To learn more about the inside story of Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, you can visit the StoryMamas website for an interview with the author. This is a great book to use for teaching empathy, perseverance, and the power of a growth mindset. (For another great story that has those themes, I also recommend Fish in a Tree.) I could see using it as a class read-aloud in grades 3 and up.
Throw in some tarantulas, a tantalizing mystery, and the declining Wild West theme park her parents manage, and Aven must summon up all of her will-power to ensure the family’s move to Arizona doesn’t end up as a disaster. Just when she seems to have reached her lowest point, Aven meets a few friends who have also been mistreated due to their differences. Starting a new school with students who have never seen a person eat with her feet, Aven realizes the one problem she can’t solve is that some people fear those who are different. However, Aven becomes much more self-conscious about her uniqueness when the family moves from Kansas to Arizona. She can do pretty much anything with her feet, and the friends she has grown up with don’t even notice her unconventional methods anymore. Her adopted parents have raised her to be a confident problem-solver instead of a helpless complainer. The main character, Aven, is a young girl who was born without arms. I finally got some time to read Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus a few days ago, and I was not disappointed.
So, it turns out that, to Dusti Bowling, everyone is an important person – a theme she models in this book. She also supports her fellow authors by recommending other great books, and Skypes with students on a regular basis. After reading her tweets for a few month, I realized that Dusti Bowling is just a down-to-earth author who responds quickly to her readers. Before I even had a chance to read the book, I followed on Twitter and she almost immediately followed me – which I took as a sign that I am a Very Important Person. I think I first learned that Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus existed from on Twitter months ago. Even the author’s name, Dusti Bowling, seems perfect for a story set in a theme park in Arizona. It is intriguing when you see the cover, and totally makes sense on a variety of levels once you read the book. First of all, this is the best book title I’ve ever seen.
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