Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Aven is a perky, hilarious, and inspiring protagonist whose attitude and humor will linger even after the last page has turned. --School Library Journal (Starred review) n n The paperback edition of the bestselling 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. n n 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 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. n n 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. n n Autumn 2017 Kids' Indie Next Pick n Junior Library Guild Selection n Library of Congress's 52 Great Reads List 2018 n