Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2017

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Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-8

Chapters 9-16

Chapters 17-23

Chapters 24-31

Chapters 32-39

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Vocabulary

Essay Topics

Quiz

Tools

Discussion Questions

Essay Topics

Consider the title of the novel. Why does Aven think she is “an entirely insignificant event in the life of this cactus” (46)? Does Aven see herself in the same way at the end of the novel? Why or why not?

Aven initially titles her blog Aven’s Random Thoughts. How do Aven’s blog posts change over the course of the novel? How do these changes reflect changes in Aven herself? What is the significance of Aven renaming her blog The Unarmed Middle Schooler’s Guide to Survival?

Why do you think Aven makes up wild stories about how she supposedly lost her arms? What are some other ways that Aven uses humor to describe and downplay her armlessness? Why do you think Aven does this, and what effects does it have?