Across the Desert

About This Audiobook

*Across the Desert* isn’t just another middle-grade adventure—it’s a love letter to the weird, wonderful kids who turn obsession into lifelines. Jolene, a sharp-witted 12-year-old glued to her library’s spotty Wi-Fi, lives vicariously through Addie Earhart, a fearless ultralight pilot broadcasting her desert flights online. When a crisis forces Jolene to swap screens for real-world action, the story soars beyond clichéd "find your courage" tropes. Dusti Bowling crafts a narrative that’s equal parts *Hatchet* and *Ghost*, where survival isn’t just about the wilderness but the emotional deserts kids navigate daily.

Stacy Gonzalez’s narration is the audiobook’s secret weapon: her Jolene crackles with sarcastic humor, while Addie’s voice carries the breathless thrill of someone who’s *actually* 10,000 feet above the Sonoran Desert. The production leans into ambient sounds—distant propeller hums, static-laced livestreams—that immerse listeners without gimmickry. What sets this apart? It’s a rare adventure where the "action" is as much about decoding adult lies as outrunning coyotes, and the stakes feel painfully real for kids who’ve ever been told they’re "too much" or "not enough."

"review": "I’ll admit: I rolled my eyes at first. *Another* plucky kid overcoming odds? But *Across the Desert* disarmed me within chapters. Jolene’s voice—sharp, funny, and heartbreakingly self-aware—feels plucked from a real sixth-grader’s diary. When she lies to her mom about where she’s going, it’s not some noble quest; it’s the desperate move of a kid who’s learned adults only hear what they want. Bowling’s dialogue nails that pre-teen rhythm where every conversation is a negotiation, and Gonzalez’s performance sells it. Her Addie is all sunburned confidence, while Jolene’s internal monologue drips with the kind of sarcasm that’ll make parents wince and kids cheer.

The plot’s pacing is where things get tricky. The first half hums along with Jolene’s library-bound routine, but the shift to survival mode feels abrupt—almost like Bowling *wanted* us to whiplash between boredom and terror, mirroring Jolene’s own disorientation. It works, but the desert survival sequences occasionally drag with repetitive obstacles (so. many. cacti.). That said, the payoff—a friendship forged in mutual weirdness—lands beautifully. The audiobook’s production shines in quiet moments: the way Gonzalez’s voice cracks when Jolene’s fear peaks, or how the livestream scenes layer Addie’s distant chatter over Jolene’s real-time panic. My only real gripe? The ending wraps up *too* neatly for a story that otherwise thrives on messy realism. Still, it’s a small flaw in an audiobook that understands kids better than most—flaws, obsessions, and all.

If you’ve got a listener who’s ever felt like an outsider—or just loves stories where the hero’s superpower is *not* being the chosen one—this is your pick. Just maybe keep a snack handy; the desert scenes will make you thirsty.