Bloom

January 6, 2020
In the aftermath of a hard rain, everything changes for three teens living on small Salt Spring Island near Vancouver. Petra, allergic to water, discovers that her body does not react to the rain, while Anaya, usually allergic to nearly everything else, experiences alleviated symptoms. Meanwhile, unknown, fast-growing, nigh unkillable grass overruns the farm where newcomer Seth lives with his latest foster family. As strange quickly turns to horrifying and the black grass begins taking over the island and appearing globally, the teens begin undergoing physical changes that link them to the plants—and may make them the only ones capable of fighting back. Oppel (Inkling) steadily adds new horrors, potently escalating the story’s pace, stakes, and anxiety as the plants crowd out food crops, explosively release allergy-causing pollen, and begin exhibiting carnivorous tendencies. The teens’ alternating narration develops each character while continually reframing their relationship and the evolving crisis. While elements of the story will be familiar to fans of Jeff VanderMeer and Wilder Girls, the invading plants’ grim and efficient ways of challenging human dominance are effectively unsettling. Terrific momentum makes the abrupt ending jarring but should create anticipation for the sequel. Ages 10–up. Agent: Steven Malk, Writers House.

The energetic pacing and youthful tones of narrator Sophie Amoss introduce listeners to the three teens who form the core of Oppel's newest supernatural thriller. Anaya is allergic to almost everything and suffers from what she calls "volcanic" acne; Seth is a foster kid with strange scars running down his arms; and Petra is allergic to water. When a sudden heavy rain results in the growth of strangely menacing plants, the teens' infirmities disappear, but something far more sinister and disturbing comes over them. Switching up her cadence and intensity, Amoss captures all the excitement and terror as the teens take on alien characteristics, something they have in common with the deadly plants they battle to defeat. Listeners will eagerly await the next installment. S.G. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine