Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

“I suppose if they had always done everything for me, I would be helpless without them. But they didn’t, and I’m not.” 

From the opening pages, Aven expresses her self-sufficiency and credits her parents with teaching her to be independent. Aven is confident in her ability to do anything. This quote highlights Aven’s can-do personality and the theme of the importance of family support.

“By the time we arrived, Dad’s eyes looked like Atomic Fireballs and Mom’s hair looked like she’d taken a spin in a hairspray cyclone.”

Aven frequently peppers her colorful descriptions with comical similes, revealing both her creative imagination and her sense of humor.

“Before I’d walked five steps, I got my first look.”

Aven is sensitive to the different types of stares she gets from other people that make her feel self-conscious and excluded. Looks are an important symbol, representing the challenge that Aven and others with disabilities face in getting others to accept their differences.