Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Aven Green was born without arms and adopted by a loving couple when she was two.  Her parents have always pushed her to figure out ways to do daily tasks, even without arms.  Aven has lived in the same town her whole life, so kids at her school are used to her and how she eats her lunch and does many other common tasks with her feet. Then, one day, her father, who has been out of work, is offered a job in Arizona managing a cowboy theme park.  Aven is nervous about going to a new school where she know everyone will be staring at her and wondering what happened to her arms.  The first weeks of school don't go well, but then she meets Conner, who has Tourette's syndrome.  They bond over their struggles with disabilities, and soon try to discover why no-one ever sees the mysterious owner of the themed park.  

I was a little hesitant to read this one right after the George one.  I mean, how many social issues can you tackle in one week?  But, to my surprise, I ended up liking this one pretty much.  Aven has a really perky personality, and lives in an incredibly loving and supportive home.  Her kindness and resilience helps life two other kids out of social isolation.  I also found it interesting that, as the story unfolded, I began to see how life with Tourette's (which I had previously seen as only a minor disability) could, in some ways, be more difficult than living without arms.  Both disabilities will get you stared at by strangers, but you are much more likely to be feared and misunderstood if you have Tourettes, whereas people without limbs are just pitied.  I think a lot of kids who liked Wonder, and Fish in a Tree, would like this book. (262 p., 2017)