by Dusti Bowling (Author)

   A startling book for middle-grade kids about a girl who refuses to believe she is a freak or disabled.  In fact,  Aven Green is very capable of doing just about everything she wants despite being born without arms.  She has a very cool can-do attitude that will change readers’ opinions about her surprisingly by the middle of the book.  It’s so well written from her own viewpoint as a 13-year-old red-headed girl – with no arms –  that one wonders if the author, Dusti Bowling, isn’t likewise disabled. (I don’t think so.)

INSIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS begins with Aven firmly established in a school in Kansas where she grew up. She has friends who now hardly notice her lack of arms and treat her as “one of the gang.”  Aven’s parents adopted her at age two and taught her she could do everything she wanted; it just may take a little longer.  She does everything with her feet and the occasional chin tucked into her shoulder.  She is smart as a whip and writes a popular blog (with her toes, of course).

And then they move to Arizona, where her parents are to run a broken-down amusement park called STAGECOACH PASS.  And a new school where no one has seen her or knows her. (It’s bad enough for kids with no disabilities.) Aven dives right in with all her positive gusto, but she gets cut down by sideways looks, raised eyebrows, whispers of “freak,” and outright laughter.

Of course, I don’t want to tell the whole story, but she does find two friends, who are rejected for other reasons. Her positive attitude brings them in, and they begin to have fun at Stagecoach Pass.

There is a horrible spat and hurt feelings. Her marvelous parents are so cool and do just what is needed. There is also a “murder” mystery (without a murder) that makes the kids scrounge around the amusement park and in the desert, too looking for clues. It is exciting and so amazing at the end. Why… just amazing!! Talk about doppelgangers and saguaros and coincidences!  READ it!

FIVE stars