Cover Image: Aven Green Soccer Machine

Aven Green Soccer Machine

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Member Reviews

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!

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I love the Aven books! In this story, I appreciated how Aven struggled to share the limelight with her peers and didn't get the happy ending she was hoping for - being named captain of the team. I think students need more stories that show that life doesn't always happen perfectly and to see models of people who don't react perfectly when things don't go according to their plan. Bravo, Dusti, for taking a chance to show readers how to fix things when at first they've reacted poorly.

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My students absolutely love Aven Green! I was excited to get a chance to read the newest book and even more excited that it has a soccer focus. Soccer is the great unifier in our diverse school so I think this would be a high interest title in my classroom.

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Another great Aven Green book. This time our wonderful Aven in playing soccer. She wants to earn the spot of team captain, but has a lot to learn about being a leader. A great read on learning how to be part of a team and the importance of teamwork.

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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!

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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!

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I received an electronic ARC from Union Square Kids through NetGalley.
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.

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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!

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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

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I’m a huge fan of Aven Green. What I love most about this story is that her limb difference is incidental. The real point of the story is to teach a lesson in sportsmanship and that goal was met.

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Another fabulous Aven Green book by Dusti Bowling! Aven is very proud of her soccer skills and she is certain her dad (who coaches her team) will choose her to be the team's captain. Aven works hard to show off her soccer skills and "lead" the team by yelling at her peers. She learns a hard lesson that being a leader doesn't mean being the boss. This book is great for young readers. Not only will they love continuing the Aven series, but they will learn so much about being mature and working as a team. I will definitely purchase this for my son AND for my third grade classroom!

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Another fun filled Aven Green book that will have you smiling. Aven’s dad is the soccer coach for Aven and her team, and Sujata and Ana are two new players who have joined the team of friends. Dad wants Aven to show Sujata the stopover, a special play only Aven knows. Aven shows her but not as well as she could have. Dad thinks it’s time for a team captain, and when Aven isn’t chosen she is disappointed and wants to quit the team. Mom agrees with dad and tells Aven you can learn from this. This “will help you grow up to be the best person you can be.” Does Aven decide to stay on the team? Can she be a team player? Can’t wait for the fifth Aven book!

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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