Thank you to my friends and family who read early versions of the book. To two inspiring ladies: Barbie Thomas and Letisha Wexstten. To my husband for always supporting me. To my children for filling my life with humor. To Kyle, always. And most of all, thank you to God, from whom all good things come.
Lastly, thank you to my awesome readers. I hope you enjoyed reading Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Think about the title of the book. Why is it called this? What does Aven mean when she says her life is an insignificant event in the life of a cactus?
How do you think your life would be different if you didn’t have arms? What kind of obstacles would you have if you didn’t have arms? How would you overcome them?
This book is told in the first person, from Aven’s point of view. How do you think it would change if it were told in the third person? Do you notice any differences between the way Aven talks to the reader and the way she writes her blog posts?
If you had a blog like Aven’s, what would you write about?
When Aven first meets Connor, and he points out that she doesn’t have arms, she says, “Oh my gosh! I knew I was forgetting something today.” Can you find other examples in the story where Aven makes light of not having arms? Why do you think she does this?
When Aven starts her new school, a girl asks her if her disability is contagious. Why does she ask this? If you were Aven, how would this make you feel?
Why does Zion eat alone on the sidewalk behind the office? Do you know someone who spends a lot of time alone at school? What might be some ways to include that person in your activities?
Compare and contrast Aven and Connor. Is Connor as comfortable having Tourette’s as Aven is not having arms?
Why do Aven and Connor have a big fight? Could they have communicated their feelings to each other in a better way? How do you react when a friend hurts your feelings?
Aven and Connor relate to their parents very differently. What are some of those differences, and how do they influence the ways Aven and Connor see themselves?
What happens in chapter 34 that makes Aven feel like dancing? How might the whole story have been different if Jessica had treated Aven this way on her first day of school?
Think about the setting the author has chosen, Stagecoach Pass. How does it affect the way you read the story?
Tarantulas are important in the story. Why is their absence significant? What does Aven’s search for them represent?
The Aven we meet at the beginning of the book is very different from the Aven at the end. How is she the same, and how has she changed? What about Connor?
Think of a time when you felt empathy. What can you do to be more empathetic in your daily life?
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus Page 16
