Bloom

Bloom
(Bloom Trilogy, Book 1)
written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperCollins Canada, 2020
978-1-44-345031-7 (hc) $21.99
978-1-44-345032-4 (pb) $12.99
978-1-44-345033-1 (eBook) $11.99
for Grades 5 and up

Kenneth Oppel has done it again! From start to finish, the Bloom trilogy provides readers with an exhilarating adventure with nail-biting action scenes and unforgettable characters, further cementing Oppel’s status as one of the top authors currently writing for middle grade and teens. In the first book, Bloom, readers meet Seth, Anaya and Petra, three teens who discover that they are immune to the effects of mysterious and deadly new plants that quickly wreak havoc after a rainfall delivers their seeds worldwide. The teens are eager to help overcome the devastating impact of these invasive plants but must also grapple with their own surprising physical changes.

Like in all the best science fiction stories, the believability of this narrative stems from the strongly developed characters with whom readers connect and identify immediately. The alternating perspectives of the three protagonists allow the reader to delve further into how each teen deals in their own way with the challenges they face. One of the central themes throughout the trilogy with which young readers will especially identify is trust. Can we trust our friends? Can we trust authority figures? Can we trust those who say they want to help us but who might have ulterior motives? Can we trust ourselves to do the right thing in a tough situation?

In these books, Oppel has created a unique and fascinating world of science fiction and a story that highlights the painful challenges of growing up, making choices and discovering who we truly are. A must-read!

Amanda Halfpenny is a librarian who is married to a librarian. She has two adorable children whose first game was to “play library.” She is also the Events and Program Coordinator for the CCBC.

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