Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

By: Dusti Bowling

Narrated by: Karissa Vacker

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

The audio edition of the best-selling middle grade novel about a spunky girl born without arms and a boy with Tourette syndrome navigating the challenges of middle school, disability, and friendship - all while solving a mystery in a western theme park.   

Aven Green loves to tell people that she lost her arms in an alligator wrestling match, or a wildfire in Tanzania, but the truth is that she was born without them. And when her parents take a job running Stagecoach Pass, a rundown western theme park in Arizona, Aven moves with them across the country knowing that she'll have to answer the question over and over again.   

Her new life takes an unexpected turn when she bonds with Connor, a classmate who also feels isolated because of his own disability, and they discover a room at Stagecoach Pass that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. It's hard to solve a mystery, help a friend, and face your worst fears. But Aven's about to discover she can do it all... even without arms.

©2017 Dusti Bowling (P)2019 Tantor

Critic Reviews

"Charming and memorable. An excellent choice for middle grade collections and classrooms." (School Library Journal Starred Review)

Great book!

I picked this book up after reading it during the students free read time in an elementary school. I couldnt stop reading it, such a great book. Great point made about not to compare our weakness to another persons strengths. Although the main character in this book did not have arms this didnt prevent her from doing the everyday things and even keeping a sense of humor. when she realized that not every one saw her the same way, she had a choice to make, to see her self as a person that cant achieve much, or to follow her dreams! :) good read!

1 person found this helpful

Great Story! Read with my 5th grader and his class

Read with my son and his 5th grade class. Was engaging, encouraging, and full of suprises!

1 person found this helpful

One of our new favorites

Loved everything about this story. I have a daughter with one arm, adopted as well and it was such an amazing story. Brought me to tears, and my kids all loved it. Having two adopted daughters made it hit even closer to home and I can't wait for my little lady to be old enough to read it and understand it. such a great message.

Grab this one; you won't regret it.

This was an amazing book and I loved the narrator. I thought the whole set up of the "discoveries" were good, but it was a bit too predictable. Still, I loved that the mystery-hunting was not the focal point and yet was meaningful to understanding the character and her nature. The narration was fabulous at helping convey all if the characters ages and emotions. This is a great story of perseverance, fun, and humanity and I will continue recommending it to friends :)

This is a great book!!

I loved this book is was so good.this book was kinda sad because of how Avn didn’t have any arms and how difficult it was for her to have a normal life like other kids but she finally found friends that were like her in some way to help her not feel alone.loke I said great book I loved it.❤️

The life of a cactus

This book was so good! It’s literally my favorite book! I loved it because I have a genetic disease called celiac disease and I am so Embarrassed about it but then I found this book and realized I’m not alone so I definitely recommend this book.😁👍

Great Book!

I listened with my 11 year old sister and she thoroughly enjoyed the book! She listened to the last 22 chapters in one sitting and wouldn’t stop for anything! Highly recommend for this age group.
👍🏽📚 👩🏼‍🏫📚👩🏽‍🏫📚👍🏻

Wonderful story about teen years

I love the characterization in this book. The author did a great job creating characters that I could see in my mind. I also enjoyed hearing about people that overcome their difficulties and come out strong. I gave this book a good rating in all areas because it was a really good book.

Great! Very motivational and inspirational!

This book is great & helps with accepting your abilities. How we’re the same too. It’s great and is helpful and fun to read. I recommend this to anyone and really enjoyed listening to it!

Loved it!

This is a wonderful story! If you like Wonder and Star Girl, you'll love this book.

Great book and great narration.

A well writen and refreshing story, humerous and heart felt. The narration is bar one author who reads her own books, the best Ive heard.