Avalyn has struggled with asthma all her life, but it seems to worsen when a new boy, Adam, moves into town. Adam seems to be full of secrets, and Avalyn does her best to get to know him when she sees that her best friends may also be hanging out without her. What Avalyn doesn’t know is that Adam’s secrets are even more dangerous than she thought. Can Avalyn be brave enough to find a way and help Adam?

This middle grade book by Dusti Bowling is an amazing mixture of magical realism and real life experiences. We get to feel Avalyn’s frustration with her asthma as well as her turmoil of her friends growing closer while she watches from the sidelines. As much as I did love this book, I do feel the need to mention that this book can be triggering for some because of what Adam goes through. I do appreciate that they include helpful information regarding the triggering content that will help those who are also going through the same thing.

Wow. This was a hard book to read at times, because the reader can feel Adam’s pain just as much as Avalyn can and I wanted to reach into the book and help him. I loved the magical realism aspect and how the main characters related themselves to the X-Men. I also enjoyed the friendship between Avalyn, Dillon, and Nan and felt that their ups and downs were very realistic. I think this book had the potential to spark important conversations and is very delicately handled. Highly recommend.

Excellent middle grade read that fuses realistic fiction and magical realism to address child abuse in a compelling way. This wasn't always an easy read (though it was enjoyable in many ways), but it was an important one that I'm excited to recommend to the 5th graders at my school.

Take a real situation and insert a hint of the supernatural. If done right, it's a formula that can be amazing. If you've read Ingrid Law's Savvy you've seen it done right. And the same can be said of Dust. The key here is that the central problems are based in the world as we know it. Avalyn is an outsider in middle school, coping with chronic medical issues and constant bullying. These are standard, relatable issues. So, unfortunately, is abuse. That's a tough topic to introduce in a middle grade book but Bowling does not shy away from the difficult. While the discussion is not explicit it is certainly present. More important than the specifics of the abuse, though, are the emotions associated. We see the trauma of the abused child, of course, but also how the knowledge and sense of helplessness affects Avalyn. This is a cast of characters with complex emotions and depth that serves the plot well.

4.5/5 or 8.29/10

Characters-8 The characters in this story were great. I enjoyed the interactions between Avalyn and her parents, as well as her friends. When Adam was introduced, I enjoyed his character as well, he was interesting because you could tell that something was off, but you couldn't pinpoint what it was until the truth was revealed. Avalyn had a team of people behind her, fighting for her, and protecting her which I loved. 

Atmosphere-9 The atmosphere in this book is great. This is a contemporary story about a town in Arizona, and I was brought into the atmosphere throughout the story. I've never lived in an area like this, but I felt like I could relate to the way Avalyn was feeling because of the way the atmosphere brought you into the story. 

Writing-9 This was my first from Dusti Bowling, and I would like to read more. I loved the writing style of this book. Dust had moments that were heartwarming and brought the characters together. There was also some fun scenes where you could see the characters being kids, and having a great time. 

Plot-8 I did like the plot of this one. I felt like this story was more about the characters than about the plot, but still really enjoyed the story. Avalyn went on  a journey, as did Adam, and I loved seeing them grow. Avalyn and Adam went from people who didn't really talk to their classmates, Avalyn had her friends, but beyond that, she felt like her classmates didn't understand her. Adam was in a similar situation when he moved to a new town, and he didn't know anyone, and was bullied just because kids didn't know him. Throughout the story, we get to see a friendship starts to form, and we get more of an understanding with both of the characters. 

Intrigue-8 I was interested in this story for the most part. I wanted to know where the story was going to go, and I was curious as to how the story was going to end.  I was impressed with the way the story ended, and how much I enjoyed the story overall. 

Logic-8 I thought this was a logical story. I could follow the logic for the most part.  Some things could have been explained better I felt, but overall, Dusti Bowling does a great job of explaining the logic of the story to the reader.

Enjoyment-8This was an enjoyable story. I thought it was charming in places, and there were important topics discussed, like when kids and people have medical problems like Avalyn. Adam's story was also very well done.

The ending was unexpectedly dark. I liked the build ip but thought the resolution was really invasive. I don’t think Avalyn actually needed to see Adam.

𝗗𝘂𝘀𝘁—A girl who struggles to breathe befriends a boy who seems shrouded in dust.

"𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚'𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔."—chapter 34

𝗔 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀.—It's my first read of the author and I really like it. I can feel the MC struggle of her asthma and her effort to get out from the bullying.
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5 reasons why you should read DUST:
1. It has some informations about asthma.
2. Importance of friendship and family support.
3. It is about bullying story in school.
4. This book has unique chapter titles.
5. The unpredictable twist at the end and ofc it has a lovely ending.
⠀
If you're looking forward for a friendship, courage, and healing story, you can try to read DUST.

“Please tell…Keep telling until someone believes you and supports you.”💔

Such a beautiful book tackling allergies/asthma, anxiety, bullying, SA, and friendship. I hope this one is under Newbery consideration.

Dusti Bowling does it again! I’m a middle aged woman who reads all of her books on my own because I love them, my kids are still a bit young for her work. Great children’s literature holds up for all audiences, and that’s what Bowling writes. Her main character Avalyn is a fully fleshed out whole person, though she deals with so much sadness. This book is heavier than many of her others for sure, but compelling.

Venturing into the pages of 'Dust' by Dusti Bowling, where Avalyn, a teen with chronic asthma, finds herself entwined with the enigmatic Adam amidst swirling dust storms. 🌪️ Their connection deepens as they navigate through darkness, both literal and emotional, in the arid landscapes of Arizona.

🌟 Bullies may try to cast shadows, but Avalyn's courage shines through, reminding us to stand strong and defend what matters. With every turn of the page, you'll witness a symphony of fantasy and reality, seamlessly blended in this captivating read that speaks volumes about resilience.

💪 Avalyn's journey is an inspiration! From wheezing worries to unstoppable strength, she evolves into a fierce defender, capturing our hearts and igniting our spirits. Don't miss out on this empowering tale that'll keep you hooked till the last word. 📖❤️

Riveting and realistic story with elements of fantasy, probing serious topics, and all too possible situations middle-grade students may encounter.

Dust by Dusti Bowling is a riveting tale of four middle-graders navigating a toxic school environment with rampant and unrelenting bullying. Targeted because they stand out as different in some way, three have been friends since starting school together. But when the new kid, Adam, catches the eyes of the mean kids, those most responsible for the bullying, they try to bring him into their group: safety in numbers, right?

The story is told from the point of view of Avalyn, who suffers from severe asthma and whose struggle hits crisis level when dust storms begin to batter their small hometown. She loves her best friends, Dillon and Nan, but knows her disease affects them, too: always having to accommodate for her health and safety. She is genuinely aware and grateful for their modifications but is frustrated all the same.

Nan and Dillon have their own struggles, with Dillon drawing the ire of the Meanie Butt Band first and Nan and Avalyn more so by association with him. The constant harassment these children endure is shocking and heartbreaking. But their situation is not new; it's been going on for a long time. Adam's arrival on campus provides the mean kids with another vulnerable target. I was surprised that Nan and Dillon were reluctant to include him in their small group. Avalyn, on the other hand, can sense his pain and loneliness, and he represents a mystery she needs to solve.

As the dust storms continued to batter the town, the tension built, and so did the severity of the harassment. I knew any minute that something awful was going to happen. When it does, Avalyn must work through her natural doubts and fears to take action and make her voice heard.

Bullying at schools is ongoing and real for many children. The situation in the story had taken on a life of its own and became part of the school's culture. Adam's home situation is not a singular one, and if a reader learns anything from their reading of this book, please let it be that circumstances like Adam's are never the fault of the victim, the child. The story could serve as a jumping-off point for children and adults to discuss the serious topics involved.

I recommend DUST to middle-grade readers and adults who work with or parent this age group.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Readers for this ARC to review.

Avalynn has severe asthma, and the dust storms are getting worse and worse in her home town. She and her friends deal with the Meanie Butt Band (the name they give the school’s bullies) every day. Then along comes Adam, who Avalynn feels a connection to. Except it’s a dark connection.

Mixed with talk of science, spelling, and X-Men this book surprises you with its dark theme and topic of abuse. However, the magical realism helps the reader (and I think younger readers) visualize what abuse can feel like.
I hope this books lands into many readers hands to help them understand how abuse (and bullying) can effect someone.

MY REVIEW:

There is a lot to love about this book, shrouded in mystery and wonder. Avalyn is a young girl, trying to find her way in the world, when the world seems to be trying to kill her at every turn. Her life-threatening asthma has caused her family to move – and her to be the subject of ridicule because she must use her inhaler. Avalyn thought she had found a safe place to live, until crazy dust storms start happening – but they also seem to react to the new kid in school – Adam.

Dust is part hopeful, part tragic, part mystical, as Avalyn uses her love of comic books and the X-Men to try and figure out just what is happening with Adam. And, the end is not what you expect. I found this book to be wonderfully written and allegorical, but I wonder if some of the story is lost on younger readers. Does Adam really have the power to control the dust? Or is that imagery about something more? Or is it a little of both? Only readers will know for sure – maybe.

Dust is about a girl named Avalyn who has severe asthma and almost dies as a toddler. Because of her health issues her family decided to move to Arizona. She hasn't had any breathing issues since the move until a new boy, Adam, shows up at school. Adams emotions seem to have an affect on the dust storms that have been happening since he showed up. Avalyn knows that there is something off about him but can't figure it out until the end of the book. Throughout the story, Avalyn and her friends deal with a group of kids who they call the Mean Butt Band who are bullies. Avalyn has to decide if she has the courage to stand up to the bullies in order to protect herself and her friends.

**Spoiler Alert**
I read this book because I really enjoyed Bowling's book titled Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. I like that she uses her books to address issues that our kids are currently facing. I loved this book but I think it would be appropriate for older readers. One of the characters is being sexually abused by his uncle. The book doesn't go in to detail but it does say enough that you know there is sexual abuse. I have taught for 15 years and I have had plenty of students who are dealing with this same thing. However, I currently work in a building that serves students in grades 3-5 and I don't think this book would be appropriate for our library. I know this topic needs to be addressed with our students, but I feel like it should be done in an age-appropriate lesson from the school counselor for elementary students.

#Dust #NetGalley

I read this in one sitting. This is a book that needs to get into every student's hands. The way Ms. Bowling is able to capture both Avalyn and Adam's feelings came straight across the page. Heart-wrenching is how I would explain the feelings I got when Avalyn would "touch" Adam. I truly believe in empaths and this book helped me understand what a person who identifies as an empath feels. It cannot be easy.

She addresses the issues of bullying and abuse delicately. It's not an easy subject to address but she does it in a way that a middle schooler will understand it. Thank you for writing such an incredible book. I am now going to take a deep dive into her other books.

Avalyn has suffered from breathing problems all her life. After a near death experience, her parents moved her to a place with clean, breathable air. Then Adam moves in with his own windstorm. There's a stream of mystery when Adam arrives the same time as the dust. I loved this book's message of friendship even when there's a cost.

This is an inspiring yet heartbreaking story! The writing is a swirl of words organized for maximum effectiveness. I could feel what an asthma attack felt like. When Avalyn spoke up for her abused friend, I cheered. I wanted to punch the bullies in their noses.

Our main character, Avalyn, just happens to love spelling bees – so words and definitions sprinkle the pages for bonus learning. Genius. I haven’t read a book by this author before but I promise, I’ll be looking for more!

5 Reasons to Read

Family

I loved the family dynamic between Avalyn and her parents. They were a bit over protective but it was all because they loved her. I enjoyed the banter between her and her dad when it came to identifying and spelling words throughout their conversations. It is an adorable way to show their connection with each other.

Asthma Disability Rep

Avalyn was diagnosed with severe asthma as a toddler and ever since then her parents have kept a close watch on her to ensure she has all the resources she needs to keep it under control. I thought this representation was done well. It was the first book I've read with this rep and I felt it was well done. It is such a common condition among young children and adults so I appreciated Avalyn's experience and the importance it has in books for young readers going through the same things.

Friendship

Avalyn and her friends seem to be at the center of the meanie butt boys constant torment. When Adam, the new kid in town, walks in he is no exception to their barrages. Avalyn befriends Adam because there is something about him that draws her to him and leads to a disruption within her friendship circle. I felt the portrayal of friendship and how much changes in that part of life was well developed. Middle grade is a favorite of mine because the stories revolve around a pinnacle point in my own life when I went through so much change in who I was and who became important to me.

X-Men

X-Men are my favorite characters in the Marvel universe. It was so learning about the different X-Men characters and reading about the impact they had on Avalyn's life. I thought this was a great way to connect Avalyn and Adam too. They both sat and discussed which X-Men they would be and why. It felt like a great counterpart to the bullying they faced on a daily basis.

Secrets

Avalyn doesn't tell her parents or teachers about the extent of the bullying she and her friends been subjected to. It isn't until she goes to Adam's house to discover a dark secret he's been hiding that she finally decides to speak up.

Dusti Bowling does it again, and with Dust she has catapulted her way to the top of my Middle Grade/Young Adult author list.

Avalyn’s parents move the family to Arizona to help keep Avalyn’s asthma at bay. For 10 years, Avalyn has not had a life-threatening asthma attack. It seems all is well; however, Avalyn and her friends face another nemesis: the bullies at school. They’re a tight group and face what is thrown at them.

Enter Adam. A new kid, greasy hair, unkempt, old clothes. He’s prime fodder for the bullies. Entering at the same time are horrific dust storms that, because of her asthma, threatens Avalyn’s life. But Avalyn, despite her problems, is determined to be friends with Adam.

I’ll end the summary there to address why I love this book: the magical realism. This seems to be a departure for Bowling, and I just love it. Not only do Adam and the dust storms roll in at the same time, but the storms may also be controlled by Adam’s moods and emotions. Or not. It’s not really addressed but left to the reader. It’s a masterful bit of storytelling!

Grab this book. You’ll love the characters as they make their way through life. A bit of a warning, along with bullying, which may trouble some readers, there is abuse referenced (and handled well). It could be triggering for some readers and affirming for others that they are not alone.

Thank you to Little Brown Books and NetGalley for this eARC. I do attest that all opinions are my own.

Avalyn has a lot of issues. Between her asthma and all her allergies it is hard to just be a “normal” kid. She does have some very good friends, as well as some pretty terrible bullies at school. When a new kid moves in, Adam, he changes the atmosphere- both literally and figuratively. Avalyn can feel his inner turmoil. She is also suffering from the dust storms that seem to have followed Adam to their small town. Will she be able to help Adam AND stand up to their tormentors AND keep breathing thorough all the trials?

This is a precious middle grade book that looks at some hard issues- abuse, differences, bullies. It does it in a tasteful and purposeful way. I’ll definitely recommend to some of my more mature middle grade readers!