Aven Green Soccer Machine

Aven Green #4

by Dusti Bowling, Gina Perry (Illustrator)

Aven Green, the remarkable heroine of Dusti Bowling’s Life of a Cactus series, marches to her own beat in this hilarious, upbeat, and unforgettable chapter book. 

Third-grader Aven Green is an expert soccer player. She even has her own top secret moves! But when her friend Sujata joins the team, Aven has a hard time learning to help the new player shine. When the time comes to choose a new team captain, will Aven learn to share the spotlight and understand what it means to be a team player?

Praise for Aven Green Music Machine :
"Realistic, affirming, and uplifting." — Kirkus Reviews,  starred review

Praise for Aven Green Sleuthing Machine :
“Bowling’s beloved “Life of a Cactus” protagonist returns in a new series of chapter books that capture her life as third grader. . . . Young readers will laugh aloud at Aven’s funny reactions . . . [and] they will be intrigued by the practical skills she has perfected. . . . This chapter book companion to Bowling’s well-loved middle-grade series is a recommended purchase.” — School Library Journal (Starred review)

Genres: Middle Grade, Sports, Chapter Books, Childrens

112 pages, Hardcover

Published April 4, 2023

About the author

DUSTI BOWLING is a USA Today and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of books for children of all ages.

Dusti's books have won the Reading the West Award, the Sakura Medal, a Golden Kite Honor, the William Allen White Children's Book Award, and have been nominated for a Cybil and over sixty state awards. Her books are Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selections and have been named best books of the year by the Chicago Public Library, Kirkus, Bank Street College of Education, A Mighty Girl, Shelf Awareness, and many more.

Dusti currently lives in Arizona with her husband and three daughters.

Visit her website at www.dustibowling.com

Reviews

[Aubrey]

I continue to be so impressed with how Bowling captures the voice and mindset of a 3rd grader. Aven is facing challenges and learning from them in ways that are so realistic and relatable. My daughter especially loves this book and has worked hard to incorporate the “booty trap” in her soccer games.

[Reading_ Tamishly]

Thank you, Union Square Kids, for the copy. It’s no surprise for me as I already knew I’d love LOVE this book as I have loved every book I have ever read by the author!

The representation is done so well and it’s time to normalise on how we behave with differently abled people, especially kids and younger people. I feel the other side characters and the adult characters are really awesome.

The series is about Aven who’s obsessed with soccer but she’s quite saddened when her dad (who’s also the coach) doesn’t pick her as the captain.

I feel young readers as well as adults reading along the book will learn a lot about how we can deal with real life issues when things do not go the way we want them to.

A very good story!

Now I am going to read the first two books in this series! I am going to gift myself and my family these books for Christmas!

[Heidi]

Aven loves to play soccer. Having no arms doesn't slow her down at all. In this fourth volume of the younger Aven series (she shows up as an 8th & 9th grader in Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus & Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus), Aven works to become team captain. With her father as the team coach, Aven figures she's got it made. But her unwillingness to share her ball skills and her tendency to boss around her teammates leaves her out when her father chooses her friend Kayla to be team captain. Her disappointment leads her to quit the team until she realizes just what it means to part of a team. Aven's enthusiasm makes her easy to root for in each of her adventures but she makes plenty of mistakes that lead to problems that need to be solved. Aven's disability doesn't stop her from doing things that her friends do, she just has to do them a bit differently. Thankfully Aven's family and friends are there to help her when she needs them. A fabulous series for young readers that highlights a main character who is differently abled but who struggles with many of the same things that most children do: sharing, being part of a team, listening to others, etc. A great addition to the series.

[Elizabeth]

Aven Green Soccer Machine is narrated by a 3rd-grade girl who has no arms but plenty of self-esteem. She tells the reader she is an expert soccer player and the best player she knows. She has her own secret moves, like the top secret booty trap. Aven's best friends are on her team, and she encourages her friend Sujata to join the team as well. When the new season starts, Aven's coach, who happens to be her father, announces that he will choose a team captain this year. The captain will be the girl who shows the best sportsmanship and most importantly, best supports and encourages her teammates. This is a bit of a challenge for Aven, but she is certain she will be named captain. After all, she is the best player on the team!
Dusti Bowling has written an entertaining, easy chapter book with some lessons on life included. I loved the soccer talk as I come from a family where all, except me, played, coached, and refereed soccer. Now my grade school-aged grandchildren play. I felt the soccer spirit was depicted well, down to playing "We Will Rock You" on the way to playing! Aven's family, Mom, Dad, and Great-grandma, is very loving and she is well supported in the life lessons with which she struggles. The book is highly inclusive in an unobtrusive manner. In addition to the disability of the main character, the other girls are of many ethnicities and races. Gina Perry's illustrations underscore this diversity by including blondes, brunettes, and redheads. Her drawings are lively and fun.
This book is one of many books about Aven, from her grade school years to high school. I have not read them all but the reviews are glowing for each one. Ms. Bowling is an author of substance. I intend to read more of her work!
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square Kids for this ARC.

[Tonja Drecker]

Aven Green has found her sport and brings enthusiasm while weaving the world of sportsmanship and friendship.

Aven is very good at soccer, and with her dad as the team's coach, is ready to take on the next seasons...if they had enough players. With a few new openings, she's thrilled when her more quiet friend decides to join the team. Soon, they're practicing and having tons of fun, but when it's announced that, this year, a team captain is going to be chosen, the competition goes up a notch and might bring problems with it.

I have read the first books in this series and enjoy Aven's spunk and energy. She's always a force to be reckoned with and carries a positive attitude as well. This book heads into her favorite sport, which was a nice following to the instrumental theme of book two...a wide variety! The plot changes up a bit as she's not diving into this activity for the first time, but rather already excels as her lack of arms doesn't pose a direct challenge (an aspect which is always woven in with amazing, natural finesse). So it's not a rehash of a similar situation time and again, which is great.

The book is set for those readers, who have a pretty good handle on their words but could use a little more practice before heading into lower middle grade novels. The font is a bit larger and the multitude of illustrations keeps everything more than enjoyable. The characters are fun and act as any kids would. This tale rotates around sportsmanship and knowing to recognize others' talents. I would have liked to have seen more soccer in this one and did find that Aven's dad heads a bit too preachy into some themes, but nothing that would hurt this read.

It's an enjoyable read, and I can't wait to see what Aven has up her sleeve next. I received an ARC and enjoyed every page.

[Greg S]

My seven-year-old picked this book rather randomly, but I was excited about the idea of exploring body types and inclusivity.

Not expecting much, I was delighted when the book turned out to be great!

I enjoyed the diversity of characters and their distinct personalities.

I enjoyed the plot and the problems that showed up for Aven Green

And I also thought each chapter was a good length and well-written.

My seven year old couldn’t follow everything but could summarize each chapter and could speak on what he enjoyed.

He is eager and asked me to find the next book in the series, which is a nice endorsement on the quality of the book.

Edit:

I’ll add these bits I found.

“I read about as many armless people online as I could find, and I relied heavily on YouTube videos, particularly videos created by a woman who goes by Tisha Unarmed…After writing my story, I reached out to Tisha and asked her if she would be willing to read my manuscript for authenticity. I was so relieved she loved the story.”

“Then a little while later I found out, through some pretty wild coincidence, that the woman in the original video I saw was Barbie Thomas, an armless bodybuilder who lived right in my own city. I reached out to her and she also agreed to read my story. I’m thrilled to say that she loved it as well.”

“I think the only way I could have possibly ensured the authenticity of this story was through these important sensitivity readings.”

[Angie]

This fun early chapter book is the third in the Aven Green series. Based on the middle grade series, Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by the same author, this early chapter book brings a fabulous character to younger readers. Aven, a third grade girl who was born with no arms, shows readers that physical disabilities can't stop hilarious, resilient and determined kids like her. In this installment, Aven learns that although she is an expert at soccer, having a friend join the team and sharing the spotlight is a good thing! At around 100 pages divided into 15 chapters including black and white illustrations, this book is the perfect length for early chapter book readers in the age 7-10 range. The font is large, accessible and well spaced, making this book look less daunting than middle grade texts. I would highly recommend this book to parents and teachers of children who are ready for chapter books and looking for a loveable, diverse character. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review this beautiful book!

[IrenesBookReviews]

This is book four in the Aven Green series by Dusti Bowling. You don't have to read the others to read this one, meaning you can read them in any order. The book starts out with Aven telling how she is special which was helpful and makes you want to keep reading. This story is about her ability to play soccer and how she interacts with her teammates. I liked that her dad was her coach and I really liked how he didn't treat her different than her teammates. I felt the book was real to life. I enjoyed the conversations and interactions between Aven and her friends/teammates. I think reading how a child with a disability can be a part of a team is a real encouragement to those with disabilities. I also think this book is great for children who don't have a disability to read as they will gain a fresh perspective.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Union Square Kids, for the temporary digital ARC that I read and gave my honest opinion of.

[Bethea Scovic]

This is the second Aven Green book that I have read. Aven is a spunky, confident little girl who just happens to not have arms. She loves taking on all kinds of challenges and, in this book, she shines as a super soccer player. Even though Aven is a fantastic soccer player, she has to learn what it means to be a leader and to have good sportsmanship.

This book is perfect for children in second through fifth grades who enjoy reading short chapter books. Kids will be able to relate to Aven and the lessons that she has to learn while growing up. The black and white illustrations that accompany the story help the reader to visualize the characters and to support comprehension. At the end of the book is a glossary of some new vocabulary words that are introduced in the story, such as 'feint' and ''sportsmanship'. I would recommend this book for a third grade classroom library.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #AvenGreenSoccerMachine by #DustiBowling

[Darla]

Soccer is Aven Green's most favorite game. It's a new season for her team the Sticker Kickers. Coach says it is time to choose a team captain. Since Aven is pretty sure she is the best player on the team AND her dad is the coach, she has little doubt she will be chosen. Was she listening when Coach told them what he is looking for the best team player, not the player with the best technique? If he doesn't choose Aven, maybe she should just quite the team? Chapter book readers will enjoy this fourth installment in the Aven Green series. Great-grandma tells an illuminating flamethrower story to help Aven make her decision. Included is a list of Aven's soccer words like flip-flap and stepover. The illustrations are numerous and filled with great details. In the next book, the Green family goes on vacation. Can't wait! 😎

[Kirsten Caldwell]

Aven Green can play soccer the same as everyone else because no one can use their arms - and Aven doesn't have any. When her dad, the coach, announces that he is going to be picking a team captain, Aven knows it will be her because she is the best player on the team. Turns out, Kayla gets chosen to be the team captain. Aven has to learn to be more of a team player and help the team shine instead of focusing on being the best player.
This book is full of great lessons like being a team player and helping boost others up. Sometimes, we don't get chosen for something we want, but we can still be happy for who gets chosen. I loved this story and kids who always ask for sports books will also love it.

[L Y N N]

Aven begins yelling at her teammates to make them "do better," thinking that is being a good team leader... But when her father (and team coach) names another teammate to be the "Captain," she decides to simply quit the soccer team. Though once again her patient parents and Great-grandma end up helping her realize that Kayla was a good choice for Team Captain... She ends up rejoining the team and her father, the coach decides after several instances of Aven proving herself to be truly helpful and setting a good example, she gets her own title!

Well done!! While Aven is never 'perfect', she proves to be capable of learning to be a better person! And really, that is all that can be expected of any of us, isn't it?!? 👏👏😁

[Pam]

I received an electronic ARC from Union Square Kids through both Edelweiss+ and NetGalley on the same day.
Aven is back and this time is a soccer master. Her skills help her team win games and she is happy to be the best player. Sadly, she needs to figure out how to be a team player along with her individual skills. Readers see her learn how to be the best team player and leader as she faces disappointment and growth.
Bowling continues to develop this character so readers see how she grew up to be the main character in the Life of a Cactus books. I appreciate the way she lets readers see Aven as Aven not Aven as disabled. This is an encouraging read for mid-elementary level readers.

[Dawn]

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy for review.

Aven Green is such a loveable character. She is a 3rd grader born without arms. But that does not stop her. In this fourth book of the series Aven shows off her expert soccer skills. When the team gets new players and Coach Dad announces that they will have a team captain Aven struggles to share the spotlight.

This would be a fantastic addition to any 3rd grade classroom. There is just the right balance of text and illustration. I also loved the addition of the glossary in the back.

[Ezra]

Aven Green’s newest adventure is soccer (and learning to be on a team and encourage each other). This book handles disappointment and supporting others in a relatable way.

The way that Dusti Bowling writes eight year olds feels authentic. Her writing is also very funny and makes me laugh every time. The Aven Green books are some of my favorite younger chapter books and it’s always exciting to see a new one come out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square Kids for making this available in exchange for an honest review!

[Heather]

Aven Green is one of my most favorite characters. I first “met” Aven in Insignificant Events in the life of a Cactus.
This was my first beginning chapter book. I’m so happy that my elementary students will be able to grow up with Aven throughout middle school.
Children will relate to Aven wanting to be the best and sometimes learning lessons from our mistakes. When characters grow and change in the story it gives hope that we don’t need to stay the way we are. That when we put others first, everyone wins.
Way to go Dusti!

[Danielle Hammelef]

This is another fantastic book in this series. I love Aven and her sense of humor as well as her character growth arc--it feels very authentically third-grader. I also enjoy Aven's family and how loving and supportive they are, including setting boundaries for Aven to learn how to be the best person she can be as well as letting Aven do things and learn by herself. Aven's friends are also well developed and all have different traits to set them apart. I have purchased every book in this series and hope there will be more books featuring Aven to come.

[Shannon]

This is the fourth book in the easy read middle grade series featuring Aven Green, a girl born without any arms. She loves to play soccer and this book focused on Aven learning how to be a good teammate and not just want to be the star of the team. A good book about cooperating and uplifting your teammates and being a good sport. It was good on audio and an excellent choice for Disability Pride Month. It can be read as a standalone even though it's the fourth in the series.

[Melissa]

I fell in love with Aven after reading Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus. This story is perfect for younger readers, and I love that it teaches kids about good sportsmanship in a fun story about a very lovable girl!

[Christine Barth]

Best mom line in a book...the thing that is best for you isn't always the thing that makes you the happiest. (My kids were annoyed that I kept repeating it).
Seriously, the kids loved it because it was funny and the parents loved it because Aven learns a great lesson about sportsmanship.

[David Rough]

Another good read for young readers from Dusti Bowling. Aven has no arms, but soccer is the best sport for her, and she is good at it. The book is more about character than it is about soccer. The message is more about friendships, sportsmanship, and leadership than it is about scoring goals.

[Evie]

It was my favorite out of the Aven green third grade books!

[Alyson]

Maybe 4.5, but still--I love Dusti Bowling!

[Gable Roth]

It seems like there might be another book in the series? Vacation Machine? Aven still learns valuable lessons. She is a good relatable role model for kids and adults.

[Christine Linn]

Read this with my 9yo and she gives it 5 stars for the plot, theme of friendship, and for the lessons learned by the main character.

[Melodie Ferrin]

Some great lessons about teamwork and learning how to humble yourself, especially in sports. I like how each of these books for younger readers all involve an activity that ties in with the middle grade novels. They don’t feel like an endless series where Aven is just put into a bunch of different situations. These books are meaningful and important.