Publisher Description

WINNER of the 2020 Judy Goddard AwardAge range 9 to 12The sequel to the critically acclaimed Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus follows Aven Green as she confronts yet another challenge: high school.High School. Two words that struck fear into the heart of every armless middle schooler I knew. Which was me. And like two people online.Just as Aven starts to feel comfortable in Stagecoach Pass, with her friends and schoolmates accustomed to her lack of 'armage,' everything changes once again. She's about to begin high school...with 2,300 new kids to stare at her. And no matter how much Aven tries to play it cool, nothing prepares her for the reality. In a year filled with confusion, humiliation, fears, loss, and just maybe love, can Aven manage to stay true to herself?

Author Biography

Dusti Bowling holds a Bachelor of Psychology and a Master of Education. She is the author of the well-reviewed Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and 24 Hours in Nowhere. She currently lives in Carefree, AZ, with her husband and three daughters.

Review

"In the sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (2017), Aven Green confronts her biggest challenge yet: surviving high school without arms. Fourteen-year-old Aven has just settled into life at Stagecoach Pass with her adoptive parents when everything changes again. She's entering high school, which means that 2,300 new kids will stare at her missing arms--and her feet, which do almost everything hands can (except, alas, air quotes). Aven resolves to be 'blas ' and field her classmates' pranks with aplomb, but a humiliating betrayal shakes her self-confidence. Even her friendships feel unsteady. Her friend Connor's moved away and made a new friend who, like him, has Tourette's syndrome: a girl. And is Lando, her friend Zion's popular older brother, being sweet to Aven out of pity--or something more? Bowling keenly depicts the universal awkwardness of adolescence and the particular self-consciousness of navigating a disability. Aven's 'armless-girl problems' realistically grow thornier in this outing, touching on such tough topics as death and aging, but warm, quirky secondary characters lend support. . . . Aven's honest, witty voice shines--whether out-of-reach vending-machine snacks are 'taunting' her or she's nursing heartaches. A subplot exploring Aven's curiosity about her biological father resolves with a touching twist. . . . Those preparing to 'slay the sucktastic beast known as high school' will particularly appreciate this spirited read." --Kirkus (Starred review)"High school gets off to a rocky start for armless-but-by-no-means-helpless Aven, as supposed romantic overtures from cool new classmate Joshua turn out to be a Truth or Dare from his buddies. The sturdy self-confidence and deep-seated belief in the essential decency of others that served Aven so well in Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (2017) are left in such rags that she skips school, tries to drive away her friends Zion and Connor, loses interest in her riding lessons, and steadfastly refuses to see signs of genuine attraction from Zion's brother Lando. Ultimately time and events, highlighted by a hard but incentive fall from her horse and a trip to Comic-Con--not to mention support from a diverse and multigenerational adult supporting cast--lead Aven past what she dubs the 'Great Humiliation' to leave her both literally and figuratively back in the saddle. . . . readers will welcome back this most able of protagonists." --Booklist

Long Description

*Winner of the 2020 Judy Goddard Award* Age range 9 to 12 The sequel to the critically acclaimed Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus follows Aven Green as she confronts yet another challenge: high school. High School. Two words that struck fear into the heart of every armless middle schooler I knew. Which was me. And like two people online. Just as Aven starts to feel comfortable in Stagecoach Pass, with her friends and schoolmates accustomed to her lack of 'armage,' everything changes once again. She's about to begin high school...with 2,300 new kids to stare at her. And no matter how much Aven tries to play it cool, nothing prepares her for the reality. In a year filled with confusion, humiliation, fears, loss, and just maybe love, can Aven manage to stay true to herself?

Review Quote

Praise for Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus "[Aven] is a perky, hilarious, and inspiring protagonist whose attitude and humor will linger even after the last page has turned. The tale of Stagecoach Pass is just as compelling as the story of Aven, and the setting, like the many colorful characters who people this novel, is so vivid and quirky that it's practically cinematic." -- School Library Journal (starred review) " . . . a tale that is not about having differences, but accepting them in oneself and others." -- Booklist (starred review) "Dusti Bowling's story of a regular, hugely likable kid who deals with her unusual challenges with grace and humor is pitch-perfect." -- Shelf Awareness (starred review) "Connor's Tourette's support-group meetings and Aven's witty, increasingly honest discussions of the pros and cons of 'lack of armage' give the book excellent educational potential. . . . its portrayal of characters with rarely depicted disabilities is informative, funny, and supportive." -- Kirkus "Bowling's sensitive and funny novel . . . demonstrates how negotiating others' discomfort can be one of the most challenging aspects of having a physical difference and how friendship can mitigate that discomfort. . . . [an] openhearted, empathic book. -- Publishers Weekly "A remarkable, original story with true heart, a fresh voice, and an absolutely unforgettable hero. It's a book sure to give any reader goosebumps, teary eyes, and out-loud laughs. It's a book that doesn't just open your eyes, it opens your heart." --Dan Gemeinhart, author of The Honest Truth

Details