Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine by Dusti Bowling

Chapter-book readers will enjoy meeting Aven Green, the no-armed protagonist of the “Life of a Cactus” books.

Aven Green, Sleuthing Machine by Dusti Bowling, with pictures by Gena Perry. Sterling, 2021, 121 pages

Reading Level: Chapter Book, ages 5-8

Recommended for: ages 4-7 as a read-aloud, 5-8 for independent readers

If you know anything about Aven Green from the Life of a Cactus books, you know that missing two arms never held her back from accomplishing her goals. This new chapter-book series backtracks to the time before her family took over a dusty tourist attraction in Arizona. They’re still living in the green hills of North Carolina, where Aven has two best friends and a grandma with a dog who goes missing. This will give her a chance to practice her sleuthing skills, already honed by challenges like The Mystery of Emily’s Missing Glue Stick and The Mystery of the Flower Drawings on Mom’s Romance Book: “That was an easy whodunnit to solve. Why? Because I dunnit, that’s why.”

Aven’s indominable spirit more than makes up for her misapprehensions and false conclusions. Early readers will enjoy meeting her at this age, especially if they encounter her a few years later when she turns 13 (Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus). By the end of her sleuthing adventures, Aven is ready to move on to other exploits. Watch for her return as Aven Green, Baking Machine!

Overall Rating: 4.5

• Worldview/moral value: 4.5
• Artistic/literary value:4.5

Read more about our ratings here.

Also at Redeemed Reader:

• Review: We gave a starred review to the first Aven Green book, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus.
• Reflection: See Betsy’s thoughts about Finding Good Chapter-Book Friends.
• Reviews: Two great chapter-book friends are Freddie Ramos and Lulu.

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