Aven Green Sleuthing Machine

Starred review from March 1, 2021

Gr 1-4-Bowling's beloved "Life of a Cactus" protagonist returns in a new series of chapter books that capture her life as third grader. Aven Green is a smart, lively, confident white girl who happened to be born without arms, a congenital condition called amelia. For Aven, having no arms hasn't stopped her from living life to the absolute max! Young readers will laugh aloud at Aven's funny reactions to queries about what happened to her arms (they were not scrubbed off in the car wash, eaten by iguanas in the Galapagos, pulled off in a game of tug of war, or flattened by a steamroller). They will be intrigued by the practical skills she has perfected, using her feet to brush her teeth, comb her hair, eat mint chocolate chip ice cream, and write about all of the mysteries she has solved with her trusty magnifying glass and sleuthing kit. With no arms, Aven says all those extra cells went straight to her brain, making her extra smart and, in her own words, "a sleuthing machine" who has been solving cases for a really long time-practically a whole month! Bowling's book features Perry's engaging pencil illustrations, short five- to seven-page chapters, explanations of potentially unfamiliar terms such as brain cell and acronyms, and a list of Aven's sleuthing words: culprit, alleged, hypothesis, and more. The author holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's in education and infuses her writing with humor and empathy. VERDICT This chapter book companion to Bowling's well-loved middle grade series is a recommended purchase.-Cheryl Blevens, Cunningham Mem. Lib., Indiana State Univ.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2021
Bowling introduces the outspoken, armless narrator of her Life as a Cactus series to younger readers. Eight-year-old Aven Green doesn't need arms to be a good private investigator; her feet work just fine. In fact, all those extra arm cells went to her brain instead--at least, that's her hypothesis. So when somebody starts stealing food at school, she's on the case. But then her great-grandma's dog, Smitty, goes missing, and then new student Sujata arrives--looking mysteriously sad. Can Aven's "super-powered brain" solve three cases at the same time? The simple plot, peppered with humorous malapropisms and leaps of kid logic, is primarily a showcase for Aven's precocious personality. Witty, stubborn, and self-confident ("I was shy once. It was on a Wednesday afternoon in kindergarten"), Aven takes her disability in stride; her classmates are also accepting. She and her friends share rowdy and gleefully gross activities, complete with "ninja" chops, flatulence, and "rainbow barf." Her (adoptive) parents are warmly supportive, but her long-suffering teacher is perhaps too much so; her remarkable tolerance for Aven's occasionally disruptive antics may raise some eyebrows. Perry's black-and-white cartoon illustrations energetically depict Aven's agile feet and mischievous grin. The tidy ending sets up another adventure; a list of Aven's "sleuthing words" is appended. Most characters, including Aven, appear to be White; Sujata is Indian American. A fun series opener with a feisty protagonist who'll keep readers on their toes. (Mystery. 6-9)

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March 15, 2021
Grades 1-3 In this prequel featuring Bowling's armless sleuth, Aven (Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus, 2017), who is navigating third grade while pursuing detective work on the side, finds herself tackling two perplexing problems at once, with her grandmother's dear dog going missing just as a lunch thief strikes her school. It's a lot to take on, but Aven, armed--or "footed," as she would say--with detecting tools and endless enthusiasm, is determined to crack the cases and bring the perpetrators to justice. She is an irrepressible and irresistible narrator, whether reflecting on life as someone born without arms or amicably interacting with her funny friends and family. Unapologetically smart and refreshingly confident in her abilities, this super-sleuth extraordinaire is a joy to tag along with.

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