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Summary
Summary
Aven Green, the remarkable heroine of Dusti Bowling's Life of a Cactus series, marches to her own beat in this hilarious, upbeat, and unforgettable chapter book.
"Realistic, affirming, and uplifting. "-- Kirkus Reviews
Third-grader Aven Green is a real professional musician! She just needs to choose what instrument to play. When she decides to try the piano, Aven is disappointed when she can't master Mozart in one whole day. To pick up Aven's beat, her parents take her for a four-hour drive to see someone just like her play the guitar. With new inspiration and a special gift from her great-grandma, Aven is ready to take on the school talent show. Will she be ready in time? Or will she blow her big chance?
Author Notes
Dusti Bowling grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, where, as her family will tell you, she always had her nose in a book. Dusti holds a bachelor's of psychology and a master's of education, but she eventually realized that her true passion was writing. She lives in Arizona with her husband, three daughters, one bobcat, a pack of coyotes, a couple of chuckwallas, several rattlesnakes, and a few herds of javelina. Dusti can be found on Twitter (@Dusti_Bowling) and Instagram (@dustibowling).
Gina Perry graduated from Syracuse University, worked as a compositor in animation, then an art director for a stationery manufacturer, before discovering her true passion--writing and illustrating children's books. She lives with her family in New Hampshire.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3--Aven Green is back with a brand-new passion: music. When her teacher announces the upcoming talent show, Aven, who is white and has no arms, is determined to play an instrument for the show. The only hitch is that she's not sure what she'd like to play. Her first choice is a piano. She can sit and play the keys with her toes, no problem. She'll be playing Mozart by next week. But after a devastating blow by her friend Emily, Aven decides maybe being a professional musician isn't for her. Her parents bring her to a cafe where she meets a guitarist, Luke, who plays with his feet! Inspired by Luke, Aven decides she wants to learn guitar. When Aven shows up at her great-grandma's, she even learns a bit of the harmonica. The talent show rolls around and Aven delights her classmates with a song she wrote. Adding to the fun of the previous books in the series, Aven Green's musical adventure is sure to make fans chuckle. This story features short chapters, interspersed black-and-white illustrations, and a list of related vocabulary words in the back. The book delivers a positive message of 'if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.' VERDICT The third in the "Aven Green" series, this delightful and fun title is sure to be an easy sell to young patrons.--Sarah West
Kirkus Review
Irrepressible Aven Green returns to tackle a new challenge: playing a musical instrument. When her teacher Ms. Luna announces a talent show, Aven has no trouble listing her many skills: She's already a keen detective and a strong baker. But what she really wants is to be a professional musician. After all, not having arms doesn't mean she can't play an instrument. And surely, a week is more than enough time to master some Mozart! But finding an instrument she can handle--or rather "feetle"--is tougher than it seems. The violin is out of the question, and her toes don't stretch enough to play chords on the piano. Her best friend hurts her feelings by dubbing her piano-playing "bad noises," and hearing about her classmates' talents (which range from artistic to humorously revolting) makes her feel like giving up. But with support from Ms. Luna, her parents, and her great-grandmother, Aven learns that all that matters is doing her best. As Aven's appealing self-confidence alternates with frustration, Bowling simultaneously acknowledges setbacks and reassures readers that discouraging feelings don't last forever. Adults' matter-of-fact acceptance of Aven's musical ambition is refreshing, and the resolution to her instrumental dilemma is heartwarming. Straightforward dialogue explores such concepts as patience, persistence, and tact. Perry's spirited black-and-white cartoon illustrations vividly express Aven's sadness, determination, and joy. Aven and her family present White, Ms. Luna is depicted as brown-skinned, and Aven's classmates are racially diverse. Realistic, affirming, and uplifting. (glossary) (Fiction. 6-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Aven Green is back for more grade-school adventures in Bowling's prequel series to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus (2017). Aven, armless from birth, has already become a supersleuth and accomplished baker, and now she has her sights set on becoming the best pianist who's ever lived. So what if she's never played a note, or that the talent show is next week? Aven is confident she'll excel. But when playing the keyboard doesn't come as naturally as she expected, the usually undaunted Aven doubts herself. Can she deliver on her ambitions? Aven is funny and fearless, and Bowling also presents a wonderfully realistic depiction of the struggles inherent in learning a new skill. Young readers will surely relate to the frustration ("What's the point of doing something if I'm not an expert at it?"), and gentle encouragement from Aven's parents and teacher will go far in reassuring them that learning and growth, not perfection and accolades, are the real accomplishments. Another winning installment in a hilarious and heartfelt series.
