The Overthrow Series by Kenneth Oppel: Bloom, Hatch, and Thrive

The fast-paced Overthrow sci-fi series by Kenneth Oppel raises interesting questions for young teens.

The Overthrow Series by Kenneth Oppel. Knopf Books for Young Readers.

• Bloom (2020); 320 pages
• Hatch (2020); 416 pages
• Thrive (2021); 416 pages

Reading level: Teen/Adult, Ages 12 and up

Recommended for: Ages 12 and up

A strange rain drops seeds instead of water, seeds that sprout, grow, and bloom. These plants grow much faster than normal plants, and when the new, black vines release pollen, everyone is allergic. Everyone that is, except Seth, Annaya, and Petra. For some reason, the three of them are immune to the pollen. Oddly though, the three of them have significant allergies to other, seemingly “normal” things: for instance, Petra is allergic to water! Are these plants even from earth?

The plot thickens as the alien plants turn carnivorous, swallowing whatever lands in their path (including people). As scientists determine the plants are an alien species, a strange new fact comes to light: Seth, Annaya, and Petra are hybrids (part cryptogen/part human). Each of the three teens has a unique set of characteristics; clearly, they represent three distinct alien species. What’s even more interesting is that they aren’t the only hybrid teens on earth ….

In Book 2, Hatch, alien bugs and animals begin to, well, hatch on earth. Seth, Annaya, and Petra must put aside their own issues and use their blend of human and alien DNA to help save the planet. Superhuman abilities such as telepathy, strength, razor sharp wings, and the ability to submerge under water for extended periods of time help the teens battle the unknown more skillfully than the many grown-up “experts.” Book 3, Thrive, adds a new dimension as the three children make direct contact with 3 cryptogens they’ve only communicated with telepathically before. A full scale alien invasion occurs, bringing the series to a rousing climax.

Science fiction often brings up thought-provoking questions that realistic fiction can’t, and Oppel raises some very interesting questions in this series: What do we think of alien-human hybrids? When is a human no longer a human? What are the effects of mixing DNA between species? What makes technology advanced? When are tech advancements good/helpful, and when might they be a slippery slope? What is an acceptable cost in terms of human lives when it comes to saving the planet/human race? What about when it comes to saving one individual or a few individuals? More relevantly, perhaps, to teens’ ordinary lives: when do we misjudge others based on appearance or our assumptions of their motives and desires (instead of getting to know them first)? How do we let each person shine in their unique gifts and abilities?

All in all, this is an action-packed series that teens will polish off quickly. Check your local library for copies, and be open to discussing some of the above questions if they come up. The Overthrow Series will make for interesting, yet light summer reading. For more books by Oppel, see the Related Reading from Redeemed Reader section below.

Considerations:

• Language: A sprinkling of G– (~5/book) and other words such as “crap”
• Worldview: The “universe” is appealed to, as in, “It was like the universe had given her a quick glance and said, ‘Meh.'” (Thrive, p. 116). This is increasingly common in literature today: the universe is used in a manner similar to fate or destiny.
• Gender: One of the cryptogens is clearly gender-neutral and prefers pronouns such as zir and ze. A gender-neutral alien species is entirely up to the creator of a new world and not necessarily reflective of our own, but the same cryptogen species also has definite males and females. Given today’s culture, the gender-neutral pronouns feel very intentional. Notably, the teens in the book all act/identify clearly as their biological/birth gender. There’s even some young teen love (nothing more than a crush).

Overall Rating: 3.5 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic/literary value: 3.5

Related Reading at Redeemed Reader:

• A Resource: The Nest by Oppel, Newbery Buzz Style (we discuss one of Oppel’s stranger stories)
• A Review: Inkling by Oppel (a delightful middle grades novel about an ink blob that comes alive)
• A Review: The Airborn Trilogy by Oppel (fun, steampunk fare for middle grades/young teens)

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