One of the best books of the year! Across the Desert is a stunning story (that you won’t be able to put down) about a brave girl who has been secretly dealing with her mother’s opioid addiction (which has left them in poverty with very little food) who makes a daring (and possibly foolheartedly) trek to the desert to rescue her only friend. When Jolene watches her friend Addie’s live stream showing her crash her ultralight plane in the middle of the desert, Jolene knows that she is the only one who can save her because no one else watches and Addie’s mom doesn’t know about the plane. She tries to tell adults but no one believes her so Jolene steals her mom’s phone and credit card and takes the bus as close as she can to Addie’s location, planning to walk to find Addie. On the bus, she meets a kind and helpful teenager named Marty who, despite Jolene’s reluctance and mistrust, helps Jolene with advice and ultimately, finding Addie. The story is about trust, relationships, boundaries, addiction, survival, and family; it’s also an emotional journey of inner and outer strength that leads to hope and healing.

Across the Desert is a heart-pounding middle grade novel about self-worth, friendships, and the struggle of a parent with addiction. It features a strong-willed heroine willing to sacrifice her wellbeing to save a friend, even when other people don’t believe her. Fans of books like Barbara Dee’s Violets Are Blue (also about addiction) and Megan E. Freeman’s Alone (survival fiction) will enjoy this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

I really enjoyed this action packed adventure story about Jolene. Jolene’s mom is struggling with an opioid addiction and Jolene finds solace in a friendship with a girl who livestreams flying adventures. One day, that adventure goes poorly and Jolene is the only witness. From miles away, she embarks on an adventure to try and save her friend. I thought the addiction storyline was handled well, and the book will keep you turning pages.

Review published on Goodreads, 14 October 2021:

I always enjoy a good man vs. nature survival story. Bowlings' THE CANYON'S EDGE kept me riveted, so I had high hopes for ACROSS THE DESERT, her newest. I was worried the two novels would be too similar, but they're really not despite the fact that both of them involve girls hiking through the unforgiving Arizona desert. ACROSS THE DESERT, however, focuses more on Jolene—her heart-breaking home life, her deteriorating relationship with her mother, and her hope-sustaining friendship with Addie—than on her trip into the desert. I also love its emphasis on real women who have done incredible, inspiring things. All of these things make it a poignant, empowering read as well as an interesting, compelling one. While it's not my favorite of Bowling's novels, I enjoyed it all in all.

If I could, I would give this book 3 1/2 stars. Since I can't, I'm rounding up.

Bowling has taken the standard survival story and blended it with a road trip story. We have the fight against nature, the cast of unique characters, and the unexpected complications. Underlying it all is addiction and the affect it has on family. The characters are decently complex, keeping secrets that are slowly teased out adding to the tension. A compelling read for middle grade.

Thank you Netgalley and Little Brown Young Readers for the gifted book that I read along with the library audio.

Jolene is 12, her mom has a narcotics addiction, and her only friend is another 12 year old (Addie) who she watches fly her ultralight plane over the desert via livestream at the library. When Addie crashes her plane while Jolene is the only person viewing the livestream, Jolene is desperate to find help for Addie no matter what rules she has to break to do so.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. As someone who is just reading the story, I thought it was engaging and dealt with some hard topics (grief, independence, parental addiction) quite well. Middle grade girls will love the emphasis on strong women role models and the examples of the women in history who inspire Jolene.

On the other hand, as an adult and soon to be parent, I struggled with the decisions of the protagonists to do wildly dangerous things without adult supervision or even permission. I did not like that message that Jolene embodied that no one could help her and she had to do it all on her own. There is always an adult that can help and running away on your own accord is not the best answer. Jolene doesn't make great decisions and her plans only work out through the intervention of others and dumb luck. Not a great example.

Overall I thought this was a great book, but one that I would encourage adults to read alongside their middle grade kids or students so they can discuss the decision making of all the main characters.

With an absent father and a mother addicted to opioids, Jolene has no one to turn to in her Arizona town. The highlight of her life is watching the livestreams of "Addie Earhart," a girl her age who flies her own aircraft over the Arizona desert. She's never met Addie in real life, but communicating with her online is the next best thing.
When Addie's plane crashes during a livestream only Jolene is watching, she's desperate to get her help, but no one in town, not even her mother, knows who Addie is or will take her seriously without enough information on the accident. With no other options, Jolene decides to set off across the desert alone to rescue Addie, even though her exact location isn't known.
Without telling anyone where she's going, Jolene takes the bus as far as she can into the desert before getting a ride from an older girl named Marty, who knows what it's like to have your family affected by opioid addiction. Marty is willing to help Jolene find Addie, that is, if she can allow herself to trust her.
Even though Addie's location is initially unknown, this book is less of a mystery/thriller and more of a survival story. There's no need to worry about Addie not being real, Jolene imagining everything, or Addie luring her into a trap. She's a real person, just as much as Jolene is, and dealing with her own issues. I would've liked to see an epilogue, though, to see how her friendship with Jolene continued, though.

"'This is a hard story, Jolene. Hard for me to tell. Hard for Marty to hear, even though she knows it all. But if it can help someone, then I have to tell it, don't I? Sometimes telling your story is the best thing you can do to help someone. Even when the story's not easy. Even when it hurts to tell it."

After reading [author:Dusti Bowling|5346515]'s [book:Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus|33986447] and its sequel, I knew I was going to enjoy this new book by Bowling. She is one of those authors you can count on to write high quality middle grade literature that packs a punch for readers of all ages. Those are the types of authors I always want to read more of and ones who write characters I am glad to spend time with. I also find that authors like Bowling are able to work in heavier topics seamlessly so young readers are able to see themselves or their friends reflected back to them.

Across the Desert was one of those middle grade novels that I have found myself thinking back to frequently and fondly. I knew the basics of the story: a young girl who has no friends in her community follows another young girl online. Jolene is an easy narrator to listen to and as an adult, my heart instantly went out to her and her unfortunate circumstances. I loved her online friendship with Addie. Addie is another young person who lives in the same region and streams her flights on her ultralight plane. Jolene is often one of the few viewers to see Addie's flights and has these fantastic conversations with Addie online. As someone who has met all of my current BFFs online, I can understand the close relationship that can come out of online friendships.

One afternoon in the library, Jolene is watching Addie's live stream when Addie's engine stops and the video abruptly cuts out. Jolene was the only one watching Addie's flight that day so she's the only one who knows that Addie is stuck in the desert somewhere. Jolene does everything right: she contacts the appropriate authorities trying to get them to go searching for Addie. Since Addie hasn't been declared missing and Jolene is a kid, no adult believes her. Jolene knows she has to try to save Addie so she sets off on her own journey to try and find Addie. Along the way she learns a lot about what it means to be independent while also learning to rely on others for help.

This story within itself would have been enough to keep me interested and reading. But woven into this story is Jolene's mom's addiction to opioids. Jolene doesn't know who to reach out to for help with her mother, but she knows her mom can't continue on this road alone. Stories of people struggling with opioid addiction keep popping up throughout this novel. For such an epidemic in our current society, I am glad to see middle grade literature addressing the opioid epidemic head on. Too many adults argue that today's middle grade readers are far too young to be reading about topics such as the opioid crisis. I would argue that today's middle grade readers are far too young to be experiencing this in their own homes yet there are too many children forced to watch their parents fall prey to the hold of opioids on their system.

This book is fantastically written and solidifies author Dusti Bowling as one that I will continue to read and recommend to my middle school students. While the narrators may be a bit younger than what my 8th grade students are looking for, I also know they are in for an absolute treat of a story that brings more to the story than meets the eye.

TW: Addiction, drug use & abuse, car accident, dehydration, death (in the past), bullying

**Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* 4.5 rounded up, this was a great read! I would totally buy this for kids (or even adults!), actually one of the best books i have read so far this year as an overall book.

Twelve year old Jolene feels invisible. She lives in Phoenix with her mother, who is struggling with addiction to prescription medication after a car accident. Jolene's only friend is a girl she follows while leave-streaming a show online, Addie Earhart. While at the library, Jolene, Addie's only viewer, witnesses Addie crash her ultralight in the desert. Knowing that no one, not even Addie's mom, knows where she is, Jolene knows she has to help her only friend. After no adults will believe her, she takes it upon herself to borrow her mom's credit card and cell phone and take off for the desert. With the help of a new friend she meets along the way, Jolene is determined to rescue Addie and keep herself alive in the process.

This was a great story depicting the hardships the children of addicts. Jolene is scared to lose her mom to drugs, but also scared to ask for help for fear of being separated. I know so many young readers that will relate.

Across the Desert is a captivating survival story about not giving up on someone who needs you. Jolene feels helpless in her home life—ever since a serious accident, she constantly skates the boundaries of a panic attack while her mom grows more and more neglectful and dependent on painkillers. All Jolene can do is try to hold things together well enough so she can hide the fact that her world is on the brink of disaster. The last thing she wants is for social services to take her away like they did her friend. So, when Jolene witnesses another accident and no one seems to believe her, she decides that this time she will take matters into her own hands. She can’t sit still and do nothing. Jolene sets off on a trek across the desert to save her friend—but the journey is fraught with complications and near-disasters. I’ll admit that I sometimes had to let go of the fact that Jolene (and eventually her new friend Marty) make some terrible decisions. It’s easier to understand her choices as the book goes on and you start to understand truly what Jolene is facing at home and what she stands to lose. Kids probably won’t be bothered by this, though, and the overall messages of the book are very positive. Jolene eventually learns that she shouldn’t give up on people, but she can and should get help when she needs it.

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Okay, so guess I need to get my hands on Dusti Bowling's other books ASAP. This story proved once again why middle grade is my favorite genre, combining heart-stopping adventure with tactfully-handled real-world issues and gorgeous, voicey writing.

I'm not crying. You're crying.

ACROSS THE DESERT tackles two main plot points. Our endearing heroine, Jolene, must find a way to rescue her online friend, Addie, from an ultralight crash in the middle of the Arizona desert ... but she must also deal with the implications of her mother's oxycodone addiction. Both stories were deftly written and intertwined masterfully, but the author's approach to addiction was just ... gosh, I don't even have the words. It was SO well done. ACROSS THE DESERT proves beyond argument that middle grade can be fun *and* deal with tough topics, and I'm certain Jolene's story is going to mean the world to children going through similar issues.

Perhaps the plot occasionally felt too convenient and contrived, but overall, a solid recommend.

This one just wasn't for me. I just couldn't get over the level of unbelievability. I was on board for a few chapters, but after a while it was just so outrageous I couldn't. I also didn't like that one of the secondary characters kept using the word "cuss" in place of the f-word. Like kids reading this aren't going to know what that means? Overall just not my cup of tea.

DNF at 16%. The "every adult won't listen to me because I'm a kid" trope is irritating, overused and boring. Stop it.

Another fabulous book from Dusti Bowling! I was on the edge of my seat and could not put this book down - I had to know what happened to Jolene and to Addie! Jolene's conviction and absolute determination, despite all odds, will appeal to young readers, while the message that sometimes we need help will ring out loud and clear. Dusti Bowling is a pro at writing parents that are realistic and flawed, but also loving and supportive. I loved Marty's character so much, and now I want a book about her! The use of texting/online chatting is highly relevant for today's kids, and is a brilliant way to add backstory without slowing down the action.
The cover is eye-catching and I predict that this book will not sit on shelves much, especially if kids can see the cover!

This is a Middle Grade that takes you on Action Packed Adventure. I really loved every minute I spend reading this book. I love all the characters in this book, and I really love Jolene. As an Adult reading this book it shown me we need to listen to children more because I can see what happen in this book really happen. It is sad no Adult in this book listen to Jolene because she is a Kid. I think this book also shows drug use can start by getting hurt and taking pain meds. This book covers some important topics, but does it so well. Love this book so much. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) or author (Dusti Bowling) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Across the Deseret is written by an author we came to adore with Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus and the stories of Aven Green. We've posted about Dusti Bowling before, as her writing is funny and approachable for older middle grade readers. While Across the Desert isn't as raucously funny as her writing about Aven Green, this story of Jolene's desert adventure is fast-paced, exciting, and just as engaging. Jolene is a young girl in AZ facing a world of loneliness and neglect, as her mother struggles with a prescription drug addiction. Things get exciting as she watches the livestream of young aviator and sees as she goes crashing into the Arizona desert. On her own, she stops at nothing to try to ensure her "friend" is safe. Her adventure with a hand-drawn map and her mother's cell phone is one an of my middle-grade readers would love, with some valuable life lessons thrown in.

Dusti Bowling shares that this story is a bit of an #ownvoices piece, shared to show the youth out there struggling with family members who have addictions, that they are seen. This book certainly shows that, throughout the plotline, and offers a glimmer of hope and understanding. Dusti writes very well about what she knows - life in the desert and life with an addict. Very well-done approach to a hard topic, in a manner appropriate for elementary-aged children.

Thank you to Dusti Bowling and NetGalley for sharing a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel. The free copy did not influence my review.

This was a good adventure story with themes of addiction and friendship woven in too! Jolene spends all day at the library because she doesn't like her own life. Her mother is an opioid addict and Jolene only thinks that she has one friend. Every day, another twelve year old girl livestreams her adventures in the desert and Jolene watches. She messages "Addie Earhart" and the two of them form a relationship online. One day, Addie crashes. No one knows where she is except for Jo, and no one will believe her when she tries to call for help. She decides to embark on a dangerous journey across multiple states to save her friend from death.

This was a quick read that was interesting and had me rooting for Jolene every step of the way! I enjoyed it, but there were a few things that I wish could have been in the book. The first would have been a note at the back about online safety and not messaging people that you didn't know. Mature readers would already know this, but I do think that younger kids should be warned. I also wish that the book touched more on the addiction side of the story, but kids looking for an adventure story to read would not care about this. Overall, a great adventure story that a young reader would enjoy.

Ages 10+

ARC Copy...as expected very good job on imagery of the desert and realistic-grounded writing on the issues of addiction from a child's POV. I did like the narrative does not cover up the fact what the two girls are going through and doing through is too much for minors to endure. Jolene and Addie are very determined in their endeavors, which I liked. I did like the character of Marty. Yes at the start she looks one of the people you should avoid at a greyhound stop but she is actually very nice and understand of Jolene's predicament both on the journey and at home.