Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus
- Downloads：2260
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-28 11:51:28
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Dusti Bowling
- ISBN：1454943351
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
“High School。 Two words that struck fear into the heart of every armless middle schooler I knew。 Which was me。 And like two people online。”
This sequel to the critically acclaimed Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus， now in paperback， follows Aven Green as she confronts yet another challenge: high school。
“Those preparing to ‘slay the sucktastic beast known as high school’ will particularly appreciate this spirited read。” —Kirkus （Starred review）
Just as Aven starts to feel comfortable in Stagecoach Pass， with her friends and schoolmates accustomed to her lack of “armage，” everything changes once again。 She’s about to begin high school 。 。 。 with 3，000 new kids to stare at her。 And no matter how much Aven tries to play it cool， nothing prepares her for the reality。 In a year filled with confusion， humiliation， and just maybe love， can Aven manage to stay true to herself？
This sequel to the critically acclaimed Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus， now in paperback， follows Aven Green as she confronts yet another challenge: high school。
“Those preparing to ‘slay the sucktastic beast known as high school’ will particularly appreciate this spirited read。” —Kirkus （Starred review）
Just as Aven starts to feel comfortable in Stagecoach Pass， with her friends and schoolmates accustomed to her lack of “armage，” everything changes once again。 She’s about to begin high school 。 。 。 with 3，000 new kids to stare at her。 And no matter how much Aven tries to play it cool， nothing prepares her for the reality。 In a year filled with confusion， humiliation， and just maybe love， can Aven manage to stay true to herself？
Reviews
Jessica
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Aven is starting high school and now she has even more things to worry about。 Her best friend Connor has moved across town and is attending a different school。 He has even made a new friend， Amanda， a girl with Tourette's like him。 The best thing about high school so far is that Zion's older， cooler brother， Lando， is there too。 Lando is always checking on Aven and Zion。 Her grandmother， Josephine， is settling into the retirement center， and Spaghetti & Henry's health seem to be getting worse。 A Aven is starting high school and now she has even more things to worry about。 Her best friend Connor has moved across town and is attending a different school。 He has even made a new friend， Amanda， a girl with Tourette's like him。 The best thing about high school so far is that Zion's older， cooler brother， Lando， is there too。 Lando is always checking on Aven and Zion。 Her grandmother， Josephine， is settling into the retirement center， and Spaghetti & Henry's health seem to be getting worse。 Aven's learning to ride horseback and is teaching Zion and Connor to play guitar。 As usual， Aven always sees the best in others， so when Zion's nemesis begins showing Aven some attention Zion tries to warn her， but she just won't listen。 Then， it happens。。。 what could be one of the best days of Aven's life quickly goes south。 Now Aven wants to homeschool and become a hermit。 She won't tell anyone about what happened。 Read to find out if Aven survives high school！ 。。。more
Danielle Hammelef
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I loved this book！ Aven is an authentic ninth grader who is learning what it means to be yourself， love yourself as you are， navigate friendship trials and what it means to be a friend， what the true meaning of family is for her， and deal with bullying。 Once again I loved the friendships， the family， the found-family， the setting， the supportive and loving adults， and the young romance。 This book is headed to my favorites shelf。
Alanna Smith
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This was a good follow-up to Insignificant Events。 Now we have Aven in high school， excited and nervous for a big， new thing， and then seeing her confidence absolutely shattered by a cruel trick。 While I hated to see this happen to Aven， and I also hated how she reacted to it all， I think it works well as a sort of field guide for other teenagers on how to handle the inevitable suffering that being bullied can bring。 It always drives me bonkers when a plot line involves people's refusal to just This was a good follow-up to Insignificant Events。 Now we have Aven in high school， excited and nervous for a big， new thing， and then seeing her confidence absolutely shattered by a cruel trick。 While I hated to see this happen to Aven， and I also hated how she reacted to it all， I think it works well as a sort of field guide for other teenagers on how to handle the inevitable suffering that being bullied can bring。 It always drives me bonkers when a plot line involves people's refusal to just communicate what's going on in their lives， but in this case I really did understand why Aven didn't ever want to talk to anyone about The Great Humiliation。 Who would want to relive that experience or even admit it happened to anyone else？ So I will forgive Bowling for the plot device THIS time。This book is well worth your time。（view spoiler）[ I think in many ways my favorite part of the book is very close to the end when Aven finally gets brave enough to try a jump on her horse and she falls off。 She gets a concussion！ But she's so happy because she learned that she didn't die from it。 She'll be just fine。 And she learns that she can survive failure！ I think all of us-- but maybe especially the rising generation？-- need to learn this lesson！ （hide spoiler）] 。。。more
Jacob Marr
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This was a great fun and light hearted read！ The book really takes you through starting high school from a new perspective。
Kelly
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This was cute。 I think I liked the first one slightly more but another great book with lovable characters。 The first one I felt was awesome for any age。 This one I liked as an adult but was really great for YA。
Meredith
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4。5
Emily Wiltzius
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Loved it just as much as the first one！ I want more。
Sophie
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This is the sequel to Insignificant Events in the life of a Cactus， and it is just as good。 The plot is still awesome and the characters are still amazing， and you should also definitely go read this sequel after you read the first。 （Alse thanks to my friend for getting this book for me at the book fair）
Julie
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This book was just as witty and cute as the first， but with even more focus on the social hardships of school， specifically focusing on bullying in high school。 I love these characters and this book。
Stephanie
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This is the second book about Aven Green， a young teenager with no arms。 The opening line of the book sums up the first book perfectly。 I don’t think you would need to read the first book。 In the sequel， Aven is entering high school。 She’s humiliated and bullied by the school jerk， and， as a result， loses her confidence and enthusiasm。 I enjoyed reading the continuation of her story and think there could be a third book。
Dominique
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Not quite as adorable and lovable as Insignificant， but still very sweet。 I kind of adore Aven and her sunny attitude， but high school really puts that to the test。 I felt like the book was very representative of a young teenage girl and the swirling emotions that surround that stage of life。 But it lacked the laugh-out-loud moments of Insignificant。 The first book I would wholeheartedly recommend to EVERYONE， but the second not as much。 I was super excited for my 11 year old to read and love th Not quite as adorable and lovable as Insignificant， but still very sweet。 I kind of adore Aven and her sunny attitude， but high school really puts that to the test。 I felt like the book was very representative of a young teenage girl and the swirling emotions that surround that stage of life。 But it lacked the laugh-out-loud moments of Insignificant。 The first book I would wholeheartedly recommend to EVERYONE， but the second not as much。 I was super excited for my 11 year old to read and love the first （and he did！）， but I think I’ll hold off on the second。 。。。more
Corrie
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A really interesting follow up。 Aven is less happy and less confident for most of this book， but it feels more realistic/true to life。 And still is positive and hopeful by the end。
Eva Mazur
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I loved this book， I literally couldn't put it down！ There was something new happening in every chapter！ Evan is such a brave girl and I wish her the best in life！ Even though the people in this book were most likely made up， I felt like I've gotten so close to them in these last 2 books！ I love Dusti Bowning's writing and I am looking forward to new books！ I loved this book， I literally couldn't put it down！ There was something new happening in every chapter！ Evan is such a brave girl and I wish her the best in life！ Even though the people in this book were most likely made up， I felt like I've gotten so close to them in these last 2 books！ I love Dusti Bowning's writing and I am looking forward to new books！ 。。。more
Leeann
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MS - April 10， 2021 - *****I believe that the true test of a book is how the characters make you feel。 Do you cheer for them？ Do you laugh with them？ Do you cry with them？ So， how did I feel about Aven， Connor， Zion， and all the others？ I love them！ They are friends。 I am going to miss these characters if Dusti Bowling never writes another word about them。I truly hope there are many， many more books to come。
Leila Morris
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Sooooooooo amazing！！！ It made me cry！！ 😜👍🏽👍🏽Best book ever！！！（almost）
Jared White
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Aven is back and she's going to high school！ She's going from a school of a few hundred people to a school of a few thousand and that's a lot of watching eyes to see how she eats without hands， opens her locker without hands， etc。 Needless to say， she's nervous， especially after The Great Humiliation happens which begins to strip away her self-confidence。 That part of the book is hard to read and the ramifications of the mean act ripple throughout the remainder of the book。 It was not fun seeing Aven is back and she's going to high school！ She's going from a school of a few hundred people to a school of a few thousand and that's a lot of watching eyes to see how she eats without hands， opens her locker without hands， etc。 Needless to say， she's nervous， especially after The Great Humiliation happens which begins to strip away her self-confidence。 That part of the book is hard to read and the ramifications of the mean act ripple throughout the remainder of the book。 It was not fun seeing Aven so down but it was hopeful and inspiring to see the process （helped by wonderful friends and family） of her gaining her confidence back again。 Vague spoilers ahead。 I am not a violent person （the only person I've ever really punched was my little brother and that's because he honestly asked me too。。。and then he punched me back） but I wanted to punch the bully in this story in the face。。。then I imagined being Aven's parent and I REALLY wanted to punch this bully in the face。 No， when I have children I do not plan to physically assault their bullies but that doesn't mean I won't want to。 Thankfully Aven figures out a better way to deal with the issue。I liked the first book in this series a bit more （I gave it 5 stars after reading it for the second time） but this book is also pretty great。 I think it would be a good one for a class read or book club because there could be discussion on how one bully can not only effect the person they are bullying but， because of the pain/self-doubt/unease the bullied is experiencing， the bullying begins to influence （often for the worse） the bullied person's relationships （family， friends， relationship to school， etc。）。 。。。more
RaeAnne
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We just adore Aven and this series by native Arizonan Dusti Bowling。 We are crossing our fingers that there will be more adventures to be explored with Aven。 Her character has just the right amount of sass and bravery。 And it's fun to read about a character from our own city and to be connected to the environment。 Her experiences open up a lot of good and needed conversations。 It is so enjoyable to have these books in our family reading rotation。 We just adore Aven and this series by native Arizonan Dusti Bowling。 We are crossing our fingers that there will be more adventures to be explored with Aven。 Her character has just the right amount of sass and bravery。 And it's fun to read about a character from our own city and to be connected to the environment。 Her experiences open up a lot of good and needed conversations。 It is so enjoyable to have these books in our family reading rotation。 。。。more
junia
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I understand Bowling's choices。 But remember how in the latter Harry Potters， all Harry did was complain and over-dramatize his problems？So yes， our spunky heroine Aven loses her confidence and it's PAINFUL。 everything she does （or doesn't do） makes sense。 But it's hard to watch。 But the supporting characters really shine and， Aven grows。 But still， hard to watch。 I understand Bowling's choices。 But remember how in the latter Harry Potters， all Harry did was complain and over-dramatize his problems？So yes， our spunky heroine Aven loses her confidence and it's PAINFUL。 everything she does （or doesn't do） makes sense。 But it's hard to watch。 But the supporting characters really shine and， Aven grows。 But still， hard to watch。 。。。more
Kimmy
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It was such a great book！
Sarah Knope
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This was a really sweet sequel。 I loved it！
Deedee
，
3。5 Stars。。。 Did not enjoy as much as the 1st one， but still good。
~Madison
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a bit more maturer （matuter？ more mature？ idk I graduated so long ago） than the first book but it did it well。 It definitely captured the early high school experience especially someone who is disabled and starting high school， I think it really captured that。
Moon Petrie
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This book was every bit as delicious and satisfying as the first in the series。 Everything was woven together beautifully， so that events seemed inevitable but still hit really hard。 At the “dark night of the soul” moment about 3/4 of the way through， I cried pretty hard。 I’ve been reading a lot of middle grade lately， and it really seems like an achievement when， although the worst happening isn’t “can’t save the university” but rather “I’m sad because （view spoiler）[ the petting zoo llama （hi This book was every bit as delicious and satisfying as the first in the series。 Everything was woven together beautifully， so that events seemed inevitable but still hit really hard。 At the “dark night of the soul” moment about 3/4 of the way through， I cried pretty hard。 I’ve been reading a lot of middle grade lately， and it really seems like an achievement when， although the worst happening isn’t “can’t save the university” but rather “I’m sad because （view spoiler）[ the petting zoo llama （hide spoiler）] died， the emotional impact is just as strong。 I listened to the audiobook， and the narrator was fantastic。 She really added depth and personality to the characters’ voices。 。。。more
Judie
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I read this with a group of 7th graders。 We all enjoyed Aven's tale。 Aven travels through the trials and tribulations of being accepted in high school unlike most teens。 Her positive attitude and great sense of humor are admirable。 I read this with a group of 7th graders。 We all enjoyed Aven's tale。 Aven travels through the trials and tribulations of being accepted in high school unlike most teens。 Her positive attitude and great sense of humor are admirable。 。。。more
Terry Maguire
，
I can't get enough of Aven as a character and loved this sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus。 Aven is the target of a malicious act by a classmate that leads her to stay home and avoid school at all costs。 Her wonderful friends rally around her as she regains her confidence， although it takes a long time before she is able to share what happened with her parents。 The book also explores， to a lesser degree， adoption and the quest to find a biological parent （though this takes a I can't get enough of Aven as a character and loved this sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus。 Aven is the target of a malicious act by a classmate that leads her to stay home and avoid school at all costs。 Her wonderful friends rally around her as she regains her confidence， although it takes a long time before she is able to share what happened with her parents。 The book also explores， to a lesser degree， adoption and the quest to find a biological parent （though this takes an unexpected twist in the novel）。 I love the messages in both of Bowling's novels about the importance of family， friendship， and self-acceptance。 Highly recommended。 。。。more
Diane
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Aven and friend Zion are off to high school in this sequel。 Told in first person viewpoint， the main character faces challenges and learns more about herself and her ability to navigate the trials of teen life with supportive family and friends。
Brooke
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Fun and more YA than the first book， but not as poignant about differences and accepting them。 More focus on being comfortable being yourself。
Sharon Falduto
，
The continuing adventures of Aven， a girl born with no arms， as she transitions to a new high school and deals with bullies and loses sight of her own friends and what makes her cool。 Her feelings should resonate with anyone who ever went to high school and who ever felt out of place。 She's a fun character to read。 The continuing adventures of Aven， a girl born with no arms， as she transitions to a new high school and deals with bullies and loses sight of her own friends and what makes her cool。 Her feelings should resonate with anyone who ever went to high school and who ever felt out of place。 She's a fun character to read。 。。。more
M。K。 Laffin
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I am very saddened and surprised that I am giving this book such a horrible review。 Having enjoyed “24 Hours in Nowhere” and “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus”， I figured this one would be just as amazing。 Then my heart broke as I began to venture into this story。 Aven has changed。 She is now a sassy， depressed teenager who is overdramatic about everything。 High school—even though she’s in Jr。 High—is apparently the worst thing that had ever happened to her。 Connor had abandoned her I am very saddened and surprised that I am giving this book such a horrible review。 Having enjoyed “24 Hours in Nowhere” and “Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus”， I figured this one would be just as amazing。 Then my heart broke as I began to venture into this story。 Aven has changed。 She is now a sassy， depressed teenager who is overdramatic about everything。 High school—even though she’s in Jr。 High—is apparently the worst thing that had ever happened to her。 Connor had abandoned her for some girl who Aven thinks he’s dating， which I found to be a very un-Aven-like suspicion。 Aven immediately has a crush on this obvious jerk of a kid who took a dare to kiss her， which he failed。 The humiliation of being made fun of by this kid destroys Aven （which I found to be very unlike her）。 I miss the old headstrong， forgiving Aven。 Zion tells Aven’s “Great Humiliation” to his brother （who Aven also proceeds to have a crush on） and loses Aven’s trust。 The old Aven would have forgiven her best friend。 Punk rock。 If you don’t like punk rock， don’t read this book。 Perfectly fine characters were destroyed with this。。。profound style of music。 Besides all this， the the second page of the book Harry Potter is mentioned。 Later， Halloween is talked about in a positive light when going to a comic convention。 Another part about comic con was Aven’s costume。 She accidentally dressed up as an evil character， then was completely humiliated when she discovered who he was。 Why was she so humiliated？ I have no idea。 She didn’t know。 No one there told her she was an idiot for wearing it。 Then there’s God。 I had no idea that Dusti Bowling is a Christian because this book is in no way， shape， or form “Christian”。 God is spoken about one time in a negative light。 Oh， also: this twelve-year-old kisses a boy whom I deduct to be sixteen。 Ummm。。。The only good part of this book was Ravioli。 。。。more
Kate
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