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Reviewed by: Taylor Coonelly, Elementary School Librarian Title: Dust Author: Dusti Bowling Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 4-6 Genre/Type of Book: Magical Realism
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Bullying, Abuse Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I was intrigued by the synopsis If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: Heartfelt and magical |
Review:
As an infant, Avalyn nearly died from an asthma attack. For the last 10 years, Avalyn has been able to manage her asthma in the dry Arizona air - until Adam appears mid-school year. Avalyn and her best friends Dillon and Nan have been the targets of cruel middle school bullies, but they turn their attention to quiet Adam. As Avalyn attempts to get to know him, she begins to notices that his changing moods reflect the dust storms that have been plaguing her hometown, and that a sinister black dust cloud looms as Adam returns home from school. Can Avalyn stand up for her friends while keeping herself alive and breathing?
This book was incredibly written and fast paced, and while the author embedded a magical element, the characters/ situations/settings felt realistic. This book focuses on themes of friendship, bullying, and courage, but I also should note that their are instances of assault by bullies and mentions of abuse (though there is no deep detail for the reader). I think that the cover design is interesting, with Avalyn at the front and an outline of a person in dust behind her - and I think that kids would be interested. I'm not sure of what curriculum connections could be made, but I do think this book would lend itself nicely to conversations about bullying and being an upstander and not a bystander.
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Find more about Dust on Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publishers Website
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