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Sacha's Reviews > Dust
Dust
by
by
4 stars
Do I have many books to read and review before this one is scheduled to publish? YES. Did that stop me from reading this one in one sitting as soon as I received it? Of course not. This is my fourth Dusti Bowling read, and - as expected - it did not disappoint.
Avalyn, the m.c., has a unique medical situation. Her asthma is so severe that she has almost died from it (readers learn in the first chapter), her parents and school have her medications on hand (or in pocket), and her family even relocated to another state to support her climate-related health. As readers might imagine, Avalyn and everyone around her are always thinking about whether she is safe and healthy. So, when an unusually dusty period hits her region, it's no surprise that Avalyn begins to suffer not only physically but also psychologically.
Where Bowling really shines is in the pairing of Avalyn's physical condition with the rampant bullying that she and several peers experience at school. There's a nearly supernatural connection between the environment and *the environment*, and this creative tie and certainly how this all comes together are absolute highlights of the book.
At times, Avalyn and company read really young (even for the audience), and while this may be attributed to their general lack of coolness, I found this a tad distracting at times (their name for the mean kids is a good but not exclusive example). There's also a bit of a quick and clean wrap on the ending (again, not the most shocking scenario for the audience but still noticeable to this reader).
Overall, this is yet another solid middle grade feat from a consistent author, and while there are some expected wins for these characters, there's an intriguing dash of something extra to enjoy here, too.
TW: References to child abuse
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Do I have many books to read and review before this one is scheduled to publish? YES. Did that stop me from reading this one in one sitting as soon as I received it? Of course not. This is my fourth Dusti Bowling read, and - as expected - it did not disappoint.
Avalyn, the m.c., has a unique medical situation. Her asthma is so severe that she has almost died from it (readers learn in the first chapter), her parents and school have her medications on hand (or in pocket), and her family even relocated to another state to support her climate-related health. As readers might imagine, Avalyn and everyone around her are always thinking about whether she is safe and healthy. So, when an unusually dusty period hits her region, it's no surprise that Avalyn begins to suffer not only physically but also psychologically.
Where Bowling really shines is in the pairing of Avalyn's physical condition with the rampant bullying that she and several peers experience at school. There's a nearly supernatural connection between the environment and *the environment*, and this creative tie and certainly how this all comes together are absolute highlights of the book.
At times, Avalyn and company read really young (even for the audience), and while this may be attributed to their general lack of coolness, I found this a tad distracting at times (their name for the mean kids is a good but not exclusive example). There's also a bit of a quick and clean wrap on the ending (again, not the most shocking scenario for the audience but still noticeable to this reader).
Overall, this is yet another solid middle grade feat from a consistent author, and while there are some expected wins for these characters, there's an intriguing dash of something extra to enjoy here, too.
TW: References to child abuse
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
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Dust.
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Reading Progress
April 12, 2023
–
Started Reading
April 12, 2023
– Shelved
April 12, 2023
–
Finished Reading
