Seventh-grader Zoey Albro focuses on caring for three younger siblings and avoiding rich classmates at school until her fascination with octopuses gets her on the debate team and she begins to speak out.

Introduces young readers to the power of civil debate through a story about some upper-elementary-aged Chilean students who are divided on the issue of whether a much-loved old monkey puzzle tree should be cut down to make room for new science classrooms and computer labs at their school. Includes monkey puzzle tree facts.