Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Aven takes on high school, bullies in heartfelt sequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
MOMENTOUS EVENTS IN THE LIFE OF A CACTUS finds red-headed Aven Green, now 14, starting high school and really dreading having literally thousands of new kids staring at her because she was born without arms. Worse, her friend Connor has gone to live with his dad and is at a different school, so it's just her and their friend Zion, who's got social anxieties of his own. What he's also got is a cool, nerdy family who have a comic book business and a zeal for representing Black superheroes—and that's good to have when you come up against bullies being mean and evil for the pure fun of it.
Is It Any Good?
Dusti Bowling's relatable sequel takes Aven, its spirited, red-headed narrator, to the perils of high school and mean behavior she didn't know existed—and minus one of her BFFs to boot. While the characters' disabilities remain a theme in Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus—Aven was born without arms; friend Connor has Tourette's syndrome; friend Zion is mocked for his weight—they're more in the background here as the teens confront cliques, bullies, crushes, and social expectations. Superhero fans will be in heaven, as Zion's family has a comic book business and takes the three pals, in costume, to Comic-Con.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Aven's experiences being bullied in high school in Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus. Do you think the bullies targeted her because of her disability? Do you know anyone who's been targeted in some way for being "different"? What happened?
Aven does a lot of thinking about whether she'd be better off being homeschooled. Trilby, who is homeschooled, reminds her of the good things at regular school. What do you think?
Do you know anyone who took a DNA test in hopes of connecting with unknown relatives? How did it turn out?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Topics : Superheroes , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy , Gratitude , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Union Square Kids
- Publication date : September 7, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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