Dust
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“This book will save lives.” —Beth Vrabel, award-winning author of The Newspaper Club series
In this unmissable story of friendship, courage, and healing, a girl struggling to breathe befriends a boy shrouded in dust, perfect for fans of Erin Entrada Kelly and Erin Bow.
After Avalyn nearly died from an asthma attack, her parents moved her to the clear, dry air of Clear Canyon City, Arizona. And for the last ten years, she’s been able to breathe. That is, until Adam showed up.
Quiet and disheveled, Adam is an instant target for the bullies who have plagued Avalyn and her friends. As Avalyn gets to know him, she begins to suspect that the sudden, strange increase in dust storms around town is somehow connected to his emotions. She thinks his problems may be even worse at home, especially when massive black walls of dust start rolling in after the school day. Will she find a way to stand up for her new friend? Her life may just depend on it.
A page-turning blend of mystery and action, bestselling and award-winning author Dusti Bowling delivers a powerful tour de force.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
An asthmatic 12-year-old with the power to read emotions through touch stands up against bullying and a friend's abusive homelife in this lightly speculative offering from Bowling (Across the Desert). Ever since she almost died from an asthma attack, Avalyn has carried an inhaler, which helps her combat the feeling of "breathing air mud" while living in Clear Canyon City, Ariz. At school, she befriends new student Adam, the two bonding over their shared love of X-Men. But Avalyn is keeping her ability a secret from her new friend. When popular bullies target introverted Adam, calling him "Dirt Head" for his unkempt appearance, Avalyn uses her powers to help him, but what she detects (a "dark dungeon feeling") prompts worry for her friend. Meanwhile, Avalyn's breathing problems worsen as dangerous dust storms escalate. The integration of Avalyn's superpowers into her everyday situations is sometimes bluntly handled, but Bowling nevertheless deftly portrays Avalyn as a resourceful tween who will stop at nothing to protect a friend, determinedly overcoming her feelings of frustration and isolation surrounding her asthma and pervasive allergies. An author's note and discussion questions conclude. Avalyn and Adam cue as white. Ages 8–12.
