Across the Desert
by Dusti Bowling
Pub Date 12 Oct 2021
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Children's Fiction


I am reviewing a copy of Across the Desert through Little Brown for Young Readers and NetGalley:



Jolene who is twelve spends every day she can at the library watching her favorite livestream: The Desert Aviator, where twelve-year-old “Addie Earhart”shares her adventures flying an ultralight plane over the desert. Jolene can dream about what it’s like to fly with her, far away from her troubled home, where she must watch her Mother struggle with her addiction to narcotics. And Addie is dealing with her own grief, over the loss of her Father who she misses terribly finds solace in her online conversations with Jolene, her biggest and only fan.






One day though it all goes wrong, Addie's engine abruptly stops, and Jolene watches in helpless horror as the ultralight plummets to the ground and the video goes dark. Jolene knows that Addie won’t last long in the extreme summer heat, in the middle of a desert . Without anyone to turn to for help and armed with only a hand-drawn map and a stolen cell phone, it's up to Jolene to find a way to save the Desert Aviator.



For young readers who enjoy adventure as well as stories of hope and resilience , as well as the strength within each of us, then Across the Desert is just the book.



I give Across the Desert five out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

It is easy to feel invisible when life is challenging. Twelve-year-old Jolene lives in Phoenix with her mother who is struggling with the after effects of a car accident that took place three years previously. Jolene finds solace in studying the daring feats of female adventurers who challenged the status quo, and she is especially drawn to another twelve-year-old named Addie who live-streams her journeys through the Arizona desert on her ultralight. When one video ends in catastrophe and Jolene is the only witness, she tests the limits of her own strength and tenacity to search the desert for the truest friend she has never met.

Gripping and fast-paced, this book pulls readers in from the first page through the use of memorable analogies and compelling writing. The novel alternates between earlier internet interactions between Jolene and Addie and a more traditional narrative in the present day. This design shows readers the depth of Addie and Jolene’s friendship, despite having never met, while laying out the epic quest Jolene sets herself upon. Though Jolene has often felt alone since oxycodone began dictating her mother’s behavior, a serendipitous series of events leads her to exactly what she needs to find.

Throughout the narrative, a plethora of famous, intrepid women are mentioned for their great feats of bravery: scaling mountains, traveling great distances, and otherwise breaking the glass ceiling fencing them in. Likewise, this story itself is composed primarily of strong female characters whose resourcefulness leads them to their own successes. It takes bravery to face one’s fears—whether the enemies are external or internal—and having a support system is critical to taking those important first steps. Jolene’s path is not without challenges, but she digs deep to discover the limits of her own potential.

Emotional and inspiring, this book examines the hard truths of life for a child of an opioid addict alongside the desperate need for that child to prove their worth. As the child of an addict herself, the author pulls from her own experiences to create a narrative that will resonate with readers no matter their backgrounds. With strong, pioneering women as their guides, Jolene, Addie, and Marty bravely venture into the unknown to do the seemingly impossible. Everyone has worth; sometimes it just takes a special set of circumstances to recognize that fact. This is a profound and important addition to libraries for middle grade readers.

This book was part page-turning rescue adventure, part gut-punch story about realities no kid should have to face. Extra kudos to the author for making my heart pound as I sat at the edge of my seat, terrified for Jolene, the main character, not knowing what was going to happen. I don't want to give anything away about the plot because part of what I loved so much about this book was that I got about two-thirds of the way through and I had absolutely no idea how it was going to end. That kind of unpredictability in a kids' book is rare and kept me turning pages well past my bedtime.

A heartbreaking but satisfying read by this new-to-me author. Extra points for all the references to female trailblazers throughout the book and for its unwavering honesty.

Also, the author's note at the end is a must-read. Sending hugs out to her and any kid who has ever had to deal with a family member with an addiction.

Highly recommended.

Prepare yourself. Once you open this book, you aren’t going to want to stop! What an incredible story that so many kiddos are going to relate to. I can’t wait to hand this one to my students!

@DustiBowling is one of my favorite middle grade authors, so I jumped on the chance to download an e-galley for her newest novel, Across the Desert.

Here’s what I loved:
It’s a fast-paced adventure story
It deals with addiction
Jolene is strong and determined

The set-up: Jolene is a lonely middle schooler living in poverty after a devastating car accident that left her mom addicted to painkillers. Teased at school, Jolene retreats to the public library where she chats with an online friend, a young aviator named Addie Earheart who livestreams her solo flights. One day, Jolene watches in horror as Addie’s plane crashes in the desert, miles from civilization. Jolene reports the crash to everyone she can think of, and when no one takes her seriously, she sets off on an epic quest to save her friend’s life.

Across the Desert will require you to suspend some disbelief, but it is a fast-moving adventure story that you won’t want to put down. The desert setting is perfect and Jolene is a character you’ll want to hug. I can’t wait to share this with my students; hand to fans of Alone, Canyon’s Edge or Tornado Brain.

Although a bit slow here and there this book was overall very engaging. Jolene was a moving narrator and Bowling did a wonderful job of taking the reader into her head and heart. I think this will be fine for upper elementary, and could be a powerful book for kids dealing with a family member addicted to opioids.

I'll be honest that I requested to read this book solely because I am a huge fan of Dusti Bowling's books and I didn't really read the synopsis shared on Netgalley. So I was a bit surprised that this was an action-packed adventure story, but it was a pleasant surprise. It made my heart pound and I just couldn't put it down. I was rooting for Jolene to find her friend as well as to heal her heart at home. I also appreciated the way Bowling deftly navigated the topic of a parent's addiction without judgement or a sugar-coating. My students will really enjoy this book!