUS MOON doesn’t feel like that, it feels personal, as if you’re right there with the characters, sharing their experiences, like a close friend or family member. The closeness of this story makes it uniquely powerful. One of the qualities I truly love about the novel-in-verse format is how it invites readers to experience the emotions and senses of the characters. The story centers around Pearl, a 10-year-old girl who feels everything around her so intensely that it often overwhelms her. Her emotions are like waves, crashing over her, and sometimes, she just needs to find a way to escape. What makes Pearl’s journey even more powerful is the cruel voice that lives in her head. A voice that constantly tears her down, filling her with fear and uncertainty. As a result, Pearl begins to distance herself from everything she once loved, from her best friends to running, to spending time at the beach with her grandfather. Perl starts to fade away, hiding under the covers, wishing the world would just go away. It’s only as we dive deeper into her story that we begin to understand that Pearl is struggling with depression. But with the support and love of her family and friends & the know-how of her therapist, we begin to see Pearl finding her way back to the girl she once was. One of the most powerful messages in OCTOPUS MOON is the reminder that the voices in our heads, the ones filled with self-doubt and negativity, are not true. Depression lies. This is such an important message, not just for Pearl, but for all of us.  OCTOPUS MOON is a book that needs to be read & shared, a healing journey that we can all learn from & a story that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page. #bookblogger #MentalHealth #MentalHealthMatters #BookRecommendation #literacyadvocate #readingcommunity @penguinkids @nancyrosep