Hatch

The Overthrow #2

by Kenneth Oppel

Fans left desperate for more at the end of Bloom will dive into this second book of the Overthrow trilogy--where the danger mounts and alien creatures begin to hatch.

First the rain brought seeds. Seeds that grew into alien plants that burrowed and strangled and fed .

Seth, Anaya, and Petra are strangely immune to the plants' toxins and found a way to combat them. But just as they have their first success, the rain begins again. This rain brings eggs. That hatch into insects. Not small insects. Bird-sized mosquitos that carry disease. Borer worms that can eat through the foundation of a house. Boat-sized water striders that carry away their prey.

But our heroes aren't able to help this time--they've been locked away in a government lab with other kids who are also immune. What is their secret? Could they be...part alien themselves? Whose side are they on?

Kenneth Oppel expertly escalates the threats and ratchets up the tension in this can't-read-it-fast-enough adventure with an alien twist. Readers will be gasping for the next book as soon as they turn the last page...

Genres: Science Fiction, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Dystopia, Horror, Adventure, Fantasy

416 pages, Library Binding

First published September 15, 2020

About the author

I 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.

Reviews

[Shaye Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I shared back in April, this series has been an incredible match for what we’re currently experiencing in real life with Covid-19. Book #1, Bloom, seemed almost prophetic when I first read it as the US blames China, there’s no toilet paper, and people begin wearing masks. Nevertheless, this series is definitely science fiction with the alien element to it. Strange plants appeared practically overnight and they couldn’t be killed. As the death toll increases, Anaya, Petra, and Seth appear to be the key to the planet’s survival.

Then book #2, Hatch, pulled me much deeper into the fictional world as we learn that this trio, with their unique abilities, are not alone. There are more like them. In fact, they quickly discover they can communicate telepathically, which is unusually personal and intimate with elements of smell and color. As we’d expect, the government realizes these children might not be 100% human, so they take them into custody to study. But one thing is for certain, even behind several feet of cement or buried in a deep bunker, there’s nowhere safe on Earth with so many things hatching.

I can't get enough of this series! I hope everyone does themselves a favor and purchases the first two books of this series. The third book will be released this spring and it’s going to be a very difficult wait! Talk about a cliffhanger… Hurry up May 4th! My thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and Kenneth Oppel for providing me with a digital ARC so that I could write an honest review.

For more children's literature, middle grade literature, and YA literature reviews, feel free to visit my personal blog at The Miller Memo!

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes when you are reading a trilogy, you just need the next book really badly and you have to wait about a year for the next book. Thankfully, the third book in this trilogy is arriving in about 7-8 months because I really need the next book.

Kenneth Oppel started this trilogy with Bloom, a story about plants that just seem to be everywhere. They can't be killed, and start to feed off of humans. But, three Salt Spring Island teens seem to be immune and are the key to survival and winning what seems to be the beginning of a war.

Hatch picks up where Bloom left off and if anything, ups the ante considerably. This is still terrific science fiction with a touch of horror, and you will want to keep reading, but it will be over. For now.

[Nathaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally hate Kenneth Oppel for the way he ended this book, and that's why I'm giving this book five stars.
This trilogy belongs on the NYT Bestselling list. I am so angry at how underrated it is. This is the science fiction that I have been aching to read. So full of curiosity, wonder, amazement, horror, and discovering what exactly it means to be you. Is it your body, or is it your mind?
I cannot wait to read the third book. His cliffhangers should be illegal.

[Willemijn jufwillemijnopallstars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zwerm gaat direct verder na het avontuur in Woeker, het is alsof je alleen een bladzijde hebt omgeslagen in plaats van een nieuw boek hebt gepakt. De proloog bereidt ons voor op wat er komen gaat.

Bij elk hoofdstuk zie je een embleem staan dat past bij een van de hoofdpersonages, zo weet je of je vanuit Anaya, Petra of Seth leest. Zij kregen in boek 1 al veranderingen aan hun lichaam, maar het gaat nu steeds verder. Wanneer ze worden opgesloten ontmoeten ze ook andere tieners met dezelfde transformaties. Sommige zijn al verder met transformeren, dus dan is te zien hoe het wordt.

In het onderzoekscentrum blijkt al snel dat de jongeren niet voor niets opgesloten zitten. Het is in het begin niet helemaal duidelijk wat ze nou met die jongeren willen doen. Gebruiken als soldaat of als lokaas? Petra, Anaya en Seth ontdekken steeds meer vreemde dingen in de bunker.

Beide boeken, Woeker en Zwerm, bevatten veel actie. Vaak is het zo bij een trilogie dat deel 2 echt een tussendeel is, dat er weinig gebeurt. Maar in dit boek is dat niet het geval. Het is wel de voorbereiding op het epische gevecht dat in deel 3 zal plaatsvinden, dat is wel kenmerkend voor een tweede deel. Het betekent echter niet dat er geen gevechten in deel 2 zitten.

De personages maken in Zwerm wel echt een flinke groei door. Ze moeten hun transformatie accepteren, maar niet iedereen is daar klaar voor. De vraag ‘wat is normaal?’ is ook een vraag die centraal staat in vele passages.

Bereid je voor op veel vreemde wezens in deze serie. Het boek is een combinatie van de Hunger Games en een aanval van aliens. Hoewel ik het eerste boek onder 13+ zou plaatsen, vind ik het tweede boek toch wel iets meer voor 15+. De personages zijn ouder (komen ouder over) en de gevolgen zijn wreder. Ik hoop heel erg dat deel 3 vertaald gaat worden, want ik moet weten wat er verder gaat gebeuren. Dat einde smaakt naar meer!

[Sarah B · Rating 3 out of 5]

So it took me a lot longer than I had expected to read this one. While the first book was almost non-stop action and deadly plants, I just found the plot of this book dragging. And it often crawled along at a snail's pace. And while this second book is supposed to be about the second part of the invasion - nasty insects as the front cover suggests - they just simply don't appear until way later in the story. I wanted a fun creature feature like the first story was and sadly this is not that at all! Things did pick up at the very end but that is a tad late if you ask me.

Needless to say I am disappointed!

I do give the story a few points for the emotional turmoil the main characters go through in here. Basically they question who they are now. Because they are changing so much. Simply put they just don't know anymore. And that can be a hard thing to accept.

But I found myself quite bored with the story and my mind was wondering to other things, like videos on youtube, instead of reading this. A lot of new characters were added and they started splitting into groups. It was no longer the main three teens against the horrid things and that certainly subtracted from the high intensity of the first book. And while the characters were going through numerous changes, I just didn't find it interesting at all? I should have but I didn't.

And now I have doubts about how the last book will be.

I also have no idea why my copy has this pinkish cover while all the others have a blue one?? Very mysterious! And perplexing.

[Reading is my Escape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Middle Grade (4-8)
Sunshine State nominated book 2021-22 SEQUEL
Audiobook

From far away, I didn't realize how creepy this cover is. Up close, you see it's not a pattern, but an extremely long centipede with lots of legs.

This book kept up the momentum of book 1 and upped the nasty factor. With giant insects added to the black vines and pit plants, the situation is more nightmarish than ever. Petra still irritates me, but it is nice that the kids are portrayed as actual young people. Even though they may have the future of the world in their hands, they still care about what they look like and they still have crushes and get jealous and insecure. They're still teenagers. And when the hybrids (all kids) go against the cryptogens or the military, it's never an easy win - sometimes they even lose.

I was ready to move on to another book and finish the series after Halloween Bingo, but the end was such a cliffhanger that I just couldn't. So, on to book 3 - Thrive.

I'm counting this book for the Lost in Space square for Halloween Bingo as it involves aliens.

[Marilyn Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like a love letter to many great Science Fiction books and movies over time. I read this book in one day while buried under the covers. I had to stop and come back a few times because it was so intense. It was excruciating waiting for book 2 of the series, it's going to be even tougher waiting for the next one.

My school district nominated Bloom (Book 1) as a Surrey Schools Book of the Year https://thessboy.weebly.com/

Warning: This book is recommended for middle grade and/or young adult. There is quite a bit of violence, so if your child is easily frightened, you might want to skip it.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow to start. Again I was disappointed with the gender stereotyping in this second book of the trilogy. The girls cared about looks, boys had muscles, the damsel in distress motif came into play multiple times. Seth is liked by multiple girls (eye roll).

There is a sexual harassment scene in the bunker with Darren and Petra which is really uncomfortable. I think this part could have been better. Sexual harassment is a very serious topic and it seemed to be pushed easily under the rug. I think a discussion with this book is important for kids to understand this issue.

The action started picking up 50 pages from the end which was entertaining. Earned the book the third star.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a rare thing indeed for a sequel to keep the same phenomenal momentum of the original in the series. Oppel manages just that in his follow-up to Bloom, Hatch. As the cryptogen's plot is slowly reveal and the stakes are continuously raised, the reader will gain a deeper understanding of the book's characters all the while enjoying an action packed thrill ride to the very last page! I can't wait for Thrive to come out in 2021!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing page turner!!!

[Kylie Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book. The writing style wasn’t always consistent with the word choice and the plot twists were kinda out there put overall pretty good.

[Weinlachgummi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vor über einem Jahr habe ich Band 1 von Bloom gelesen und war schwer angetan von der Geschichte. Nach einem Regen spießt plötzlich komisches Gras überall. Es wächst unheimlich schnell und hoch und lässt sich einfach nicht bekämpfen. Nein, ganz im Gegenteil, es schlägt zurück. Gegen Ende gab es dann ein paar schöne WFT Momente. Alleine schon wegen der coolen Idee und Umsetzung, so wie den Überraschungen kann ich euch Band 1 ans Herz legen.

Nun aber zu Band 2, dieser hat mir genauso gut gefallen wie Band 1. Und wer diesen noch nicht gelesen hat, sollte nun nicht weiter lesen, denn nun folgen Spoiler zum Vorgänger.

Ich mochte auch hier wieder die Ideen des Autors und in welche Richtung er die Geschichte weiter entwickelt hat. So wird das Alien Thema weiter ausgeschöpft und es gibt wirklich interessante Entwicklungen. Und die Atmosphäre des Buches wurde beim Lesen gut transportiert, bei all den Dingen, die Geschehen, war es bisweilen erdrücken und auch gruselig. Man mag sich wirklich nicht vorstellen in so einem Szenario zu leben.

Die Charaktere waren mein Kritikpunkt in Band 1 und ich muss leider sagen, dass mich auch in Band 2 besonders Petra genervt hat. Ich glaube, darauf ist ihr Charakter auch angelehnt. Aber alles in allem fand ich sie trotzdem zu eindimensional dargestellt. Und ich bleibe dabei, dass der Autor die weiblichen Charaktere zu flach darstellt und zu klischeehaft.

Doch ist dies nur ein kleiner Kritikpunkt, da die Geschichte ansonsten sehr spannend und actiongeladen ist. Auch in Band 2 ist deutlich, dass der Fokus mehr auf der Handlung liegt. Wobei die Charaktere hier doch auch mehr Entwicklung durchmachen, dies aber oft eher körperlich durch ihre Hybriden Eigenschaften. Die Geschichte wird wieder rasant und dynamisch erzählt. So gab es zwar Szenen, in denen die neuen Entwicklungen mehr im Fokus stehen, doch konnte für mich die Spannung auch in diesen eher ruhigen Szenen gehalten werden.

Nun bin ich sehr gespannt auf den Abschluss (?) der Reihe und hoffe, dass wir ihn auch bald auf Deutsch lesen können. Denn auch dieser Band endet so, dass man sehr neugierig auf den Folgeband ist.

[Smimo Do · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alle atmen auf, als das neue Herbizid endlich eine Wirkung an dem schwarzen Gras und den schrecklichen Grubenpflanzen zeigt. Jetzt wird alles wieder gut, denken sich Anaja und ihre Freunde. Doch kurz darauf überschüttet ein neuer Regen den gesamten Planeten. Diesmal landen keine Samen sondern Eier auf der Erde. Welche Kreaturen werden daraus wohl schlüpfen und welche Gefahren bringen sie mit sich?

Die Regierung hat inzwischen mitbekommen, dass einige Jugendliche sich verändert haben und sie nicht ganz menschlich sind. Aus Angst sie könnten mit der Inversion etwas zu tun haben, werden die Jugendlichen in einem Bunker eingesperrt. Als wäre das nicht schon schlimm genug, werden an ihnen einige Untersuchungen und Experimente durchgeführt.

Ich habe mich tierisch auf Band 2 gefreut und war mega gespannt wie es auf der Erde nun weiter gehen wird. Es fing spannend an, doch die Spannung konnte sich meiner Meinung nach nicht halten. Es war schön andere Protagonisten kennen zu lernen die auch Kryptogene sind. Leider wurde es schnell langweilig, da mir eindeutig die Tiefe der Protagonisten gefehlt hat. Mir hat auch das Abenteuer und der Humor aus Band 1 gefehlt. Später gab es dann doch noch Action, die mich aber auch nicht wirklich abholen konnte, da ich eine Dinge unlogisch fand. Ich sag nur, Seth und sein Zugang.. absolutes No Go. Ehrlich gesagt war ich nur noch genervt und wollte das Buch endlich zu Ende lesen.

Zum Ende wurde es dann wieder mega spannend, was wirklich dringend notwendig war. Der Schluss, Himmel Herrschaft musste das sein? Ich hätte das Buch fast in die nächste Ecke geschmissen... Jetzt muss ich wohl auf Band drei warten der am 9. März 2022 erscheinen soll.

Fazit: Band zwei konnte mich nicht wirklich überzeugen. Dafür hat der Schluss einiges raus reißen können. Band drei werde ich mir auf jeden Fall kaufen, denn ich muss wissen wie es weiter geht ,so kann das nicht stehen bleiben.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time I was ready for the cliffhanger ending, but the nature of it still surprised me. I found this
installment more frustrating especially the first half when they were in Dr. Ritter's bunker. The author needed to show continuing evolution/development of the adolescents but it seemed to drag on so long. I could never figure why Esta had such a had such as bad attitude, and then she was kidnapped before we could find out or get any character development from her.

The two halves really felt like two different books, the bunker book and the part where Seth was on the lam with the kids who got left behind by awful circumstances, and for the girls it felt like one long bunker book. And nothing good ever happens when they go outside.

I can't say I'm "looking forward" to the conclusion, but I want to find out how it all comes out, even though my guts will be twisted the whole time.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

First sentence: This wasn't normal rain.

Premise/plot: Hatch is the sequel to Kenneth Oppel's Bloom. In the first book, readers met three teens who seemed to be completely immune to the alien invasion--of plants. Now in the second book, these three are joined by many others who are half human and half alien. There are three types of aliens: those that live on land, on water, and in the air--jumpers, swimmers, and flyers. As their bodies continue to undergo strange and 'alien' transformations, these teens--including our three Anaya, Petra, and Seth--are kept under lock and key by the government who wants to use them for tests and experiments.

My thoughts: I found the first book, Bloom, to be action-packed and full of thrills and chills. It was exciting, intense, scary. This second book has a much slower pace, perhaps as slow as molasses. The focus for the first half seems to be the mundane, trivial moments of life as a captive of the government. I have no doubt that plenty of exciting, intense, terrifying things are happening outside. But we don't get to see that. Nope, we're stuck in the cafeteria chatty-chatting with others. The second half does seem to offer more excitement to readers. But this one is definitely unevenly paced.

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I couldn't put this down. It's such an intense story, and the suspense is real. I'm so invested in the characters at this point, my favorite being Seth, however, I care about all of them and the outcome. I also like the commentary on what is and isn't ethical during a time of war and that, no, the rights of the individual are not forfeited for the greater good; all we really have are our individual rights and if you don't protect that, then you have nothing. Man, Ritter is definitely a sadistic psychopath, and I don't think that's a spoiler. It's pretty obvious. Anyway, this book, like the last one, ends on a major cliffhanger. So frustrating! I'm waiting for my library to get the next one so I can start reading it! I highly recommend this series if you like sci fi fantasy thrillers; it involves killer plants, killer bugs, and aliens. Also, plenty of body horror.

[Cassie Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel surpassed Bloom in my opinion - which is not something that happens often, if ever for me. The momentum of the suspense and uneasiness of the plot development was fantastic. The cryptogen’s plot is revealed, slowly, and the kids are under high tension. I felt like Hatch allowed us to truly dive deeper in the character development - which is fantastic. The writing in this sequel provided a lot of opportunities to truly visualize what is happening to Seth, Anaya, and Petra. So fast-paced, but when time is of the essence, and the line between good/bad guys is blurred, you have to keep up. I can’t wait for book 3!

[P.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are not a fan of insects, I would skip this book. The second wave of the the cryogen invasion seems to be insect life although there is a mammalian monster in the last chapter. Anaya, Petra, and Seth are changing physically and mentally - developing new talents. The military has secreted them away and is experimenting on them. Anaya is also able to communicate with one of the rebel?
cryptogens who fills Anaya in on the plot to conquer Earth. But is she lying? Can the teens trust Colonel Pearson after he rescues them from the evil Dr. Ritter? What's up with Esta? Is she manipulating Seth? What has happened to Charles and Darren? I liked this book because of some of the descriptions (Charles looked like a nervous meerkat.) but I did not like the cliffhanger ending. I shall have to find out when the next installment is expected.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in Oppel's The Overthrow series. Like Bloom, the first book, this is a plot driven nail-biter with plenty of gory non-stop action. Anaya, Petra, and Seth are in great danger as they continue their transformation into dangerous hybrids. Fortunately, they meet other young people who are going through the same changes, but unfortunately they don't know who to trust. Although there is still much left unexplained, there are some patterns developing that give strong hints of events yet to come. Hatch begins immediately after Bloom and ends with an exciting cliffhanger. Readers who enjoy Patterson's Maximum Ride series or Maberry's Orphan Army will enjoy this series.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Wow! I really liked Bloom so I was excited to be able to snag an ARC of Hatch. I think I liked it even better than the first!! This is a fantastic book series. It has suspense, horror, excitement, grit and is fast paced. Great for middle grade and even young adult readers. Reluctant readers would even get into this one. I don't know how I will be able to wait for book three though! How could you do this to me Kenneth Oppel?!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this next thrilling installment of The Overthrow series by Kenneth Oppel, Seth, Anaya and Petra - our beloved heroes from the first book - develop new abilities and appearances while struggling to sharpen the blurred lines between the “good” guys and the “bad.” Fast paced and emotional, this book solidly brings everything to a head, leading readers into what will most definitely be an epic final showdown between humans, Cryptogens, and the ravaging alien species that is destroying Earth.

[Traci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was slow to start but thankfully picked up speed. There are times I found the teens highly irritating, then I remembered - they're TEENS. It's been a long, long time since I saw my teen years, and clearly I've forgotten what they were like. LOL

The book very much ends with a cliffhanger, and I'm going to have to wait for the 3rd book to hit our library system. It's been ordered but hasn't yet arrived/been processed. So unfair!

[Liander (The Towering Pile) Lavoie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why did I read the first two books before having the third book in my hands?!?!

This one doesn't quite get the 5 stars of Bloom, mostly because there were too many characters that made me really mad lol. Including Seth if I'm being honest. It stressed me out.

But still, amazing series, and I CANNOT WAIT to get my hands on Thrive!!

[D.T. Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fast-paced entry in this thriller trilogy. The publisher has this marked for ages 9-12, but due to infrequent language, some violence, and occasional disturbing "images," I wouldn't recommend it for kids under 14.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel got better and better as it went! I could visualize everything, and I’m desperate for this to become a movie. And that cliffhanger ending… It’s got me desperate for the next book!

[Bonnie Grover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perfect for middle grade readers. I love that it ends with a cliffhanger.

[Ethan M]

the second book in the bloom trilogy, the kids are trapped in an underground government bunker with other kids who are having their... cryptogen pubertys.

[Zora · Rating 4 out of 5]

MG kids must be tougher today than they used to be. There's really dark stuff in here.

[Lyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very epic ending that will leave you awstruck.

[Dana-Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series! Can't wait to see what the final book has