Sunday, October 24, 2021

24 hours in Nowhere by Dusti Bowling - ADVISABLE

24 hours in Nowhere
by Dusti Bowling
260 pages. Sterling Children’s Books, 2018. $17 

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, bullying). 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

13yo Gus is the smartest in his grade, but living in Nowhere Arizona, his opportunities are limited. Bo Taylor is a huge bully, and when Rossi tries to rescue Gus from Bo trying to make him eat cactus, Bo takes Rossi's dirt bike. Hoping to get it back, Gus goes to Bo's trailer home with all the money he has, but Bo wants gold - from a particular mine - the most deadly mine in Nowhere. He agrees, and Bo sends Matthew - one of his henchmen - along to make sure Gus doesn't try to trick him. When Gus's friend Jesse and Rossi hear what's happening, they come along, too, and the 4 friends begin a life or death adventure. 

Dusti Bowling is so good at edge of your seat adventure. So exciting, "24 hours in Nowhere" was hard to put down. She knows the desert so well, I can imagine myself there with the kids. It's about friendship and family and choices and courage. Gus is a wordsmith - I loved the thesaurus in his head as he choose the perfect words. This would make a fun class novel or read aloud.

Lisa Librarian

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