57 pages • 1 hour read
Dusti Bowling24 Hours In Nowhere
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2018A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Background
Cultural Context: Poverty in Rural Arizona
As reported in the 2020 census, Arizona’s population totals just over 7.1 million. Most of this population—89.3%—resides in urban hubs like Phoenix, Tucson, and Mesa. The remaining 10.7% live in mostly rural areas, situated in the wide, canyon-marked deserts typical of the Arizona landscape (“U.S. Census Updates: Arizona’s Rural Population.” The University of Arizona). These rural communities often suffer for their remoteness. For instance, residents in over 36% of rural tracts must travel at least 10 miles for reliable access to a grocery store. The rural counties Navajo, Apache, and Yuma suffer from the highest rates of food insecurity statewide (“Food Access in Rural Arizona.” The University of Arizona, 31 May 2022).
In a similar example of inequity, high school students in rural Arizona are graduating at one of the lowest rates in the US, hindered by scant funding and overburdened faculty (“The State of Arizona’s Rural Schools.” Save Our Schools Arizona Network). These challenging circumstances—often compounded by poor healthcare, outdated infrastructure, and a weak job market—critically limit opportunities for success: In rural Arizona, the poverty rate is 22.5%, compared to 12.4% in urban areas (“Rural Health for Arizona Overview.” Rural Health Information Hub).
The context of poverty in rural Arizona plays a pivotal role in 24 Hours in Nowhere, shaping the characters’ lives and perspectives. The fictional town of Nowhere, Arizona, is a small desert community that exemplifies the hardships faced by many rural areas in the state. Gus describes Nowhere as a community that struggles with poverty, and the characters’ lives are circumscribed by this. Gus is so desperate to leave the town with its limited prospects that he has already mastered test prep materials for the SAT even though he is just 13. Likewise, Rossi is keen to win the dirt-bike race because this will offer her opportunities beyond the town. Her home situation reflects the social aspects of poverty: Her father is forced to work two jobs to provide for them, leaving him no time to connect with his daughter. The town’s lack of economic prospects affects every aspect of its residents’ lives.
Geographical Context: Arizona’s Desert Landscape
Arizona is geographically defined by its picturesque deserts, and it’s the only state in the union to boast four distinct desert regions: the Sonoran, Mohave, Chihuahuan, and Great Basin. Together, these deserts occupy over 45% of Arizona’s territory, housing a range of flora and fauna, from cougars to rattlesnakes to saguaro cacti (“Desertscrub Overview.” Arizona Wildlife Conservation Strategy). Weather patterns vary by region, but the southwestern desert is characteristically warm: In the summer, daytime temperatures average between 105˚F and 115˚F (“Climate of Arizona.” Arizona State Climate Office). While the desert has its own picturesque beauty, it is a harsh environment to live in, as experienced by the characters in 24 Hours in Nowhere. Gus struggles against its extreme heat as well as its flora and fauna, like cacti and rattlesnakes. This mirrors his fight against his personal and economic challenges, with the desert symbolizing the difficulty of his circumstances.
In addition to its deserts, Arizona is also well-known for its rich geology, boasting an abundance of copper, silver, and precious stones. Mining has always occupied Arizona’s settlers: Indigenous peoples, like the Hokoham, Patayan, and Mogollon tribes, mined these valuable resources, bequeathing a similar skill to their descendants. Non-Indigenous people, from the colonial Spanish to later American settlers, organized their own mining operations. In the 1860s, Arizona enjoyed its own small gold rush, and a decade later, a silver boom significantly swelled its population. Today, Arizona still boasts a competitive mining industry, supplying much of the nation’s copper (“History of Mining in Arizona.” Arizona Historical Society).
However, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) estimates that about 200,000 mines are currently abandoned, presenting a significant hazard to many of Arizona’s communities (“Arizona Abandoned Mine Lands Program.” Bureau of Land Management). These mines are typically fenced off, and the BLM warns against exploration. Gus and his group of friends decide to explore one such abandoned mine in their quest for lost treasure. Despite its dangers, the characters are drawn to the mine out of necessity.
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