Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

How I Heard About It:  One of my favorite middle-grade novels is The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.  My students have been lucky to Skype with Dusti about that novel.  I was thrilled when I became a member of the launch team for the sequel.  The novel Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus brought me hours of reading enjoyment.  


What It Is About - FIVE Things You Need to Know:  

1.  *This sequel brings back my favorite characters of Aven, Connor, and Zion.


2.  *The three of them have finished middle-school and are beginning their freshman year.  Aven and Zion are going to one high school while Connor is starting a new school where his father lives.

3.  *Aven was comfortable with herself and the fact she doesn't have arms, but now that she is starting high school; she begins to worry about what the other students will think.  

4.  *She relies on her friendships with both Connor and Zion.  Connor is making a new start and Zion tries to support Aven the best way he knows how.  She isn't always able to "take-in" what her two best friends have to say.  

5.  *While living at the Stagecoach with her adoptive parents, Aven starts to question who her father was and how he fits into her life now.  


What I Thought Of It - FIVE Observations/Reflections:

1.  *Reading this sequel brought back such great memories of reading the first book.  I enjoyed getting back to Aven and her two best buddies.  

2.  *I liked that Dusti took these characters into high school and presented the challenges that go along with that.  The writing was accurate and spot on.

3.  *Continuing Aven's life at the Stagecoach was interesting, thought-provoking, and entertaining.  As a reader, I got to find out about Aven's family and was able to find out even more in this second story.  

4.  *Dusti did a tremendous job of describing the heartache that Aven had to deal with while at school and at Comic-Con.  My heart hurt when I experienced those moments.  

5.  *Aven's story is an important one and one that all young readers, and adults, should experience.  Well done Dusti, well done!  


Who Should Read It:   Readers need to have read The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus before they continue the story with this sequel.  The books are appropriate for students in grades four, five, and six.  Of course middle-school students would also be perfect for the novels.  Happy Reading!   


Rating:   4 STARS out of 5 Stars!