Hatch

July 15, 2020
In this sequel to Bloom (2020), half-alien/half-human teenagers Anaya, Petra, and Seth continue to fight an alien invasion while grappling with their own rapidly changing bodies. After helping discover an herbicide that delayed the aliens' initial attempt at colonization--seeding the Earth with deadly plant life--the three friends shelter on Deadman's Island with Anaya's and Petra's parents and Dr. Weber, a scientist who becomes their ally and offers to be parentless Seth's foster mother. The teens feel safe until Col. Pearson, the head of operations on the island, discovers their secret: that Seth has feathers, Anaya has claws, and Petra has a tail, all as a result of the alien DNA they hadn't known they were carrying until the Earth became covered in intergalactic flora. Pearson sends the teens to a military base housing 23 other young people with alien DNA. The three are relieved to meet others like them--until they realize that the scientist running the facility has nefarious plans to study them. As the teens' bodies transform, so do their loyalties: Should they help earthlings, who are mistreating them, or the aliens who gave them their special powers? The book's character arcs are nuanced and believable and the prose, gorgeously rendered. Oppel's chillingly beautiful, detailed world is the perfect backdrop to the action-packed plot. Unfortunately, the human characters largely lack any kind of diversity. Riveting. (Science fiction. 10-14)

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September 1, 2020

Gr 5-7-The second book in "The Overthrow" trilogy proves to be just as absorbing as its predecessor, Bloom. Oppel does a stellar job of picking up seamlessly from its conclusion, when the hybrid teens had finally begun to make headway in the alien invasion of Earth. The evolution of Petra, Seth, and Anaya's transformations into their alien forms continues to both enthral and horrify them. They are relieved to discover that other teens around the world are exhibiting these same alien features but, to their chagrin, they are rounded up and forced into a secret military bunker. They realize after weeks of experimentations on their alien bodies that it has taken a diabolical turn. The teens rally to rescue Seth from a life-altering operation and escape the bunker. It is here they discover their world has descended into even more chaos from the alien invasion. Strange eggs hatch into bizarre bugs that continue the havoc originally caused by the alien seeds. Even though the hybrid teens are immune to many of these alien manifestations, the humans are not. Petra endures an especially heart-wrenching loss when giant water walkers attack. This sequel is not for the faint of heart. Anaya and Petra's guilt over leaving Seth behind when they escape the bunker is authentically portrayed, and typical teen experiences of attraction, jealousy, and anger will be relatable to readers. This is not a standalone, but it is well worth it to purchase Bloom as well. The appeal of fantasy, suspense, horror, and relationships will be too strong for readers to resist, and they will be avidly awaiting the final book in this series. VERDICT An impressive addition to the outstanding trilogy. The teen characters must give in to their alien DNA, which can potentially help them to save Earth. This belongs on all young sci-fi thriller shelves.-Julie Shatterly, W. A. Bess Elem. Sch., Gastonia, NC

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2020
Grades 6-9 In this second novel in the Overthrow series, the three human-alien hybrid teens, Anaya, Petra, and Seth, are taken to an underground military base where they are tested and trained with other children. The others are changing, too, with animalistic mutations for flying, running, or swimming, perfect for this new environment. Kept in the dark about the facility's purpose, the children aren't sure if they are to be warriors or lab rats, but most hope to be useful. Anaya, Petra, and Seth have already helped discover an herbicide to fight the carnivorous plant life colonizing the planet, but a second wave of the invasion is underway with new insects and other fauna. When the scientists discover transmitters in the children's heads, capable of sending and receiving information, suspicion grows until the children are as afraid of the adults as the aliens. The fast-paced, action-heavy plot is thrilling and a bit scary, and the three teens, further differentiated by their character arcs, undergo believable emotional changes. Another solid sf thriller for tweens and younger teens.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)