Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Thirteen-year-old Aven was born without arms and has trouble fitting in at her new school after her parents take a job at a dying western theme park, but she makes a new friend in a fellow disabled boy who helps her solve a mystery at the park.
&;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)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. 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. 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.Autumn 2017 Kids&; Indie Next Pick Junior Library Guild Selection Library of Congress's 52 Great Reads List 2018
Aven Green was born without arms&;so when her dad takes a job running a dying western theme park in Arizona, she knows she&;ll become the center of unwanted attention at her new school. But she bonds with Connor, a classmate with his own disability to conquer. Then they discover a room at the park that holds bigger secrets than Aven ever could have imagined. Can Aven face her fears, solve a mystery, and help her friend, too?