Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus Author Dusti Bowling’s Top 10 Inspiring Heroes in Middle Grade

Dusti Bowling’s charming middle grade novel Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus tells the story of Aven, a young girl who was born without arms. Smart and resilient, Aven doesn’t let her challenges keep her from starting over at a new school, finding a new friend, and investigating a spooky mystery at a theme park that has seen better days. We asked author Dusti Bowling to share her top 10 inspiring heroes of middle grade fiction, and her list below is filled with books we love.

Karana (Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O’Dell)
Who jumps out of the boat in the middle of a terrible storm to go back for her brother, Ramo? Only Karana. She is brave, resourceful, and compassionate.

Ivan (The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate)
Ivan’s primary motivation for wanting to escape the Big Top Mall is to save Ruby, his baby elephant friend. Ivan is a true friend to the end.

Coach (Ghost, by Jason Reynolds)
Coach is an incredible adult role model, from how he motivates the kids on his track team to how he handles the shoplifting situation with Ghost. And all he wants in return is for these kids to grow and learn and achieve. He is an adult to look up to.

Charlotte (Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White)
Charlotte spends her life in pursuit of saving another. Is there anything more heroic than that?

William Kamkwamba (The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, Young Reader’s Edition, by William Kamkwamba)
William uses his remarkable talents and knowledge to bring electricity and water to his family and to help others.

Roz (The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown)
If it weren’t for Roz, many of the animals on the island would die. It’s easy to forget that someone so selfless and caring of others is a robot.

Stargirl (Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli)
Stargirl’s whole goal in life seems to be to make others happy. She is completely nonconformist and doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her until she worries her originality is making someone she cares about unhappy.

Salva Dut (A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Park)
Salva’s harrowing experiences as a child lead him to have great empathy for others as an adult. He doesn’t forget his homeland and strives to help the people there in the ways they need it the most.

Minli from (Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin)
The whole reason Minli goes on her journey is to bring good fortune to her family and village. She is brave, kind, and clever. Plus, she rescues a dragon!

Annemarie Johansen (Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry)
Annemarie risks her life to help her friend, Ellen, and she also acts as a courier, allowing several Jewish people to be smuggled to safety. She is brave and true in the face of great evil and danger.