Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

It is not easy to move schools and start a new life in a new state.  It is even harder for Aven because she is constantly faced with strange looks from kids (and adults) who don't quite understand her life with no arms.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Aven was born without arms, but that doesn't stop her from doing all of the ordinary things that other people her age do.  She just does them differently.

Eating lunch at school can be a particular challenge for Aven, so she searches for somewhere other than the cafeteria to eat, which is how she meets Connor in the library.  Conner has his own disability that makes him uncomfortable around other people, and he and Aven become good friends.  The two of them uncover a mystery to solve on the theme park property where Aven lives, and they get to puzzle out a mystery with a result for which neither of them were prepared.

Told from a first-person point of view with a liberal sprinkling of humor, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling (Lexile: 700; Interest Level: Grades 3-6) will captivate the reader from the very beginning.  A good book for learning empathy for those who are differently abled, this is a book I highly recommend to all readers. (272 p.)

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