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dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is my first time reading a book from Dusti Bowling, and I definitely think it won’t be the last time I read her work.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus does an excellent job of conveying life as a disabled person navigating adolescence. With a spunky MC, you can’t help but root for Aven as she adjusts to her family moving to a run-down amusement park in Arizona. I felt that Bowling did a great job with Aven’s character development, especially taking note with addressing Aven’s disability and how Aven’s lived experience as a disabled person interacts with others in the book (for example, considering the ableism Aven and Connor have faced in their lives). While some of the side/minor characters did pile up a bit (mainly with Aven naming all the employees at Stagecoach Pass) and readers can get lost, the core group of side characters is balanced and given their own time to shine.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I think Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus would be a good read for those looking for contemporary fiction with hints of mystery narrated through a spirited MC.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Dementia, and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
mdavis26's review against another edition
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Dementia, and Abandonment
starla_anne's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Fatphobia
someonelikeblue's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Bullying
Moderate: Fatphobia and Dementia
Minor: Death of parent
allweseeorseem's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism and Bullying
Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
A lovely story mostly about friendship and believing in and accepting yourself & others as they are and what they aspire to be. Disability-affirming.mandi4886's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Dementia
nxclx's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
As someone that is fully abled, I want to preface this review by saying just that: this is an outsiders review and should be taken as such. Please see other reviews for a more first hand perspective. I have looked over other reviews before writing this one, as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For the main plots, I liked it a lot, save for the ending with the adoption reveal. I personally could have done without that. I found the mystery aspect to be fun and just as silly as middle graders would make it be. I personally liked how the disabilities of the two characters were addressed and progressed throughout the book, and how all three were considered outcasts and banded together before branching out to others at the end. I can see how certain parts could be handled better ("be a man" and other gender enforcing wording for example) , but it didn't ruin the book for me. I think this would be a great book to show middle graders and to have a discussion about after the fact. It seems like a great starting point to introduce heavier topics and open up discussions.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For the main plots, I liked it a lot, save for the ending with the adoption reveal. I personally could have done without that. I found the mystery aspect to be fun and just as silly as middle graders would make it be. I personally liked how the disabilities of the two characters were addressed and progressed throughout the book, and how all three were considered outcasts and banded together before branching out to others at the end. I can see how certain parts could be handled better ("be a man" and other gender enforcing wording for example) , but it didn't ruin the book for me. I think this would be a great book to show middle graders and to have a discussion about after the fact. It seems like a great starting point to introduce heavier topics and open up discussions.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Death of parent
Minor: Stalking and Murder
story_goblin's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book surprised me. I put it on my list a while back because it seemed cute, and I choose it at this particular time as a palate cleanser between heavy sf/f. I've been reading a lot of "how do we fix the world" type stories, and I wanted a small break to read something different. It did work well for that! It was sweet and funny in places and, even though I saw the main twist coming a mile away, I didn't guess everything. What I wasn't expecting was for this book to make me cry. Aven's conversation with her dad echoed a LOT of feelings I have about my adhd. Her frustrations and fears hit much harder than I expected since I didn't realize I would relate to her so much. Other adults on goodreads expressed that the beginning was slow and/or the ending too syrupy sweet, but I didn't really feel the same way. I agree with them however, that just about any older elementary/middle school-aged child would devour this and be eager for more. I may or may not read the sequel myself.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Dementia
Minor: Fatphobia
A minor character, who the main character interacts with several times, has dementia. It's portrayed realistically during each encounter but is not really dwelled on or discussed too much outside of the interactions. Aven and her two friends all feel like outsiders and describe moments in which they have been bullied or otherwise ostracized. Aven explicitly discusses various reactions/comments/looks she gets at school and out in public. Students repeatedly make fun of Connor's ticks and once