A great middle grade fiction book about survival, friendship and the indomitable spirit of young Jolene who doesn't take no for an answer when all the adults she tries to convince that her online friend has crashed in the Arizona desert. Taking matters into her own hands Jolene sets out to save her friend on her own. Great on audio, this was a fun book full of heart. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my ALC.

CW: drug addiction, parental abandonment, grief over the death of a parent

I received an arc for the audiobook from net galley.

I think books about parents with addiction for children are very important. And the last few chapters of this book are very good, and quite emotional.

It's the beginning of the book I struggle with. We learn about Jolene, how she likes the idea of adventure but is very aware of all the horrible ways things can go wrong. She's set up as a smart logical girl. Which after a while turns out to be completely wrong as she makes stupid decision after stupid decision.

It is the disconnect between the realism and the absurd adventure I struggle with. If this was a children's adventure book, a clear fantasy book, I'd have liked it more. If it had focused on Jolene and her mum and getting help and just the parts about the addiction I would have liked it even better. I just felt like they didn't match very well.

I did really like Marty as character, she was really cool, and the closest thing this book has to a rolemodel.

The first 80% or so of this book I was sure I want going to give this more than 2 stars. Only after they went back to Jolene's place I felt like it picked up. I would struggle recommending it to children, not because of the drugs, but because of the irresponsible, dangerous and at times illegal actions of Jolene that have no repercussions at all. If not for that, this could have been a great resource for children struggling with addiction.

On a more personal note, the (war on the) opiod crisis that is currently a thing in the USA that is doing a lot of harm to people with chronic pain, who often get refused any type of pain medication out of fear they might become addicts, as if being in incredible pain all the time and not being able to do anything isn't just as bad. I don't live in the USA, but I do have chronic pain, and often read about American doctors cutting down on pain meds because of the danger of addiction. Which makes me wish the book wasn't specifically about opiods/ pain medication, because it's something many people need to function, not because of addiction but because of being in too much pain otherwise. I don't mean that there are no opiod addicts, because there are. I just wanted to give the other side of the coin where people no longer get the medication they need because of fear of them might being addicted to them. From what I can find the highest rates for addiction on oxycodone, the drug mentioned in this book are between 8% and 23% and the lowest studies suggest as little as 1%. I haven't researched it extensively as I'm sure the author has, but I feel like the book acts a bit as if using opiods is a gateway to other drugs and death, instead of a normal pain medication.

The audiobook was decent, there's nothing necessarily wrong with it, but Jolene sounds way too old and hearing she was 12 was weird with how mature she sounded (at first, because after a while her reactions proved she was a child).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced audio copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Y'all, when I tell you that this book broke me. Jolene is a 12 year old girl who has been through way too much in her short life. She lives for the daily livestreams from her favorite social media persona-- Addy Earheart. Addy flies on her Ultralite Trike every day and streams her adventures. Jolene feels like she's finally made a friend... until the day Addy crashes her glider while on livestream. Jolene tries everything she can to get help, but no one will believe her. This is when she sets off by herself to try to find her friend in the desert before it's too late.

This story was so heartbreakingly beautiful. Jolene is trying to find someone and ends up finding herself along the way. She makes friends, discovers her worth, and figures out how to stand up for herself. I legitimately cried multiple times while reading and will be purchasing this title immediately. It's a great story about bravery, friendship, self worth, and being lonely that would be great for any middle grade reader. There are a lot of complex topics that I would recommend discussing with a parental or guidance figure though. These include: drug use, CPS/foster system, internet safety, and obviously the biggest thing of all in the story is Jolene going off into the desert by herself with no plan and without actually telling anyone where she is going.

The narrator was absolutely amazing. She kinda sounds like Mandy Moore? Her emotions were perfect for Jolene and she fully acted her narration without being over the top. Would definitely recommend the audio version.

4.0 stars
I loved this story and the friendships within the story.

This book isn't just an adventurous book it talks about different things such as drugs, PTSD and the struggles that Jolene has to go through.

Jolene has strong willpower and I loved how you could tell that she would do anything for her friends. This book made me laugh out loud a couple of different times.

Dusti Bowling has written a middle-grade book that is not only funny but also talks about different topics.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.
Synopsis
One girl sets out on a journey across the treacherous Arizona desert to rescue a young pilot stranded after a plane crash.

Twelve-year-old Jolene 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. While watching this daring girl fly through the sky, Jolene can dream of what it would be like to fly with her, far away from her own troubled home life where her mother struggles with a narcotic addiction. And Addie, who is grieving the loss of her father, finds solace in her online conversations with Jolene, her biggest—and only—fan.

Then, one day, 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 survive long in the extreme summer desert heat. With no one 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.

I started off in the first few chapters wondering if the story may become slightly too far fetched to be enjoyable. Oh but I was so wrong (I love to be wrong) what an amazing story, the promise of true friendship. Mostly though if a child’s ability to understand addiction and a string reminder we often need to give them a lot more merit than we assume to.

4.25 adventurous ⭐
What an incredible, heartwarming story of adventure and friendship.

12 year old Jolene doesn't have many friends and her mother developed a drug addiction after they were in a car accident. She is very lonely, until she starts watching Addie Earhart live stream her flights in an ultralight plane across the desert. They begin to chat online and slowly start to get to know each other.

During one viewing Addie crashes. Since Jolene is her only subscriber she knows she has to find help for her. Nobody is taking her seriously since she really doesn't know where the accident actually happened and she's a kid. Jolene goes above and beyond to save someone she’s never met in person and even meets a new friend along the way, Marty.

As a mother it was a little scary to read about all the choices this young girl made, so I hope children reading this don't think it's okay to do the same things Jolene did.
I am very happy with how everything turned out in the end.

Narration was perfect ~ Stacy Gonzalez did a great job showing emotion when needed.

*Thanks to Netgalley, RB Media and Dusti Bowling for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Across the Desert takes a hard look at drug abuse, PTSD, and the effects it has on Jolene, and her struggle to get by. This book is about friendship. Sometimes the strongest friendships you make are online. Sometimes the best friendships are made from unforeseen circumstances. This book will get your adrenaline flowing, as Jolene embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. Dusti Bowling has put so much heart and soul into Across the Desert. It'll stick with you.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an advanced listening copy of Across the Desert.

12-year old Jolene is pretty lonely. She doesn't have any friends at school and her mother is battling opioid addiction. Jolene spends her free time at the library watching live streams of fellow 12-year old "Addie Earhart"' flying across the desert in her ultralight aircraft. The two girls have become online best friends. During one of the live streams, Addie's ultralight crashes to the ground in the desert. Jolene is determined to save her friend, but when no one will believe her, Jolene must do it alone. Can she find her friend before it's too late?

Dusti Bowling has again written a middle-grade novel that tackles tough topics with humor, bravery, and friendship. Across the Desert is sure to be a hit with readers of all ages.

Dusti Bowling does it again with Across the Desert. Every middle grade novel she write is beautiful and poignant and the reader always has a take away. Not only is this book action and adventure packed but it also hits on the opioid crisis sweeping our nation. She is not afraid to tackle tough subjects and I love her for this. I will always be a fan of Dusti Bowling and her novels.

What do you do if you are the only person watching a live stream of a girl soaring over the Arizona desert in an ultralight…as it crashes in the middle of the desert? Jolene is a bright and scrappy 12 year old, who has too much on her plate as she struggles with poverty and parental opiate addiction. She tries all of the first things one would try to alert the authorities and get help, but no one will believe a kid. With her friend Addie crashed and alone in the desert, she takes off by herself to find and rescue her.

This book was an absolute delight. I listened to the audiobook, and it was very well done. I first read Dusti Bowling with Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, which I loved! This book is a different story genre, and a page-turner that also made me cry more than once. Jolene is so determined and resourceful, a true relatable heroine. I would highly recommend this book for adults and kids alike. While it does deal with the topic of a parent struggling with opiate addiction, it is compassionate and age-appropriate for late elementary school up.

Thank you @hachetteaudio and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Narrator was perfect. I loved this book so much that I spent the weekend looking for things to do while listening to the audiobook because it was un-put-down-able. So good!!!

For some people, the only person who would help them is themselves. Because no one else would, because there no one else!!!

Already having a lot many things to deal with, Jolene is now struck with a responsibility to save a friend from dying. As she is just 12, people don't really take her very seriously 😒.
So she takes charge by herself n goes ahead to conquer the impossible!

I loved how fierce the character of Jolene was. There were many aspects that the author made sure to cover within the plots and surroundings. The storyline moves smoothly from showing a silver lining to taking away all hope and a Rollercoaster 🎢 of back and forth happiness and misery - It never felt more alive 😅

A part that drew my attention the most:
It's often thrilling & exciting to read n witness the adventures of others, however, it's not really the same going through them all by yourself.

To this light-headed, smooth moving story I would give a 🏜🏜🏜🏜/5

Thank you for the ARC

Great 😃 and easy to listen to . I would love a ebook to compare it to. It's interesting 🤔 to see what you pick up and miss between the two. Great beginning and the pace stayed that way. Nice soft 🙂 voice that was soothing . I loved it 😍

4 stars

Dusti Bowling sends her young main character right on into some really adult issues, and this happens in a way that is age appropriate and - sadly - likely quite relatable for so many young readers.

Jolene, the m.c., will absolutely keep all readers of a certain age humming Dolly throughout the duration of the novel, especially those who also have the joy of listening to the audio version! Young Jolene is dealing with a lot, and the root cause of most of her struggles is her mother's opioid addiction. Folks who find this material inappropriate for this age group will recall that as this is an actual epidemic in this country, a character like Jolene will serve as an invaluable mirror for so, SO many young readers who can (unfortunately) relate to her struggles. Jolene's mom's addiction impacts nearly every moment of the novel, from Jolene's ongoing concerns over finances and housing insecurity to the way she is treated at school to the way she connects with other semi-misfit individuals. The entire quest on which she embarks (see the title) would not be possible with a more attentive parent, and it also very clearly symbolizes the path she's on with her mother: a seemingly bleak and endless one with no hope available.

There is so much to love about this book, though I did find there to be - even for the age - a few too many convenient coincidences. These actually got to a point of distraction for me. I'd have loved to see some more open-ended situations, but those readers who are nervous about the topic might be comforted by just how cleanly some of these jagged pieces fall right into place.

I haven't seen a MG novel that deals with this specific subject so well, and for that reason - along with its general standing as a great book overall - I'll absolutely be recommending it to students.