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And yes–after living in Arizona, I also relate to surviving summer’s heat! The descriptions of Aven accomplishing everyday tasks like getting dressed, eating, etc., are amazing. PRISCA: I enjoyed this book, too! I love Aven from the start! She is confident, optimistic, strong and seems unfazed without arms. I relate to Aven when she compares the Arizona heat to the inside of a dishwasher! As Aven practices soccer in the evening, I also waited to go outside until the temperature dropped after the sun set. And that’s how Aven came to be!Īs a former Arizonian, I can easily picture the setting of the story, which takes place in Scottsdale, AZ. Then Dusti told us she came across a story featuring a mother with no arms who used her feet instead. Dusti thought about the everyday tasks he would struggle with like opening a jar. Dusti told us about a relative who lost an arm while serving in the military.

I heard Dusti Bowling speak at the Tucson Festival of Books on March 10, 2018, on how she developed the character of Aven. I can envision Aven as a student in my own classroom. The protagonist, 13-year-old Aven, is well-developed and believable. MARY: I so enjoyed reading Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.

As a result, Aven is an upbeat, problem-solving middle schooler who uncovers the mystery of the missing photo at Stagecoach Pass Amusement Park. Since she was adopted at age two, Aven’s parent’s insisted she learn to do things for herself. However, they become extraordinary when readers learn Aven has a rare genetic disorder and was born without arms. These hobbies and characteristics might seem ordinary. She lives in a western-themed amusement park She now has best friends named Connor and ZionĨ. She used to have best friends named Emily and Kaylaħ. The most important things to know about Aven Green are:Ħ. Author Dusti Bowling incorporates desert scenes of Arizona and a genetic disorder within a well-rounded story of everyday life and mystery. This is the first installment of March’s MTYT, Mary and Prisca discuss the middle grade novel Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.

By Mary Fahrenbruck, PhD, New Mexico State University and Prisca Martens, PhD, Towson University.

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