24 Hours in Nowhere
Books | Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General
4.2
(92)
Dusti Bowling
"Reminiscent of Louis Sachar's Holes with its quirky characters and unique desert setting, this is a middle-grade read that will easily transport readers somewhere special." --School Library Journal (Starred review) When you come from Nowhere, can you ever really make it anywhere? Author Dusti Bowling (Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus) returns to the desert to create a gripping story about friendship, hope, and finding the power we all have within ourselves. Welcome to Nowhere, Arizona, the least livable town in the United States. For Gus, a bright 13-year-old with dreams of getting out and going to college, life there is made even worse by Bo Taylor, Nowhere's biggest, baddest bully. When Bo tries to force Gus to eat a dangerously spiny cactus, Rossi Scott, one of the best racers in Nowhere, comes to his rescue--but in return she has to give Bo her prized dirt bike. Determined to buy it back, Gus agrees to go searching for gold in Dead Frenchman Mine, joined by his old friends Jessie Navarro and Matthew Dufort, and Rossi herself. As they hunt for treasure, narrowly surviving everything from cave-ins to mountain lions, they bond over shared stories of how hard life in Nowhere is--and they realize this adventure just may be their way out.
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More Details:
Author
Dusti Bowling
Pages
260
Publisher
Sterling Children's Books
Published Date
2018
ISBN
1454929243 9781454929246
Community ReviewsSee all
"As I was reading this book, I was reminded strongly of Holes by Louis Sachar. Holes is brilliantly executed and not many books come close to its level of complexity. The similarities between 24 Hours in Nowhere and Holes are as follows: a hot and dry setting, kids finding a connection to their ancestors and to each other, and treasure hunting..<br/><br/>There is a bully, and the anti-bullying message is a strong theme in this book. There are several parts in which readers really need to suspend reality. Children do something dangerously foolish (going into a mine that is known for having caved in more than once, searching for treasure). All but one parent/guardian is noticeably absent. There are mentions of child abuse, and abandonment is another important theme. Overall, this is a story of overcoming prejudices and building friendships, of teamwork, of triumph over hardships and working towards goals."
Jennifer D
"I’m not sure I love the whole book!"
Bella Ghviniashvili
"This is a really good read if you're bored, or on a car ride. It's that type of book that has a good story line and can be finished in an hour, but you still feel like you were satisfied with the ending! ✨🌻☺️♥️"
Sam Baker