OCTOPUS MOON

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.