Dusti Bowling

Reading level: grades 3-5

Independent Reading Level: ‎3 - 7 grades

Awards: A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Texas Lone Star Reading List

Main Student Book Award nominee

Nebraska Golden Sower Award nominee

California Young Reader Medal nominee

South Carolina Book Award nominee

Missouri Truman Award nominee

Across the Desert is a gripping story of friendship & determination. Readers meet twelve-year old Jolene as she watches her favorite livestream “The Desert Aviator” that captures the real-time aerial adventures of twelve-year old “Addie Earhart”. Suddenly, Addie’s airplane stalls, she falls from the sky and lands somewhere in the scorching hot desert. Jolene, whose mother struggles with opioid addiction, embarks on solo rescue mission to find her only friend.

Born without arms, Aven unearths a mystery in a rundown theme park and discovers she has just what she needs. “Charming and memorable.” ­-SLJ, starred review