Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, Volume 1 by Dusti Bowling

15 reviews

artbooklover's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Bullying and Dementia

witcheep's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism and Bullying

dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition

adventurous funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is my first time reading a book from Dusti Bowling, and I definitely think it won’t be the last time I read her work. 

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus does an excellent job of conveying life as a disabled person navigating adolescence. With a spunky MC, you can’t help but root for Aven as she adjusts to her family moving to a run-down amusement park in Arizona. I felt that Bowling did a great job with Aven’s character development, especially taking note with addressing Aven’s disability and how Aven’s lived experience as a disabled person interacts with others in the book (for example, considering the ableism Aven and Connor have faced in their lives). While some of the side/minor characters did pile up a bit (mainly with Aven naming all the employees at Stagecoach Pass) and readers can get lost, the core group of side characters is balanced and given their own time to shine. 

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I think Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus would be a good read for those looking for contemporary fiction with hints of mystery narrated through a spirited MC. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Dementia, and Death of parent

Minor: Abandonment

mdavis26's review against another edition

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Fatphobia, Dementia, and Abandonment

whitne_ey's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, and Alcohol

starla_anne's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, and Fatphobia

nnia's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, and Dementia

someonelikeblue's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Bullying

Moderate: Fatphobia and Dementia

Minor: Death of parent

allweseeorseem's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism and Bullying

Minor: Ableism, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Abandonment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

A lovely story mostly about friendship and believing in and accepting yourself & others as they are and what they aspire to be. Disability-affirming.

greenlivingaudioworm's review

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying