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The Overthrow #1
Bloom
The invasion begins--but not as you'd expect. It begins with rain. Rain that carries seeds. Seeds that sprout--overnight, everywhere. These new plants take over crop fields, twine up houses, and burrow below streets. They bloom--and release toxic pollens. They bloom--and form Venus flytrap-like pods that swallow animals and people. They bloom--everywhere, unstoppable.
Or are they? Three kids on a remote island seem immune to the toxic plants. Anaya, Petra, Seth. They each have strange allergies--and yet not to these plants. What's their secret? Can they somehow be the key to beating back this invasion? They'd better figure it out fast, because it's starting to rain again....
Or are they? Three kids on a remote island seem immune to the toxic plants. Anaya, Petra, Seth. They each have strange allergies--and yet not to these plants. What's their secret? Can they somehow be the key to beating back this invasion? They'd better figure it out fast, because it's starting to rain again....
313 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2020
293 people are currently reading
5070 people want to read
About the author
Kenneth Oppel
84 books2,725 followersI was born in 1967 in Port Alberni, a mill town on Vancouver Island, British Columbia but spent the bulk of my childhood in Victoria, B.C. and on the opposite coast, in Halifax, Nova Scotia...At around twelve I decided I wanted to be a writer (this came after deciding I wanted to be a scientist, and then an architect). I started out writing sci-fi epics (my Star Wars phase) then went on to swords and sorcery tales (my Dungeons and Dragons phase) and then, during the summer holiday when I was fourteen, started on a humorous story about a boy addicted to video games (written, of course, during my video game phase). It turned out to be quite a long story, really a short novel, and I rewrote it the next summer. We had a family friend who knew Roald Dahl - one of my favourite authors - and this friend offered to show Dahl my story. I was paralysed with excitement. I never heard back from Roald Dahl directly, but he read my story, and liked it enough to pass on to his own literary agent. I got a letter from them, saying they wanted to take me on, and try to sell my story. And they did.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 788 reviews
June 3, 2020
fulfilling book riot's 2020 read harder challenge task #20: Read a middle grade book that doesn’t take place in the U.S. or the UK
i read this at what i felt was an appropriate pace, and i could and did put it down, so now i'm worried that i may be a grouch. how can you tell when you've crossed over?
i barely read any middle grade, but this seemed like it would be right up my alley. and yet, i didn't love it. i mean, it's fine, i'm probably just too old for it, but i thought i would give it a shot because i'm intrigued by the new wave of eco-horror that's been coming out lately (the novels, not the news). this one delivered more plant-specific horror than The Book of Koli, but i'm not sure if i will keep going with the series (even though i know who i am so i probably will, but it will feel more like duty than pleasure)
the plant-aggression was fun at first—seeds raining from the sky, assault-by-pollen, vines rocketing thru town, gulpy mario plants, etc
but then it got...silly.
even though it's middle grade, the protagonists; petra, anaya, and seth, are teenagers, but they're not much else. they're defined by individual primary-color traits: seth is a new-here foster kid, petra is beautiful and popular and allergic to water, anaya is allergic to...everything, the girls were friends and now they are not, GO!
there's not much character depth and there's too much about being pretty and being jealous. the girls read kind of samey, and seth is just this moony kid in the middle of 'em; arbiter and prophetic dream-haver, forecasting that soon their individual "things" will transmute into another "thing" by which they will be identified.
Last night I had a dream. I was flying, and when I came down low over the earth, I saw both of you. And we were all something different and extraordinary.
and if you're asking, on the runway of 'different and extraordinary,' i'm team petra.
things happen fast here, and again—i knoooow it's middle grade (and canada!), but i've grown out of the part of me that was able to gloss over the unrealistic, which here is not so much the monster plants and...other developments, but the crisis response and management—it is too efficient! this tiny island handles the unprecedented like champs and things are more okay than they ought to be, considering.
it was a fine-not-great read for me. it's basically a video game, with an ending that signifies a new level has begun, with more difficult challenges; donkey kong throwing barrels twice as fast or something.
someone please time machine me some donkey kong cereal.
in conclusion, i inquire BEST OR WORST TIME TO READ THIS BOOK?:
AND ALSO
LIKE IN PANDEMIC MOVIES!!!
come to my blog!
The first book in a can't-put-it-down, can't-read-it-fast-enough action-thriller trilogy that's part Hatchet, part Little Shop of Horrors!
i read this at what i felt was an appropriate pace, and i could and did put it down, so now i'm worried that i may be a grouch. how can you tell when you've crossed over?
i barely read any middle grade, but this seemed like it would be right up my alley. and yet, i didn't love it. i mean, it's fine, i'm probably just too old for it, but i thought i would give it a shot because i'm intrigued by the new wave of eco-horror that's been coming out lately (the novels, not the news). this one delivered more plant-specific horror than The Book of Koli, but i'm not sure if i will keep going with the series (even though i know who i am so i probably will, but it will feel more like duty than pleasure)
the plant-aggression was fun at first—seeds raining from the sky, assault-by-pollen, vines rocketing thru town, gulpy mario plants, etc
but then it got...silly.
even though it's middle grade, the protagonists; petra, anaya, and seth, are teenagers, but they're not much else. they're defined by individual primary-color traits: seth is a new-here foster kid, petra is beautiful and popular and allergic to water, anaya is allergic to...everything, the girls were friends and now they are not, GO!
there's not much character depth and there's too much about being pretty and being jealous. the girls read kind of samey, and seth is just this moony kid in the middle of 'em; arbiter and prophetic dream-haver, forecasting that soon their individual "things" will transmute into another "thing" by which they will be identified.
Last night I had a dream. I was flying, and when I came down low over the earth, I saw both of you. And we were all something different and extraordinary.
and if you're asking, on the runway of 'different and extraordinary,' i'm team petra.
things happen fast here, and again—i knoooow it's middle grade (and canada!), but i've grown out of the part of me that was able to gloss over the unrealistic, which here is not so much the monster plants and...other developments, but the crisis response and management—it is too efficient! this tiny island handles the unprecedented like champs and things are more okay than they ought to be, considering.
it was a fine-not-great read for me. it's basically a video game, with an ending that signifies a new level has begun, with more difficult challenges; donkey kong throwing barrels twice as fast or something.
someone please time machine me some donkey kong cereal.
in conclusion, i inquire BEST OR WORST TIME TO READ THIS BOOK?:
Petra knew from her dad that the little hospital was already overloaded. For most people, it was like having a really bad cold, or the flu. But some people had much more severe reactions—or life-threatening asthma attacks—and needed to be transferred to Victoria or Vancouver—where the hospitals were also packed.
AND ALSO
A few people hurried from their cars into the shops, sneezing, covering their faces. A lot of people wore masks—a very common sight since the pollen started flying. Petra had even seen a few people with those scary heavy-duty things with the canister filter. Like in pandemic movies.
LIKE IN PANDEMIC MOVIES!!!
come to my blog!
October 12, 2020
I have read several books by Kenneth Oppel and have become a fan of what he has to offer. His novels for young readers, mainly for middle-graders, range in a variety of settings, subject matter, and genres to choose from, but there is always a take-home message with which kids can identify. For instance, in this book, the main protagonists all have something they don't like about themselves or wish to be like others whom they see as flawless. In the end, friendship prevails, and the characters become stronger despite their perceived shortcomings.
Bloom is not for the faint of heart, it is an eco-thriller that is actually border-lining scarry...I mean r e a l l y scarry. The premise of it goes that the Earth is invaded by a foreign species of plants and they take over every crop, every field, every waterway or body of water, and poison the general surroundings. Anaya and her friends Petra and Seth are a bit different from everyone in town but they don't know that of each other right away. Anaya's father is a botanist really busy with his work, and her mother is a pilot, gone often.
There is a backstory that plays out among the characters and their past, for example, Anaya has terrible allergies and acne that she needs to take immense precautions every day just to do her daily living. She's been jealous of Petra, her childhood friend who has seemingly skipped the puberty state w/o any issues and is the overall sweetheart and good looking girl in school. Seth is the oddball and new in school. He is not interested in taking his pic for the yearbook and he and Anaya hit of a great friendship.
One day, a really strong downpour happens and Anaya has a feeling that she can actually get wet by this water and that it might heal her conditions....and it is true. She collects that water and begins to apply it to her face daily and her acne begins to vanish. When reports from surrounding farms come in about weird plants taking over, it does not take long for this invasion to take place globally.
Could the heavy downpour have something to do with it?
What ensues is a huge conflict between mankind and a foreign species. Ayana's father disappears while researching the plants and her mother is gone when it all goes to waste. The three friends have to put their heads together and be brave to solve the issues at hand. With the help of the military, they will face the deadliest and scariest adventure of a lifetime. One that unites way beyond their "little" problems, prior. But can they save the world and Anaya's father?
Some elements were really horror-like in this novel and I would only suggest letting kids read this who have a natural tendency to seek scary stuff out.
Though botany is one of my least favorite and unessential things to know (in my life) I liked the educational content of the novel. Oppel has definitely done his research and brought it to the table unless he is just naturally a plant whizz. I also like how he writes very matter of factly w/o down washing terms of crises. He writes realistically about these issues even though it is a fictional thriller.
This is the first eco-thriller I have come across for kids and I thought it was a refreshing step for middle graders albeit not for every reader. However, I believe it is best for the more mature or older teen audience.
An exciting and scary adventure novel a la Oppel I can recommend.
Enjoy!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
Bloom is not for the faint of heart, it is an eco-thriller that is actually border-lining scarry...I mean r e a l l y scarry. The premise of it goes that the Earth is invaded by a foreign species of plants and they take over every crop, every field, every waterway or body of water, and poison the general surroundings. Anaya and her friends Petra and Seth are a bit different from everyone in town but they don't know that of each other right away. Anaya's father is a botanist really busy with his work, and her mother is a pilot, gone often.
There is a backstory that plays out among the characters and their past, for example, Anaya has terrible allergies and acne that she needs to take immense precautions every day just to do her daily living. She's been jealous of Petra, her childhood friend who has seemingly skipped the puberty state w/o any issues and is the overall sweetheart and good looking girl in school. Seth is the oddball and new in school. He is not interested in taking his pic for the yearbook and he and Anaya hit of a great friendship.
One day, a really strong downpour happens and Anaya has a feeling that she can actually get wet by this water and that it might heal her conditions....and it is true. She collects that water and begins to apply it to her face daily and her acne begins to vanish. When reports from surrounding farms come in about weird plants taking over, it does not take long for this invasion to take place globally.
Could the heavy downpour have something to do with it?
What ensues is a huge conflict between mankind and a foreign species. Ayana's father disappears while researching the plants and her mother is gone when it all goes to waste. The three friends have to put their heads together and be brave to solve the issues at hand. With the help of the military, they will face the deadliest and scariest adventure of a lifetime. One that unites way beyond their "little" problems, prior. But can they save the world and Anaya's father?
Some elements were really horror-like in this novel and I would only suggest letting kids read this who have a natural tendency to seek scary stuff out.
Though botany is one of my least favorite and unessential things to know (in my life) I liked the educational content of the novel. Oppel has definitely done his research and brought it to the table unless he is just naturally a plant whizz. I also like how he writes very matter of factly w/o down washing terms of crises. He writes realistically about these issues even though it is a fictional thriller.
This is the first eco-thriller I have come across for kids and I thought it was a refreshing step for middle graders albeit not for every reader. However, I believe it is best for the more mature or older teen audience.
An exciting and scary adventure novel a la Oppel I can recommend.
Enjoy!
More of my reviews here:
Through Novel Time & Distance
December 10, 2019
“So, this must be the Miracle Three”
-Colonel Pearson, Bloom
I thoroughly enjoyed Bloom – The Overthrow #1 by Kenneth Oppel, it’s a solid sci-fi book with more than a touch of horror; it’s suspenseful, thrilling, and quite frankly, a bit terrifying in its potential. Strange and extremely sturdy and indestructible black plants begin growing at an unbelievably rapid rate after a heavy rain that covers the entire earth. People begin to have strong allergic reactions to the strange new pollen in the air, everyone except three teenagers on Salt Spring Island. Anaya, Petra, and Seth each have something a bit different about them aside from their immunity to the toxic pollen and other nasties that the invasive plants bring to earth, it is these differences that will bring them together but will also set them apart from the rest of the world’s population.
The story-line in Bloom is fast-paced and set over a period of three weeks, two weeks earlier and one week after and is told in multiple narratives focusing on the three teenagers. Bloom is not lacking in action and suspense and there were times I felt anxiety at what was happening: Soccer field and man-eating acid spewing plants is as much as I will say about this because I really don’t want to spoil the suspense for anyone but seriously, I could not help but think of Audrey in Little House of Horrors minus the ‘feed me, Seymour’ humor!
The base science and botany mixed in with fiction made this a compelling read along with the extremely well written characters. Each main character had an interesting back history that helped me get to know them better without boring me. The ending left me wanting more and I am looking forward to the second in this series, I have no doubt it will be just as great as Bloom.
Although Bloom is geared towards younger readers, I think Bloom is a book that anyone with an interest in science fiction or just a great story, will enjoy immensely.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Kenneth Oppel for providing this copy of Bloom in exchange for my honest opinion.
-Colonel Pearson, Bloom
I thoroughly enjoyed Bloom – The Overthrow #1 by Kenneth Oppel, it’s a solid sci-fi book with more than a touch of horror; it’s suspenseful, thrilling, and quite frankly, a bit terrifying in its potential. Strange and extremely sturdy and indestructible black plants begin growing at an unbelievably rapid rate after a heavy rain that covers the entire earth. People begin to have strong allergic reactions to the strange new pollen in the air, everyone except three teenagers on Salt Spring Island. Anaya, Petra, and Seth each have something a bit different about them aside from their immunity to the toxic pollen and other nasties that the invasive plants bring to earth, it is these differences that will bring them together but will also set them apart from the rest of the world’s population.
The story-line in Bloom is fast-paced and set over a period of three weeks, two weeks earlier and one week after and is told in multiple narratives focusing on the three teenagers. Bloom is not lacking in action and suspense and there were times I felt anxiety at what was happening: Soccer field and man-eating acid spewing plants is as much as I will say about this because I really don’t want to spoil the suspense for anyone but seriously, I could not help but think of Audrey in Little House of Horrors minus the ‘feed me, Seymour’ humor!
The base science and botany mixed in with fiction made this a compelling read along with the extremely well written characters. Each main character had an interesting back history that helped me get to know them better without boring me. The ending left me wanting more and I am looking forward to the second in this series, I have no doubt it will be just as great as Bloom.
Although Bloom is geared towards younger readers, I think Bloom is a book that anyone with an interest in science fiction or just a great story, will enjoy immensely.
A big thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children, Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Kenneth Oppel for providing this copy of Bloom in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 19, 2023
Review coming soon.
March 6, 2020
Bloom is a great start to a what will be a trilogy. Even though this was a middle grade book I enjoyed it. The characters are ones that you can relate and connect with. The story started off a little slow but once the plot was established it picked up the pace. It is a good suspenseful Sci-fi novel that at times seems creepy like a horror story. Oppel hit a homerun with this book. I can't wait for the next one in this series.
I gave this book 3.5 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
I gave this book 3.5 stars.
The Mary Reader received this book from the publisher for review. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are our own.
March 19, 2020
Trust me, no one is more disappointed by this rating than me.
I’ve been reading Kenneth Oppel’s books for many years now, ever since I was very young. I loved Silverwing, I adored Airborn, and I’ve enjoyed everything else of his I’ve read. But this was simply not that great.
The characters were flat and super underdeveloped. I could not tell them apart whatsoever, which is not good when you have three points of view.
I also just expected a lot more from this plot. I like weird books and movies, the type of weird that’s unsettling. And this seemed perfect for that- strange plants taking over the world, plants that no one knows where they came from or what they are. Then add in the element of these three kids being immune to the toxins emitted by the plants for an unknown reason. Right up my alley!
However, this honestly didn’t deliver. It was disappointingly obvious as to what was happening, and quite basic to be honest. If you’ve ever read a sci-fi or mystery before, you could probably guess where this is going.
I think a big thing is that this book isn’t sure what it wants to be. Is it middle grade? Is it young adult? It leans more towards middle grade, and yet, has its moments of YA. And middle grade just doesn’t work for a story like this. It doesn’t feel as serious a problem because Oppel is unable to dive deep into the horrors of these plants, the fear and paranoia of the people.
Maybe this is a me case. Maybe I’m too old for this type of book, and would have loved it a few years ago. But I personally think this one falls on Kenneth Oppel. He can do better- HAS done better.
I will be skipping the rest of this trilogy, but am looking forward to whatever Oppel is putting out afterwards.
I’ve been reading Kenneth Oppel’s books for many years now, ever since I was very young. I loved Silverwing, I adored Airborn, and I’ve enjoyed everything else of his I’ve read. But this was simply not that great.
The characters were flat and super underdeveloped. I could not tell them apart whatsoever, which is not good when you have three points of view.
I also just expected a lot more from this plot. I like weird books and movies, the type of weird that’s unsettling. And this seemed perfect for that- strange plants taking over the world, plants that no one knows where they came from or what they are. Then add in the element of these three kids being immune to the toxins emitted by the plants for an unknown reason. Right up my alley!
However, this honestly didn’t deliver. It was disappointingly obvious as to what was happening, and quite basic to be honest. If you’ve ever read a sci-fi or mystery before, you could probably guess where this is going.
I think a big thing is that this book isn’t sure what it wants to be. Is it middle grade? Is it young adult? It leans more towards middle grade, and yet, has its moments of YA. And middle grade just doesn’t work for a story like this. It doesn’t feel as serious a problem because Oppel is unable to dive deep into the horrors of these plants, the fear and paranoia of the people.
Maybe this is a me case. Maybe I’m too old for this type of book, and would have loved it a few years ago. But I personally think this one falls on Kenneth Oppel. He can do better- HAS done better.
I will be skipping the rest of this trilogy, but am looking forward to whatever Oppel is putting out afterwards.
April 20, 2020
Reread recently for a project, and I just can't get over how well Oppel is able to escalate the tension in this story and develop the characters. I am finding this story to have a wide appeal amongst readers, and I would not be surprised to see the popularity of this story grow dramatically as more adults and kids find it. Highly recommend!!!
Original review
I don't know why, but I have more kids looking for creepy stories this year than ever before. Tiffany Jackson, April Henry, Ronald Smith, Ellen Oh, and Kenneth Oppel's books to name a few are doing very well in my classroom. Like seeds in a garden, these stories are spreading like wild. With that in mind, when I heard that Kenneth Oppel was publishing a new series about alien plants taking over the Earth, I knew this was a series I had to check out. Oppel is a master at ratcheting up the suspense and continuously raising the stakes for his characters. Bloom does not disappoint in that category!
I don't want to give too much away. I will say that Bloom really grew on me and wouldn't let me go. When I got to the end, it frankly had me dying to find out what will happen next!
Bloom comes out February 11, 2020. I am thrilled to hear book two, Hatch is coming out this fall, and the final book, Thrive comes out in 2021!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy to review in advance of the book's publication.
Original review
I don't know why, but I have more kids looking for creepy stories this year than ever before. Tiffany Jackson, April Henry, Ronald Smith, Ellen Oh, and Kenneth Oppel's books to name a few are doing very well in my classroom. Like seeds in a garden, these stories are spreading like wild. With that in mind, when I heard that Kenneth Oppel was publishing a new series about alien plants taking over the Earth, I knew this was a series I had to check out. Oppel is a master at ratcheting up the suspense and continuously raising the stakes for his characters. Bloom does not disappoint in that category!
I don't want to give too much away. I will say that Bloom really grew on me and wouldn't let me go. When I got to the end, it frankly had me dying to find out what will happen next!
Bloom comes out February 11, 2020. I am thrilled to hear book two, Hatch is coming out this fall, and the final book, Thrive comes out in 2021!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy to review in advance of the book's publication.
February 22, 2020
Have you ever thought to yourself “boy, I’d like to read more books like Annihilation?” Alternatively, have you thought “I’d like to read Annihilation but alas, I am twelve”? Then have I got the book for you.
February 15, 2023
Guys. I don't know what to say. Kenneth Oppel has been a favorite author of mine for years. His stories have always captured me and I was so excited when I saw that he was coming out with another YA book. This was not what I expected it to be. It was better. I can't even describe the love I felt for this book. It's, like, one of the best apocalyptic books because it's more than that. It has odd characters who suffer from things and are so real. I just.... uhhhhh I'm having all the feels.
September 15, 2020
ایدهاش جذاب و عجیب بود و کمی هم به اوضاع الان جهان و شیوع کرونا شباهت داشت؛ اما شخصیتپردازی معمولی بود و چون سه تا شخصیت اصلی در داستان هستن، اندکی سطحی شدن. بعضیجاها هم نویسنده یهویی داستان رو پیش میبرد و بخش نهایی کمی خستهکننده و بینتیجه بود. البته نویسنده جلد دوم روعملاً در صفحهی آخر این جلد شروع کرد و این مسئله تا حدی نواقص رو توجیه میکنه.ـ
در کل کتاب جالبیه، مخصوصاً برای نوجوانان
در کل کتاب جالبیه، مخصوصاً برای نوجوانان
March 4, 2021
Recensie volgt op mijn blog
May 10, 2020
4.5 Stars!
This book took me completely by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to be spooked so much or be so addicted to this story! A couple complaints would be the weird burgeoning crush between two of the characters, and how Petra was portrayed. It makes sense that she is the way she is because of her emphasis on physical looks. Her whining was annoying at times—but then I have to remember that she’s just a kid. That being said though, Oppel DID show some aspects of her character really well through her narrative (the story was third person, but followed three narratives.)
It’s a weirdly timely read when you consider what’s happening in the world right now, but if you can stomach it, I highly recommend this book.
Also, this is marketed as middle grade at some bookstores, but this definitely reads like a young adult!
I need the sequel.
Happy reading!
This book took me completely by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to be spooked so much or be so addicted to this story! A couple complaints would be the weird burgeoning crush between two of the characters, and how Petra was portrayed. It makes sense that she is the way she is because of her emphasis on physical looks. Her whining was annoying at times—but then I have to remember that she’s just a kid. That being said though, Oppel DID show some aspects of her character really well through her narrative (the story was third person, but followed three narratives.)
It’s a weirdly timely read when you consider what’s happening in the world right now, but if you can stomach it, I highly recommend this book.
Also, this is marketed as middle grade at some bookstores, but this definitely reads like a young adult!
I need the sequel.
Happy reading!
September 12, 2021
A+ for creep factor!! Bloom is the first book in a trilogy (book #2 should be released in September). The story centers around three teens: Anaya, Petra, and Seth. Each of them have unusual traits which come into play once their nation discovers they are under attack. The invasion comes in the form of rain. But how and why, I can't exactly say without spoiling the story. It's a very hard-to-put-down sci-fi that I believe will be quite popular. I will definitely show up for book #2! This was my first Kenneth Oppel read, but now I really want to pick up some of his older work. Very well written and addictive!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!
did-not-finish
April 12, 2023DNF around 35%. It's an apocalypse....why do we have to hear how hot, not hot, ugly, kind of pretty, gangly, awkwardly proportioned, cute, etc each of the characters are? I get it, they're teens....but still, it's annoying.
Also, I can't take these flesh-eating plants seriously when their pods are described as "wrinkly sacks" so many times. It's a fictional plant, so you can make them look however you like. They don't HAVE to be "wrinkly sacks" with fleshy lips that bulge open to eat animals....
Also, I can't take these flesh-eating plants seriously when their pods are described as "wrinkly sacks" so many times. It's a fictional plant, so you can make them look however you like. They don't HAVE to be "wrinkly sacks" with fleshy lips that bulge open to eat animals....
March 10, 2021
Maria Postema is, in mijn ogen, een van de beste vertalers die we in Nederland hebben. Dus, toen mijn lokale boekhandel, Roojboek in Venray, vroeg of ik dit boek voor ze wilde lezen en van een leuke recensie wilde voorzien, twijfelde ik geen seconde. Niet alleen omdat Maria Postema het boek vertaald heeft, maar ook omdat ik wel van een goede en toffe dystopia houd en het alweer even geleden was dat ik er een gelezen had.
De flaptekst van dit boek geeft een enorm goed beeld van wat je in dit boek te wachten staat. Het verhaal is eigenlijk vanaf het begin af aan, mede door de korte proloog, ongelooflijk spannend. Ik heb het boek letterlijk in een ruk uitgelezen, omdat ik nergens een geschikt moment vond om even te stoppen of om even een korte pauze te nemen. Ik moest en zou weten hoe het verder ging, wat er daadwerkelijk aan de hand was en hoe het af ging lopen.
Oppel weet op een hele visuele manier de nieuwe wereld, met alle planten die ineens overal opduiken, neer te zetten. Omdat alles voor de karakters in dit boek net zo nieuw is als voor ons, ontdekken we samen met hen wat er gebeurd is en wat het doel van de planten is. Actiescènes worden afgewisseld met emotionele gesprekken tussen de drie hoofdrolspelers en wetenschap wordt afgewisseld met een grote dosis onvoorspelbaarheid.
Wat het verhaal extra leuk maakt is dat we het beleven door de ogen van drie ongelooflijk verschillende karakters. Elk op hun eigen manier gaan ze om met de nieuwe situatie en hebben ze wensen en dromen voor de toekomst. En op geen enkel moment worden de verschillende dromen als goed of fout of beter of slechter neergezet. Alledrie de personages mogen zijn wie ze zijn en mogen hun eigen keuzes maken.
En na het einde van dit deel wil ik het liefst nu meteen verder lezen. Wanneer komt het volgende deel?
De flaptekst van dit boek geeft een enorm goed beeld van wat je in dit boek te wachten staat. Het verhaal is eigenlijk vanaf het begin af aan, mede door de korte proloog, ongelooflijk spannend. Ik heb het boek letterlijk in een ruk uitgelezen, omdat ik nergens een geschikt moment vond om even te stoppen of om even een korte pauze te nemen. Ik moest en zou weten hoe het verder ging, wat er daadwerkelijk aan de hand was en hoe het af ging lopen.
Oppel weet op een hele visuele manier de nieuwe wereld, met alle planten die ineens overal opduiken, neer te zetten. Omdat alles voor de karakters in dit boek net zo nieuw is als voor ons, ontdekken we samen met hen wat er gebeurd is en wat het doel van de planten is. Actiescènes worden afgewisseld met emotionele gesprekken tussen de drie hoofdrolspelers en wetenschap wordt afgewisseld met een grote dosis onvoorspelbaarheid.
Wat het verhaal extra leuk maakt is dat we het beleven door de ogen van drie ongelooflijk verschillende karakters. Elk op hun eigen manier gaan ze om met de nieuwe situatie en hebben ze wensen en dromen voor de toekomst. En op geen enkel moment worden de verschillende dromen als goed of fout of beter of slechter neergezet. Alledrie de personages mogen zijn wie ze zijn en mogen hun eigen keuzes maken.
En na het einde van dit deel wil ik het liefst nu meteen verder lezen. Wanneer komt het volgende deel?
March 23, 2022
Wow... What an intense story! This is without doubt one of the most exciting and scary stories I have read in a long time. It's an excellent creature story too, something to really sink your teeth into and keep you on the edge of your seat. Just watch out you don't get gobbled up by those carnivorous plants! They are hungry and they are literally everywhere! It's very fast paced with tons of exciting action. Better yet it's just the beginning of a wild ride...as it is the first book in a trilogy. It also kind of reminds me of "The Ruins" but on a much larger scale with more action. The scenes are just as intense though. You may never look at plants the same way again.
So I had fun reading this! It's like one of those crazy monster movies you watch on DVD with 2-headed sharks or giant tarantulas or other far out impossible things. You know the type. You watch it for fun thrills. Well this book is just like that but its with plants. And these plants are blood thirsty and nasty! The characters just kept getting into tons of dangerous situations over and over. New things popped up too. And just when you thought they had things under control, nope, something else happens! Totally fun!
I liked the characters in here too. They are likable and I got used to them. And they each have their own little secret too. Oh, the second book (which I am partway through) says the characters are 16 (as they are having a birthday) so in this one they are 15. And it's set in Canada. But the thing is these three teens, they try to do things. They risk their lives to save others and hope an answer can be found. And the plants in here are never passive. They are out to get you.
And what is going on in here is world-wide. An ecological disaster. I am interested to see how this will play out in the future books in the series. I hope it will be addressed. Because how do you go back to how things were after this? Can you?
So I had fun reading this! It's like one of those crazy monster movies you watch on DVD with 2-headed sharks or giant tarantulas or other far out impossible things. You know the type. You watch it for fun thrills. Well this book is just like that but its with plants. And these plants are blood thirsty and nasty! The characters just kept getting into tons of dangerous situations over and over. New things popped up too. And just when you thought they had things under control, nope, something else happens! Totally fun!
I liked the characters in here too. They are likable and I got used to them. And they each have their own little secret too. Oh, the second book (which I am partway through) says the characters are 16 (as they are having a birthday) so in this one they are 15. And it's set in Canada. But the thing is these three teens, they try to do things. They risk their lives to save others and hope an answer can be found. And the plants in here are never passive. They are out to get you.
And what is going on in here is world-wide. An ecological disaster. I am interested to see how this will play out in the future books in the series. I hope it will be addressed. Because how do you go back to how things were after this? Can you?
December 18, 2020
Review originally published 18 December 2020 Falling Letters.
Prolific Canadian author Kenneth Oppel’s new trilogy, The Overthrow, is a great example of middle grade crossover. I’d call it more specifically upper middle grade or lower young adult, referring to the age for which it is most suitable. The darkness and violence in Bloom (including a character hung by a vine on page) stood out to me. But other elements mark it as upper MG. You get acne and marijuana references. You get 15 year old protagonists. One hangs out with a grade 12 and feels inferior. (“And she already felt like a dull little moth around Tereza’s bright butterfly.”) The publisher recommends Bloom for ages 10 to 14.
Bloom explicitly takes place in Canada, with the primary settings being Salt Spring Island and Vancouver. I used to get annoyed at familiar settings as a kid. I wanted to experience far off, distant, unfamiliar places in my fiction. But now I find it kind of fun to read about a location I know. There’s even a Scotiabank reference. 😛
I read this at the end of April. With the pandemic, I found myself recognizing similarities between what was happening around me and what was happening in the book. Those moments where disaster slowly unfolds around the world felt acutely stressful. And it’s in the little things as well – a headline that references the economy shrinking as unnatural allergies hit workers, a character buying extra canned goods just in case…
I loved the representation of friendship between Anaya and Petra. You see how their rift came from a reasonable misunderstanding. It can be tough to be a girl in middle school, worrying about friendships. Reading about both Anaya and Petra’s perspectives shows how each girl caused damage. I initially thought the book would be predominantly Anaya’s perspective. But Oppel quickly draws a full picture of Petra and her concerns, flaws, and personality – not just from Anaya’s perspective. Petra, a ‘pretty and popular’ type of character, is a rare kind of protagonist in middle grade, let alone speculative middle grade. It’s refreshing to read her POV.
I also found Seth and Anaya’s so wholesome. I will be displeased if it turns into romance. (And if there is a love triangle – lord help me.) I appreciated the portrayal of Seth as a kid living in foster care. It breaks the mold you often see of foster kids in middle grade.
Some minor signifiers throughout the story indicate Anaya’s mom is of Indian heritage and her dad is white. Anaya’s biracial identity is not a central part of the story. Oppel’s not writing about a particular experience of a youth of colour. I understand there are ongoing discussions about whether or how white writers should include characters of color. I think Oppel is on track in including characters of colour in his scifi thriller but not writing about what it’s like to specifically be a person of colour in that context. However, please remember that I am a white reviewer continually learning about representation, particularly in middle grade, so take my words with a grain of salt.
Oppel strikes a perfect pace in Bloom, kicking off with a gradual but quick takeover by terrifying plant life. “Jeff Vandermeer for young uns”, I thought, with the plant (and occasional body) horror. Oppel writes highly effective imagery of how the plants grow and move and threaten and harm. Chapter 8, in which a rescue takes place on a school sportsfield, is particularly intense. Here’s some imagery that Seth see on TV:
I enjoyed the intriguing little hints and backstory and recurring dreams about Seth, Petra, and Anaya’s differences and abilities. Those hints combined with the upbeat pacing of the story compelled me to finish it in two settings as I pieced together what was going on. And that ending? “WAHHHHH AHHH AHHH AHHHHHHHH” was the note I made.
The Bottom Line 💭: Another hit from Oppel, Bloom is a must read for scifi fans, especially those who enjoy fast paced, danger imminent stories with out-of-this-world elements.
Prolific Canadian author Kenneth Oppel’s new trilogy, The Overthrow, is a great example of middle grade crossover. I’d call it more specifically upper middle grade or lower young adult, referring to the age for which it is most suitable. The darkness and violence in Bloom (including a character hung by a vine on page) stood out to me. But other elements mark it as upper MG. You get acne and marijuana references. You get 15 year old protagonists. One hangs out with a grade 12 and feels inferior. (“And she already felt like a dull little moth around Tereza’s bright butterfly.”) The publisher recommends Bloom for ages 10 to 14.
Bloom explicitly takes place in Canada, with the primary settings being Salt Spring Island and Vancouver. I used to get annoyed at familiar settings as a kid. I wanted to experience far off, distant, unfamiliar places in my fiction. But now I find it kind of fun to read about a location I know. There’s even a Scotiabank reference. 😛
I read this at the end of April. With the pandemic, I found myself recognizing similarities between what was happening around me and what was happening in the book. Those moments where disaster slowly unfolds around the world felt acutely stressful. And it’s in the little things as well – a headline that references the economy shrinking as unnatural allergies hit workers, a character buying extra canned goods just in case…
I loved the representation of friendship between Anaya and Petra. You see how their rift came from a reasonable misunderstanding. It can be tough to be a girl in middle school, worrying about friendships. Reading about both Anaya and Petra’s perspectives shows how each girl caused damage. I initially thought the book would be predominantly Anaya’s perspective. But Oppel quickly draws a full picture of Petra and her concerns, flaws, and personality – not just from Anaya’s perspective. Petra, a ‘pretty and popular’ type of character, is a rare kind of protagonist in middle grade, let alone speculative middle grade. It’s refreshing to read her POV.
I also found Seth and Anaya’s so wholesome. I will be displeased if it turns into romance. (And if there is a love triangle – lord help me.) I appreciated the portrayal of Seth as a kid living in foster care. It breaks the mold you often see of foster kids in middle grade.
Some minor signifiers throughout the story indicate Anaya’s mom is of Indian heritage and her dad is white. Anaya’s biracial identity is not a central part of the story. Oppel’s not writing about a particular experience of a youth of colour. I understand there are ongoing discussions about whether or how white writers should include characters of color. I think Oppel is on track in including characters of colour in his scifi thriller but not writing about what it’s like to specifically be a person of colour in that context. However, please remember that I am a white reviewer continually learning about representation, particularly in middle grade, so take my words with a grain of salt.
Her first thought was that someone had jammed a stake into the dead patch. She went closer. From the muddy earth, a black shoot jutted a full foot high.
It was sturdy, its sheath bristling with a spiral of tiny hairs. The very tip of the plant was pointy.
This thing hadn’t been here this morning. She would’ve noticed it.
Which meant that it had grown a full foot in a matter of hours.
In the dead patch, where nothing grew. (8%)
Oppel strikes a perfect pace in Bloom, kicking off with a gradual but quick takeover by terrifying plant life. “Jeff Vandermeer for young uns”, I thought, with the plant (and occasional body) horror. Oppel writes highly effective imagery of how the plants grow and move and threaten and harm. Chapter 8, in which a rescue takes place on a school sportsfield, is particularly intense. Here’s some imagery that Seth see on TV:
Farmers staring out at blighted fields. Forests of black grass where their crops should have been.
Cows and sheep their faces streaked with blood from trying to graze on the spiky grass.
A huge bonfire, somewhere in the world, somewhere poor, spewing yellowish smoke over a village.
A makeshift tent filled with coughing people on stretchers.
I enjoyed the intriguing little hints and backstory and recurring dreams about Seth, Petra, and Anaya’s differences and abilities. Those hints combined with the upbeat pacing of the story compelled me to finish it in two settings as I pieced together what was going on. And that ending? “WAHHHHH AHHH AHHH AHHHHHHHH” was the note I made.
The Bottom Line 💭: Another hit from Oppel, Bloom is a must read for scifi fans, especially those who enjoy fast paced, danger imminent stories with out-of-this-world elements.
July 24, 2022
3,5 🌟🌟🌟
ik hou toch zo van dystopische verhalen — ik weet zeker (waarom weet ik niet) dat deel 2 nog leuker zal zijn dan deel 1!!!
ik hou toch zo van dystopische verhalen — ik weet zeker (waarom weet ik niet) dat deel 2 nog leuker zal zijn dan deel 1!!!
April 15, 2020
Anaya, Petra, and Seth live in a remote part of Canada. Anaya suffers from horrible allergies that cause her skin to break out and make it hard for her to breathe. Petra has a rare water allergy. Seth is a foster kid with strange scars on his arms. The three seemingly have nothing in common, but when an invasive fast-growing plant species begins taking over the Earth, it appears they do. They are the only three who are immune to the dangerous plant and its poisonous pollen. Not only are they immune, but they seem to thrive in the presence of the plant. Anaya’s acne clears up, Petra is able to wash herself with water that has the plant’s seeds in it and Seth’s wings grow back. That’s right: wings. It turns out that Anaya, Petra, and Seth are not entirely human and they may be from the same place as the alien plant that’s trying to take over Earth. As the plant destroys people and the home they’ve always known, the three new friends must work together to uncover the secrets of their background. The invasion has begun.
This series starter grabbed my attention and never let go. I dare readers to try and read it in less than 48 hours; it’s that good. After some brief character development, the action never lets up from the minute the plants enter the story. Hand this one to kids who like their science fiction with a strong dose of mystery and fear.
This series starter grabbed my attention and never let go. I dare readers to try and read it in less than 48 hours; it’s that good. After some brief character development, the action never lets up from the minute the plants enter the story. Hand this one to kids who like their science fiction with a strong dose of mystery and fear.
December 24, 2020
Kenneth Oppel überzeugt mit Phantasie.
Er idealisiert die Beziehung zu Geheimdienst und Armee aber das ist wahrscheinlich amerikanisches Denken.
Er idealisiert die Beziehung zu Geheimdienst und Armee aber das ist wahrscheinlich amerikanisches Denken.
December 7, 2019
Thanks to the publisher and my friends in Book Portage for this copy to read and review. This book delivered exactly what I thought it would. A freaky beginning to an upper MG series in the vein of Kenneth Oppel's earlier novels The Nest and Airborn. I have been a big fan of many of Oppel's books and this has elements of many of them. Bloom launches right into the action with a flash forward scene that tells you how serious things might get. We head back to the beginning and strange plants are beginning to grow around Salt Spring Island near Vancouver and it quickly becomes clear that the invasive species is causing huge problems. Three teens find that it also has a peculiar impact on their lives as well. This was a page turning sci-fi that I can't wait to share with my students in February 4, 2020, but it will a long wait until book two comes out in the fall of 2020.
March 15, 2020
A thrilling and emotionally charged read from start to finish with a fascinating sci-fi premise that, literally, creeps up and lures you in. I really enjoyed the suspense and science, but what I truly loved was experiencing the interior lives of the teens at the centre of the story. Oppel excels at inhabiting the vulnerabilities and insecurities of his middle grade characters. I was especially moved by Seth's heart-wrenching desire to belong. His voice struck a poignant combination of resignation tinged with hope to find his forever family. I deeply appreciated that a foster child was not presented in the usual jaded, tough-kid persona. The description of Anaya's and Petra's friendship betrayal and breakdown felt equally raw and realistic. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in this trilogy to be reunited with these very memorable characters.
April 3, 2020
Bei Bloom hat mich alleine schon das geniale Cover angesprochen und dann noch der Klappentext dazu. Die Apokalypse beginnt in deinem Garten, hört sich doch spannend an. Nach einem Regen spießt auf einmal komisches Gras überall. Es wächst unheimlich schnell und hoch, lässt sich einfach nicht bekämpfen. Zu diesem Zeitpunkt denken die Menschen noch, die dadurch drohende Nahrungsknappheit wäre ihre einzige Sorge. Doch dem ist leider nicht so, es lauern noch ganz andere Gefahren....
Gleichzeit verändert sich das Leben von drei Teenager schlagartig. Denn ihre Allergien sind weg. Endlich kann Anaya normal Atmen, ohne geschwollene Augen und Akne im Gesicht. Und Petra, die unter einer Wasserallergie leidet, kann ihr Glück gar nicht fassen. Auch Seth merkt eine Veränderung, aber ich möchte nicht zu viel verraten. Lest am besten selbst, wie sich der Regen auf die drei ausgewirkt hat.
Mich konnte Bloom sehr überraschen, zu Beginn hätte ich nicht gedacht, dass die Geschichte diesen Verlauf nehmen wird. Es gibt so manche überraschende Entwicklung und ich bin wirklich froh, dass es so undurchschaubar blieb, so war der Wow-Effekt umso schöner. Durch diese komischen Pflanzen und die dadurch resultierende Angst in der Bevölkerung wird der Spannungsbogen stramm gespannt und dieser hält sich auch das Buch durch. Die Geschichte wird rasant und dynamisch erzählt.
So blieben für mich ein bisschen die Charaktere auf der Strecke. Der Autor zeichnet sie zwar, sodass der Leser sie sich gut Vorstellen kann und nicht verwechselt. Aber wirklich in die Tiefe gehen sie nicht und orientieren sich eher an stereotypischen Bildern. So habe ich mich über Petra und Anaya und ihr Verhalten manchmal geärgert. Doch ist dies nur ein kleiner Kritikpunkt, da die Geschichte ansonsten sehr spannend und actiongeladen ist. Und man merkt einfach, dass der Fokus mehr darauf liegt.
Die Story hat mir richtig gut gefallen. Besonders da sie so einen gruseligen Touch hat. Ich meine stellt euch mal vor, es regnet auf der ganzen Welt und dann wächst mega schnell unheimliches Gras und keiner kann es stoppen. Nicht nur einmal habe ich mir dieses Szenarium mit erschrecken vorgestellt. Ich könnte mir das Buch bzw. die Reihe auch gut als Verfilmung vorstellen. So viel Spannendes und Unerwartetes was da passiert. Und das Ende macht auch richtig Lust weiterzulesen, hoffentlich wird auch Band 2 bald erscheinen.
Wenn ihr Lust auf eine rasante, spannende und auch gruselige Geschichte habt. Nach der man vielleicht seinen Rasen etwas skeptisch betrachtet, kann ich euch Bloom ans Herz legen.
Gleichzeit verändert sich das Leben von drei Teenager schlagartig. Denn ihre Allergien sind weg. Endlich kann Anaya normal Atmen, ohne geschwollene Augen und Akne im Gesicht. Und Petra, die unter einer Wasserallergie leidet, kann ihr Glück gar nicht fassen. Auch Seth merkt eine Veränderung, aber ich möchte nicht zu viel verraten. Lest am besten selbst, wie sich der Regen auf die drei ausgewirkt hat.
Mich konnte Bloom sehr überraschen, zu Beginn hätte ich nicht gedacht, dass die Geschichte diesen Verlauf nehmen wird. Es gibt so manche überraschende Entwicklung und ich bin wirklich froh, dass es so undurchschaubar blieb, so war der Wow-Effekt umso schöner. Durch diese komischen Pflanzen und die dadurch resultierende Angst in der Bevölkerung wird der Spannungsbogen stramm gespannt und dieser hält sich auch das Buch durch. Die Geschichte wird rasant und dynamisch erzählt.
So blieben für mich ein bisschen die Charaktere auf der Strecke. Der Autor zeichnet sie zwar, sodass der Leser sie sich gut Vorstellen kann und nicht verwechselt. Aber wirklich in die Tiefe gehen sie nicht und orientieren sich eher an stereotypischen Bildern. So habe ich mich über Petra und Anaya und ihr Verhalten manchmal geärgert. Doch ist dies nur ein kleiner Kritikpunkt, da die Geschichte ansonsten sehr spannend und actiongeladen ist. Und man merkt einfach, dass der Fokus mehr darauf liegt.
Die Story hat mir richtig gut gefallen. Besonders da sie so einen gruseligen Touch hat. Ich meine stellt euch mal vor, es regnet auf der ganzen Welt und dann wächst mega schnell unheimliches Gras und keiner kann es stoppen. Nicht nur einmal habe ich mir dieses Szenarium mit erschrecken vorgestellt. Ich könnte mir das Buch bzw. die Reihe auch gut als Verfilmung vorstellen. So viel Spannendes und Unerwartetes was da passiert. Und das Ende macht auch richtig Lust weiterzulesen, hoffentlich wird auch Band 2 bald erscheinen.
Wenn ihr Lust auf eine rasante, spannende und auch gruselige Geschichte habt. Nach der man vielleicht seinen Rasen etwas skeptisch betrachtet, kann ich euch Bloom ans Herz legen.
April 8, 2021
De flaptekst en de cover spraken mijn erg aan, dus ik heb het boek snel aangevraagd als recensie-exemplaar. Ik mocht het boek lezen en wat ben ik blij dat ik het gelezen heb!
Anaya heeft last van ongeveer alle allergieën die je maar kunt bedenken, haar neus is constant rood van het snuiten of kriebelen aan haar neus. Maar wanneer de giftige planten er zijn, die ook pollen rond laten zweven, lijken haar allergieën verdwenen te zijn.
Petra heeft misschien wel de ergste allergie die je maar kunt bedenken, ze is allergisch voor water. Maar als dé regen komt voor de mysterieuze planten, blijkt ze niet allergisch te zijn voor dat water. Ze vangt flessen vol en gaat zich daarmee douchen.
Seth woont bij zijn pleegouders op een boerderij en wanneer de planten de boerderij aanvallen, blijkt ook hij immuun te zijn voor deze gekke planten. De littekens op zijn armen beginnen ook te jeuken. Zouden die er iets mee te maken hebben?
Het verhaal lees je afwisselend vanuit deze drie personages. Pas na een kwart kwam ik erachter dat je per hoofdstuk een soort symbool ziet staan dat hoort bij het personage. De drie hoofdpersonen lijken op een of andere manier in connectie te staan met elkaar en misschien ook wel met de planten. Tijdens het lezen ga je allerlei theorieën bedenken.
Wanneer de planten de hele wereld over lijken te nemen, gaan deze drie tieners samenwerken met de geheime dienst om de wereld te redden. Dit gaat natuurlijk niet zonder slag of stoot. Alles bij elkaar zorgt er voor dat het boek heel avontuurlijk is. Je leeft mee met de personages, je wilt ze helpen. Doordat je steeds van perspectief wisselt, leest het verhaal ook heel vlot.
En dan de laatste bladzijde, hoe kunnen ze ons zo laten zitten met deze cliffhanger?! Ik heb met heel veel plezier dit boek gelezen en ga ook zeker de twee vervolgdelen lezen. Het tweede deel komt in 2022 (in het Nederlands). De schrijfstijl van Kenneth Oppel is heel fijn en beschrijvend. Ook laat hij wat aan de verbeelding over. Ik vond dit boek echt 5 sterren waard.
Anaya heeft last van ongeveer alle allergieën die je maar kunt bedenken, haar neus is constant rood van het snuiten of kriebelen aan haar neus. Maar wanneer de giftige planten er zijn, die ook pollen rond laten zweven, lijken haar allergieën verdwenen te zijn.
Petra heeft misschien wel de ergste allergie die je maar kunt bedenken, ze is allergisch voor water. Maar als dé regen komt voor de mysterieuze planten, blijkt ze niet allergisch te zijn voor dat water. Ze vangt flessen vol en gaat zich daarmee douchen.
Seth woont bij zijn pleegouders op een boerderij en wanneer de planten de boerderij aanvallen, blijkt ook hij immuun te zijn voor deze gekke planten. De littekens op zijn armen beginnen ook te jeuken. Zouden die er iets mee te maken hebben?
Het verhaal lees je afwisselend vanuit deze drie personages. Pas na een kwart kwam ik erachter dat je per hoofdstuk een soort symbool ziet staan dat hoort bij het personage. De drie hoofdpersonen lijken op een of andere manier in connectie te staan met elkaar en misschien ook wel met de planten. Tijdens het lezen ga je allerlei theorieën bedenken.
Wanneer de planten de hele wereld over lijken te nemen, gaan deze drie tieners samenwerken met de geheime dienst om de wereld te redden. Dit gaat natuurlijk niet zonder slag of stoot. Alles bij elkaar zorgt er voor dat het boek heel avontuurlijk is. Je leeft mee met de personages, je wilt ze helpen. Doordat je steeds van perspectief wisselt, leest het verhaal ook heel vlot.
En dan de laatste bladzijde, hoe kunnen ze ons zo laten zitten met deze cliffhanger?! Ik heb met heel veel plezier dit boek gelezen en ga ook zeker de twee vervolgdelen lezen. Het tweede deel komt in 2022 (in het Nederlands). De schrijfstijl van Kenneth Oppel is heel fijn en beschrijvend. Ook laat hij wat aan de verbeelding over. Ik vond dit boek echt 5 sterren waard.
April 5, 2024
I liked this one! I need to read on! How can I stop with only 1st book…
I liked the tension throughout.
It is a Sci-fi novel, but it has a feel of fantasy, too.
I liked the tension throughout.
It is a Sci-fi novel, but it has a feel of fantasy, too.
January 14, 2021
I didn't imagine I would ever become so invested in a sci-fi book, but here I am. It's such an accurate description of Hatchet meets Alien - but I would say Hatchet meets Dark Deep (By Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs).
The plots twists and turns had me definitely hanging on every word. I'm anxious to see where the story goes in book #2 AND #3.
The plots twists and turns had me definitely hanging on every word. I'm anxious to see where the story goes in book #2 AND #3.
May 24, 2020
The last book I read by Kenneth Oppel was Inkling, so this was quite a different experience but similarly engaging.
Our story takes place on a small island, and our main focus is three younger characters who are somewhat isolated from their peers. We have fostered Seth, Anaya who is allergic to everything and Petra who is allergic to water. We are not quite sure what unites these three at first, but when the rain comes we start to get little clues that there might be more going on than we might have ever dreamed of.
With the rain comes new plants...black vines that grow rapidly and spread pollen that causes extreme allergies in anyone coming into contact with them. Before too long the vines are taking over and we have a worldwide state of emergency. Something has to be done, but we see that nobody really knows what to do when they're facing something they've never dealt with before (the parallels with the current situation regarding Covid-19 make this all the more terrifying). The only thing we do learn quite early on is that Seth, Anaya and Petra are seemingly immune to these plants.
What we get is a rather slow start but the tension is quickly ramped up once we find out a little more about the plants. Oppel creates a drama-filled experience and an awful lot gets thrown into the mix, but it works.
It was great to see the bond develop between the three characters, and there were positives in terms of the initial threat. They come out on top. But the chilling ending serves as a reminder that we're dealing with something new...something that might have more to come...what will the people of Earth do when the second wave hits? I can't wait to find out.
Our story takes place on a small island, and our main focus is three younger characters who are somewhat isolated from their peers. We have fostered Seth, Anaya who is allergic to everything and Petra who is allergic to water. We are not quite sure what unites these three at first, but when the rain comes we start to get little clues that there might be more going on than we might have ever dreamed of.
With the rain comes new plants...black vines that grow rapidly and spread pollen that causes extreme allergies in anyone coming into contact with them. Before too long the vines are taking over and we have a worldwide state of emergency. Something has to be done, but we see that nobody really knows what to do when they're facing something they've never dealt with before (the parallels with the current situation regarding Covid-19 make this all the more terrifying). The only thing we do learn quite early on is that Seth, Anaya and Petra are seemingly immune to these plants.
What we get is a rather slow start but the tension is quickly ramped up once we find out a little more about the plants. Oppel creates a drama-filled experience and an awful lot gets thrown into the mix, but it works.
It was great to see the bond develop between the three characters, and there were positives in terms of the initial threat. They come out on top. But the chilling ending serves as a reminder that we're dealing with something new...something that might have more to come...what will the people of Earth do when the second wave hits? I can't wait to find out.
March 17, 2020
Thank you to the Harper Collins and author Kenneth Oppel for providing an ARC copy of Bloom to our #BookPortage group.
Canadian author Kenneth Oppel is going to score some major points with readers with the first of his latest trilogy The Overthrow #1 Bloom.
Set in Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, a typical rain appears to have triggered a strange and now life threatening event. Plants - thick, black vine-like plants are sprouting out everywhere and rapidly taking over land and fields. As the island attempts to solve the problem they discover it’s not just in Salt Spring but around the world. No one seems to know how to stop this invasive plant from spreading and its pollen is causing severe reactions and respiratory issues except for three teens who are immune and have nothing in common until now. Petra, Anaya, and Seth each have their own characteristics that set them apart but they are now working together to try and help their community survive.
Bioterrorism? Environmental factors? Invasion? Readers are thrown out possibilities of what may lie at the “root” of the problem as they get to know the three teens and watch them try to solve the same questions we have.
Suspenseful and fast paced, Mr. Oppel certainly has perfected creepy with this latest book and know that middle readers will race through this one, eagerly waiting for the second in the series Hatch, when it is released in the fall of 2020. Look for Bloom in Feb 2020.
Canadian author Kenneth Oppel is going to score some major points with readers with the first of his latest trilogy The Overthrow #1 Bloom.
Set in Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, a typical rain appears to have triggered a strange and now life threatening event. Plants - thick, black vine-like plants are sprouting out everywhere and rapidly taking over land and fields. As the island attempts to solve the problem they discover it’s not just in Salt Spring but around the world. No one seems to know how to stop this invasive plant from spreading and its pollen is causing severe reactions and respiratory issues except for three teens who are immune and have nothing in common until now. Petra, Anaya, and Seth each have their own characteristics that set them apart but they are now working together to try and help their community survive.
Bioterrorism? Environmental factors? Invasion? Readers are thrown out possibilities of what may lie at the “root” of the problem as they get to know the three teens and watch them try to solve the same questions we have.
Suspenseful and fast paced, Mr. Oppel certainly has perfected creepy with this latest book and know that middle readers will race through this one, eagerly waiting for the second in the series Hatch, when it is released in the fall of 2020. Look for Bloom in Feb 2020.
April 24, 2020
WUT. Wow. What a cliffhanger. Holy. Read this is less than 24 hours because I could NOT put it down.
Black grass starts growing everywhere, after a heavy rain. And everyone is allergic to it. Except the kids who are allergic to everything. They go to a special place and realize they’re actually part alien (part of the plants). They’re growing special powers (wings, strong legs, swimming) and aren’t affected by the poison etc. There are kids all over the world, born around the same time because the moms were abducted (lost time etc) Ialso loved how it showed who’s POV we were on by using the circles that had to do with their powers. So neat.
They go to the island where one of their botanist dads is fighting to survive. There are 3 types of plants: vines, underground plant and water plants. The 3 kids survive and find a way to kill the plants (dirt). They use the dirt to kill the plants and make a spray which kills the plants.
The book ends with them discovering a way to stop the plants just as another rain begins (more plants). It’s a part of a trilogy and I was told that it was stranger things but for kids and it was SO NEAT. Loved it
Black grass starts growing everywhere, after a heavy rain. And everyone is allergic to it. Except the kids who are allergic to everything. They go to a special place and realize they’re actually part alien (part of the plants). They’re growing special powers (wings, strong legs, swimming) and aren’t affected by the poison etc. There are kids all over the world, born around the same time because the moms were abducted (lost time etc) Ialso loved how it showed who’s POV we were on by using the circles that had to do with their powers. So neat.
They go to the island where one of their botanist dads is fighting to survive. There are 3 types of plants: vines, underground plant and water plants. The 3 kids survive and find a way to kill the plants (dirt). They use the dirt to kill the plants and make a spray which kills the plants.
The book ends with them discovering a way to stop the plants just as another rain begins (more plants). It’s a part of a trilogy and I was told that it was stranger things but for kids and it was SO NEAT. Loved it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2022
Oppel is just a master of horror for kids! In this first installment of a new scifi/seriously spooky series, strange plants start growing after a worldwide rainfall. At first they just seem like nuisances... but before long they're causing crop shortages and even swallowing people and dissolving them in pits! What can three seemingly immune teenagers possibly have to do with a solution? And why are they immune?
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK! What a cliffhanger.
I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK! What a cliffhanger.
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