Reviews tagging 'Dementia'

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

9 reviews

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

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

orizenda's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful 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? Yes

4.0

This book made me remember how much I loved reading as a kid. I would have loved this book as a kid. I want to spend more time with Aven.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Dementia, and Death of parent

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.

mandi4886's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful mysterious medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, and Death of parent

Minor: Dementia

ashleighsbooks's review against another edition

funny hopeful lighthearted slow-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

3.0

this was a quick and lovable story of three kids finding their place in the world. a little bit of mystery, a little bit of humor, and a lot of emotions. overall a very simple and predictable story, but fun and enjoyable nonetheless.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism and Bullying

Minor: Body shaming, Self harm, Dementia, and Grief

story_goblin's review

emotional funny hopeful 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

This book surprised me. I put it on my list a while back because it seemed cute, and I choose it at this particular time as a palate cleanser between heavy sf/f. I've been reading a lot of "how do we fix the world" type stories, and I wanted a small break to read something different. It did work well for that! It was sweet and funny in places and, even though I saw the main twist coming a mile away, I didn't guess everything. What I wasn't expecting was for this book to make me cry. Aven's conversation with her dad echoed a LOT of feelings I have about my adhd. Her frustrations and fears hit much harder than I expected since I didn't realize I would relate to her so much. Other adults on goodreads expressed that the beginning was slow and/or the ending too syrupy sweet, but I didn't really feel the same way. I agree with them however, that just about any older elementary/middle school-aged child would devour this and be eager for more. I may or may not read the sequel myself. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying

Moderate: Dementia

Minor: Fatphobia

A minor character, who the main character interacts with several times, has dementia. It's portrayed realistically during each encounter but is not really dwelled on or discussed too much outside of the interactions. Aven and her two friends all feel like outsiders and describe moments in which they have been bullied or otherwise ostracized. Aven explicitly discusses various reactions/comments/looks she gets at school and out in public. Students repeatedly make fun of Connor's ticks and once

he is filmed on a cell phone camera while at a corner store, which his reaction to is a large scene.

Xion expresses/shows discomfort eating in front of people a handful of times and once explains why this is (everyone likes to watch the fat kid eat too see how much they eat).