Book Review: ‘Bloom’ Awakens the Weed Whacker in all of Us
January 23, 2021 For farmers of all types, there isn’t much on this earth more annoying than weeds. Some species are so invasive and prolific, they almost seem alien in origin. This same feeling is at the heart of a novel I read recently by award-winning author Kenneth Oppel titled “Bloom” – the first in a sci-fi trilogy he’s dubbing “The Overthrow.”
But these plants out of place aren’t your garden-variety, pain-in-the-grass weeds. The tall, spiky black stalks that sprouted out of nowhere after a big rain one night are resistant to all herbicides, grow back within hours of being hacked, toxic when burned, give everyone in proximity wicked allergic reactions, and provide ample cover for giant, acid-spewing carnivorous pit plants that swallow anything and anyone within reach. What!?
At first puzzled by sight of the strange black grass, residents of a small Canadian island community soon would learn they are not alone and that these cryptogenic weeds are popping up all over the planet, choking out crops, as well as inundating roads, houses, and buildings. The situation smacks of a global pandemic emergency, wouldn’t ya say?
Three teens on the island (Anaya, Petra and Seth) are at the center of the story and each hold a unique connection to the invasion. But, as the publisher calls out on the back cover, “This is not the invasion you were expecting.” Indeed. And these are no ordinary teens. They eventually find out why they are not only drawn to each other, but also seemingly immune to the dire situation impacting humanity. The parents though are in the dark … mostly.
Anaya’s father, a botanist, sets out on the front lines of what started as a mission impossible for crop protection to what eventually becomes a fight for survival. But, while under pressure from neck-strangling vines, venom seed-spitting water lilies, and man-eating plants, he manages to dig up an unorthodox way to (maybe) kill the weeds. But he needs help first getting plucked from the remote location in which he’s stranded.
Anaya, along with her weed-whacking friends, finds new strength and confidence amid the chaos and points the local military in the right direction to find her father. The expedition is far from smooth as the colonel and other ranking officers grow suspicious of how and why these kids aren’t affected by the plants.
So, does the weed-control solution come to fruition?
The conclusion of “Bloom” sets up book No. 2 in the series “Hatch,” which was released in late fall. I’ve just started reading that novel, too. The overthrow continues with a different, but another all-too-familiar challenge for growers – invasive pests!
Author Kenneth Oppel uses social media effectively to promote his books. For “Bloom,” he piqued interest with book plot teases, selected chapter readings, and even plant identification challenges.
Don’t let the middle-grade designation fool you. This is nothing like the stories you and I grew up reading back in the day. Book writing of this nature has come a long way for a much broader appeal that gets readers engaged quicker from the onset. “Bloom” is a brisk read at a little more than 300 pages.
The last of Oppel’s Overthrow trilogy (“Thrive”) is scheduled to release this spring.