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Bloemetje: a speculative retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s Thumbelina fairy tale
One miniature girl leads her human and fairy people to decolonize Venus in this speculative, queer-inclusive reimagining of Thumbelina.
A Dutch company known as The Bedrijf commences colonizing Venus via the construction of a dome filled with plants that convert its natural air into something breathable by humans. Since all workers are granted permission to bear a child, a woman and her spouse join the crew. But the woman soon discovers she is plagued with infertility. When her spouse illegally brings home a tulip from the garden, they discover a miniature baby inside who they name Bloemetje - little bloom. As the baby grows in mere days into a teenager, pushing her boundaries, she illuminates the true horrors of colonization and leads them all on a journey to decolonize.
This retelling takes the original Thumbelina’s focus on marriage and flips it on its head, granting the miniature girl a strong voice of her own and questioning her removal from the fairy world. Exploring themes of childlessness, adoption, being childfree by choice, colonization, decolonization, negative impacts of capitalism, and what LGBTQIA+ inclusive societies can look like, this novelette comes in 17 bite-sized episodes perfect for reading in the small snippets of time available to modern individuals and families.
Early readers called this “transporting” and “intriguing.” The “journey is beautiful,” and the ending is “deeply satisfying.” “A great escape read that also made me think, and it’s both quick and engrossing.”
*A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, a Native American-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
A Dutch company known as The Bedrijf commences colonizing Venus via the construction of a dome filled with plants that convert its natural air into something breathable by humans. Since all workers are granted permission to bear a child, a woman and her spouse join the crew. But the woman soon discovers she is plagued with infertility. When her spouse illegally brings home a tulip from the garden, they discover a miniature baby inside who they name Bloemetje - little bloom. As the baby grows in mere days into a teenager, pushing her boundaries, she illuminates the true horrors of colonization and leads them all on a journey to decolonize.
This retelling takes the original Thumbelina’s focus on marriage and flips it on its head, granting the miniature girl a strong voice of her own and questioning her removal from the fairy world. Exploring themes of childlessness, adoption, being childfree by choice, colonization, decolonization, negative impacts of capitalism, and what LGBTQIA+ inclusive societies can look like, this novelette comes in 17 bite-sized episodes perfect for reading in the small snippets of time available to modern individuals and families.
Early readers called this “transporting” and “intriguing.” The “journey is beautiful,” and the ending is “deeply satisfying.” “A great escape read that also made me think, and it’s both quick and engrossing.”
*A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, a Native American-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
- GenresFantasy
73 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 18, 2023
2 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Amanda McNeil
3 books51 followersAmanda McNeil (she/her) is a queer author writing at the intersection of speculative fiction, romance, and hope. Her stories center healing, resilience, and connection—with a touch of the weird, the magical, and the transformative. She lives in New England with her spouse and their talkative tortie, where she’s always making something: a novel, a notebook, a crocheted donut snake, or even planting a tree.
You can find Amanda online at opinionsofawolf.com
, where she shares thoughtful book reviews (she no longer shares them here), on Acutely Amanda, where she reads short fiction and chronicles her crafting escapades, or on Instagram, where she offers wit for readers, authors, and makers alike. Subscribe to her newsletter, Dispatches from the Den, for monthly updates, sneak peeks, and cozy creative inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
You can find Amanda online at opinionsofawolf.com
, where she shares thoughtful book reviews (she no longer shares them here), on Acutely Amanda, where she reads short fiction and chronicles her crafting escapades, or on Instagram, where she offers wit for readers, authors, and makers alike. Subscribe to her newsletter, Dispatches from the Den, for monthly updates, sneak peeks, and cozy creative inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 13, 2023
It’s been a while since I’ve interacted with any version of Thumbelina, but when I got an email asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing Bloemetje, I knew I wanted to try this Thumbelina retelling out and see how it goes!
The story of Bloemetje is very interesting. We follow two unnamed humans who work and live on Venus, trying to make the planet inhabitable for humanity in the future. One day, they find a baby inside a tulip, and they raise her as their own until the day she goes out and learns of where she came from.
One of the very first things I enjoyed seeing in this book was the way these parents had to deal with their love of Bloemetje versus letting her be her own person and explore the world. Of course, Bloemetje’s parents want to be sure she is safe, but does that mean its okay to lock her up and hide her from the world? Or does her right as a person–a living, thinking being–mean more, even if she may get into trouble and have difficulties in the world around her?
Bloemetje’s adventures throughout this book were also very interesting to see. As Bloemetje travels away from her parents, she meets a group of flower fairies, like her, and learns about where she came from and why she is different from her parents. She also meets the people native to Venus and learns of how the human’s relocation to the planet is harming their way of life.
One thing I really enjoyed throughout this book was the way certain terms and phrases were integrated into the story. I am, in general, not a very big fan of books that take a second to explain words that can easily be looked up online, but with this book introducing it’s own world and life on Venus, there were a lot of words that needed a definition! Rather than taking a second to stop the story and pull readers out of the plot, however, this book includes a linked glossary at the back, which I thought was a very interesting and well-thought-out inclusion. When readers find a word they don’t understand in the ebook, they can tap on it to be taken immediately to that word’s definition at the back of the book, and then tap on a link inside the glossary to be taken right back to where they were in the story! This really helps readers learn what they need to know without taking them out of the experience of this book.
However, even with all these things I liked in the book, there were also a few things I disliked.
For one, I will admit that I am generally not a fan of novellas. I’ve felt that most of the novellas I have read are too short and could easily be full length novels if the author included more, and I feel the exact same way with Bloemetje. There are so many interesting details and concepts throughout this novella that I think confining it to such a short story makes it feel a little awkward, especially near the end as the humans find out about these cultures they have unwittingly been living with.
I also found the inclusion of religion to be weirdly placed. There are quite a few characters who talk about god and “god’s will”, but with so many different races and cultures throughout this book, I found myself a little confused by what this meant for the worldbuilding. Do all the characters follow the same religion? Even the native people of Venus? Even humans on Earth can’t decide on a god everyone should worship, but somehow, that god made it through space!
I definitely enjoyed my time with Bloemetje and seeing the way this story could be taken to a different planet, but I do wish I had gotten a little bit more out of this book.
The story of Bloemetje is very interesting. We follow two unnamed humans who work and live on Venus, trying to make the planet inhabitable for humanity in the future. One day, they find a baby inside a tulip, and they raise her as their own until the day she goes out and learns of where she came from.
One of the very first things I enjoyed seeing in this book was the way these parents had to deal with their love of Bloemetje versus letting her be her own person and explore the world. Of course, Bloemetje’s parents want to be sure she is safe, but does that mean its okay to lock her up and hide her from the world? Or does her right as a person–a living, thinking being–mean more, even if she may get into trouble and have difficulties in the world around her?
Bloemetje’s adventures throughout this book were also very interesting to see. As Bloemetje travels away from her parents, she meets a group of flower fairies, like her, and learns about where she came from and why she is different from her parents. She also meets the people native to Venus and learns of how the human’s relocation to the planet is harming their way of life.
One thing I really enjoyed throughout this book was the way certain terms and phrases were integrated into the story. I am, in general, not a very big fan of books that take a second to explain words that can easily be looked up online, but with this book introducing it’s own world and life on Venus, there were a lot of words that needed a definition! Rather than taking a second to stop the story and pull readers out of the plot, however, this book includes a linked glossary at the back, which I thought was a very interesting and well-thought-out inclusion. When readers find a word they don’t understand in the ebook, they can tap on it to be taken immediately to that word’s definition at the back of the book, and then tap on a link inside the glossary to be taken right back to where they were in the story! This really helps readers learn what they need to know without taking them out of the experience of this book.
However, even with all these things I liked in the book, there were also a few things I disliked.
For one, I will admit that I am generally not a fan of novellas. I’ve felt that most of the novellas I have read are too short and could easily be full length novels if the author included more, and I feel the exact same way with Bloemetje. There are so many interesting details and concepts throughout this novella that I think confining it to such a short story makes it feel a little awkward, especially near the end as the humans find out about these cultures they have unwittingly been living with.
I also found the inclusion of religion to be weirdly placed. There are quite a few characters who talk about god and “god’s will”, but with so many different races and cultures throughout this book, I found myself a little confused by what this meant for the worldbuilding. Do all the characters follow the same religion? Even the native people of Venus? Even humans on Earth can’t decide on a god everyone should worship, but somehow, that god made it through space!
I definitely enjoyed my time with Bloemetje and seeing the way this story could be taken to a different planet, but I do wish I had gotten a little bit more out of this book.
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May 30, 2023 thank you to the author for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
What an interesting little read this was! I have to admit, BLOEMETJE is not exactly the kind of thing that I would normally read, but I could still appreciate it for what it is. Amanda McNeil has put together an incredibly interesting world rife with parallel social commentary. It straddles the line between fairytale-retelling, and futuristic science fiction, reminding me of childhood memories of watching the movies Wall-E and Barbie: Thumbelina (fitting since this is inspired by Thumbelina). For those who enjoy queer, speculative fiction, this is one to check out.
For me, the most interesting aspect of this was the world, though I wish it’d been given more time to develop along with the eventual conclusion of this novella. In the author’s note, McNeil explains why she’s chosen a futuristic Dutch-inspired world to tell this story of environmental colonialism. Earth, or Aarde, is no longer habitable, so corporations have moved people, or workers, to a new planet in order to live. That life is compromised by the aforementioned corporation who is more worried about profits than people (sound familiar??). McNeil has taken nearly the reality that we live in, and placed it in a science fiction setting, telling it through the story of Thumbelina.
This novella was a pretty easy read overall, though it does require some checking of a linked glossary to understand several terms exactly. I had a few issues with the overall pacing and the development of character relationships beyond being told the development of character relationships. I also would have loved to see the world and the conclusion see more development at the end of the day.
Overall, I think this was an interesting novella, and a good addition to queer, futuristic science-fiction, or for middle-grade readers grappling with the topics of queerness, colonialism, and the environment.
What an interesting little read this was! I have to admit, BLOEMETJE is not exactly the kind of thing that I would normally read, but I could still appreciate it for what it is. Amanda McNeil has put together an incredibly interesting world rife with parallel social commentary. It straddles the line between fairytale-retelling, and futuristic science fiction, reminding me of childhood memories of watching the movies Wall-E and Barbie: Thumbelina (fitting since this is inspired by Thumbelina). For those who enjoy queer, speculative fiction, this is one to check out.
For me, the most interesting aspect of this was the world, though I wish it’d been given more time to develop along with the eventual conclusion of this novella. In the author’s note, McNeil explains why she’s chosen a futuristic Dutch-inspired world to tell this story of environmental colonialism. Earth, or Aarde, is no longer habitable, so corporations have moved people, or workers, to a new planet in order to live. That life is compromised by the aforementioned corporation who is more worried about profits than people (sound familiar??). McNeil has taken nearly the reality that we live in, and placed it in a science fiction setting, telling it through the story of Thumbelina.
This novella was a pretty easy read overall, though it does require some checking of a linked glossary to understand several terms exactly. I had a few issues with the overall pacing and the development of character relationships beyond being told the development of character relationships. I also would have loved to see the world and the conclusion see more development at the end of the day.
Overall, I think this was an interesting novella, and a good addition to queer, futuristic science-fiction, or for middle-grade readers grappling with the topics of queerness, colonialism, and the environment.
August 22, 2023
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Thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!
🌷 An evocative futuristic retelling of Thumbelina from a queer, intersectional feminist lens.
💬 "Bloemetje" (2023) by Amanda McNeil is a novella set in a human colony in Venus, where a Dutch company has built a dome filled with plants to make the air breathable. Due to pollution and corporate greed, Earth is on its rapid way to becoming unlivable, with many common species already extinct and population growth being tightly controlled. Since people who sign up to work at the Venus colony are allowed to have a child, a couple decides to enlist, but they discover that they’re infertile. Then, one day, the spouse brings home a tulip to cheer up their wife - and they discover a tiny baby inside.
Bloemetje grows in size and curiosity with her adoptive parents, until she discovers her fairy kin… and what the Venus colony has cost to its rightful inhabitants.
👉 This was a really interesting, unique spin on a fairy tale. The original concept of Thumbelina was used to explore issues of infertility grief, adoption, identity, and choosing to be child-free, in a sensitive way. While Bloemetje finds love, it’s not with a tulip fairy prince, and her happily ever after doesn’t involve marriage.
Those aspects also intersected with the fantasy elements of the original story to talk about colonization/decolonization, capitalism and environmentalism by having Bloemetje discover that the settlement is impacting indigenous life on Venus, and choosing to do something about it.
✨ This novella is out now, and a portion of proceeds goes to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness.
Thanks to the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review!
🌷 An evocative futuristic retelling of Thumbelina from a queer, intersectional feminist lens.
💬 "Bloemetje" (2023) by Amanda McNeil is a novella set in a human colony in Venus, where a Dutch company has built a dome filled with plants to make the air breathable. Due to pollution and corporate greed, Earth is on its rapid way to becoming unlivable, with many common species already extinct and population growth being tightly controlled. Since people who sign up to work at the Venus colony are allowed to have a child, a couple decides to enlist, but they discover that they’re infertile. Then, one day, the spouse brings home a tulip to cheer up their wife - and they discover a tiny baby inside.
Bloemetje grows in size and curiosity with her adoptive parents, until she discovers her fairy kin… and what the Venus colony has cost to its rightful inhabitants.
👉 This was a really interesting, unique spin on a fairy tale. The original concept of Thumbelina was used to explore issues of infertility grief, adoption, identity, and choosing to be child-free, in a sensitive way. While Bloemetje finds love, it’s not with a tulip fairy prince, and her happily ever after doesn’t involve marriage.
Those aspects also intersected with the fantasy elements of the original story to talk about colonization/decolonization, capitalism and environmentalism by having Bloemetje discover that the settlement is impacting indigenous life on Venus, and choosing to do something about it.
✨ This novella is out now, and a portion of proceeds goes to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness.
September 13, 2023
This is a thought-provoking retelling of Thumbelina with a compelling and fun twist. In this modernized story, I fell in love with Bloemetje. A cute and strong fairy that was unknowingly taken from her people and raised by a human couple. What happens next will melt your heart. This is a well-written, inspiring story with so many aspects that I can’t say much more without giving it all away. But I loved it so much, and I am sure everyone else will also.
*A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, a Native American-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
*A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, a Native American-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
December 9, 2024
The style isn't quite too my liking. First, it really doesn't feel like Sci-Fi, just aside to a dome on Venus. A few pages later it sounds like they are any where but outer space. Second, the fact that Bloemtje's parents didn't deserve names annoyed me (it was style choice, not one controlled by the society). I get it's suppose to be a fable but it didn't work.
December 26, 2023
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages Bloemetje
A group of humans have left Earth to terraform the planet Venus. Placing a dome around a suitable piece of land, they’ve introduced vegetation that will allow them a breathable atmosphere. But what they never took into consideration is the destruction they are doing in the process. While humans are beginning to thrive, the native species are slowly but surely losing their natural resources.
Bloemetje not only addresses the themes of colonization but many other important topics such as adoption and inclusive LGBTQ+ society. The story first focuses on a woman and her partner. While many of her fellow humans are beginning to show signs of pregnancy, she and her partner are facing infertility. Her mental health begins to spiral as the realization of it begins to surface. At one of her lowest moments, her partner brings home a tulip in an effort to lift her spirits. And from that tulip Bloemetje is born. A tiny baby girl, no bigger than their thumb.
The story will shift to Bloemetje's point of view, as she tries to understand the world around her. Kept in secret, she can only catch glimpses of the world from time to time. Amanda McNeil did a fantastic job showing a child’s need to grow and explore with Bloemetje's curiosity. The little girl asks questions and her need to know more about the world around her is as charming as it is dangerous. And though there are threats of greater conflict and disagreements between Bloemetje and her adopted parents, the story does not portray immediate conflict often.
This retelling of Thumbelina has such a wonderful goal. To bring light to the difficulties many face in the world. Amanda McNeil uses a fairytale style to tactfully address these issues in a sensitive way. Each episodic chapter is easy to digest and allows the reader time to take breaks in the event anything is triggering. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, give Bloemetje a read.
A group of humans have left Earth to terraform the planet Venus. Placing a dome around a suitable piece of land, they’ve introduced vegetation that will allow them a breathable atmosphere. But what they never took into consideration is the destruction they are doing in the process. While humans are beginning to thrive, the native species are slowly but surely losing their natural resources.
Bloemetje not only addresses the themes of colonization but many other important topics such as adoption and inclusive LGBTQ+ society. The story first focuses on a woman and her partner. While many of her fellow humans are beginning to show signs of pregnancy, she and her partner are facing infertility. Her mental health begins to spiral as the realization of it begins to surface. At one of her lowest moments, her partner brings home a tulip in an effort to lift her spirits. And from that tulip Bloemetje is born. A tiny baby girl, no bigger than their thumb.
The story will shift to Bloemetje's point of view, as she tries to understand the world around her. Kept in secret, she can only catch glimpses of the world from time to time. Amanda McNeil did a fantastic job showing a child’s need to grow and explore with Bloemetje's curiosity. The little girl asks questions and her need to know more about the world around her is as charming as it is dangerous. And though there are threats of greater conflict and disagreements between Bloemetje and her adopted parents, the story does not portray immediate conflict often.
This retelling of Thumbelina has such a wonderful goal. To bring light to the difficulties many face in the world. Amanda McNeil uses a fairytale style to tactfully address these issues in a sensitive way. Each episodic chapter is easy to digest and allows the reader time to take breaks in the event anything is triggering. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, give Bloemetje a read.
December 24, 2023
Thank you, Amanda McNeil, for giving me a copy of the book in exchange for a fair review!
In a Dutch-inspired futuristic world, Bloemetje begins with a couple who have a child in an odd way: by finding a miniature baby inside a tulip. Soon, their world unfurls as their fairy daughter grows and learns the truth of a world full of colonization, capitalism, and magic.
Bloemetje is a retelling of the classic story of Thumbelina. The language throughout does still have that classic fairytale rhythm to it.
Despite how short the novella is, the characters throughout really stand on their own. I enjoyed Bloemetje’s strength and forwardness, and Oppas was such a kind, gentle elder. Each character was a joy to read about.
I also really enjoyed all the difficult topics this book discusses, including: colonization, childlessness/infertility, capitalism, and climate impacted by humans. Despite it being such a short book, it discussed these topics well.
The main thing I wanted was just more. More time for characters to develop on the page. More worldbuilding. More details. Even though novellas are short, I felt like the author still had some room to expand on the story and showcase the world more. Especially since it wasn’t even a hundred pages.
Overall, I enjoyed this novella, and I’m glad I got the chance to read it.
In a Dutch-inspired futuristic world, Bloemetje begins with a couple who have a child in an odd way: by finding a miniature baby inside a tulip. Soon, their world unfurls as their fairy daughter grows and learns the truth of a world full of colonization, capitalism, and magic.
Bloemetje is a retelling of the classic story of Thumbelina. The language throughout does still have that classic fairytale rhythm to it.
Despite how short the novella is, the characters throughout really stand on their own. I enjoyed Bloemetje’s strength and forwardness, and Oppas was such a kind, gentle elder. Each character was a joy to read about.
I also really enjoyed all the difficult topics this book discusses, including: colonization, childlessness/infertility, capitalism, and climate impacted by humans. Despite it being such a short book, it discussed these topics well.
The main thing I wanted was just more. More time for characters to develop on the page. More worldbuilding. More details. Even though novellas are short, I felt like the author still had some room to expand on the story and showcase the world more. Especially since it wasn’t even a hundred pages.
Overall, I enjoyed this novella, and I’m glad I got the chance to read it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews