I started reading this book and found that it was not for me. It didn't seem fair for me to review a book that I didn't finish.

*I received all these titles from Netgalley and their respective publishers in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own and do not reflect the thoughts of the author’s or publishers.


What I Loved: In this sequel to one of my favorite MG horror novels of all time, Oppel offers a more character driven sequel and sets things up for the final book coming out this year. I absolutely adored Bloom. I loved how bold it was as far as middle grade horror was concerned. There was so much body horror and action. I felt like Hatch was quieter. The majority of the book is spent learning more about the three kids and their growing abilities. I did really enjoy the end of the book and the cliff hanger for the next book. Even if I am unsure of how I feel about the concept of “aliens”.

What I Didn’t Love: This is complicated. I loved the first book so much and this one just seemed so different and so much slower. Bloom gave me intense The Ruins vibes and this one felt more like X-Men meets Alien. I really missed a lot of aspects of the world. It felt like Hatch was mostly just setting things up for the final book, a frequent complaint of the second book in a trilogy.

Overall, I gave this 4/5 stars and would recommend it for anyone looking for a solid middle grade horror novel.

It's a rare thing indeed for a sequel to keep the same phenomenal momentum of the original in the series. Oppel manages just that in his follow-up to Bloom, Hatch. As the cryptogen's plot is slowly reveal and the stakes are continuously raised, the reader will gain a deeper understanding of the book's characters all the while enjoying an action packed thrill ride to the very last page! I can't wait for Thrive to come out in 2021!

Hatch by Kenneth Oppel

In this thrilling follow up to 2019's Bloom, Oppel returns to the world where extraterrestrial cryptogens have created a hybrid generation of children who are developing interesting physical traits as their alien DNA is activated by the release of plant matter from their planet of origin. The plants have a weakness but just as the world starts to celebrate it rains down odd eggs that burrow into the ground and unleash a new horror on the planet.
As government officials round up the cryptogen children from different parts of the globe and hide them away in hopes of discovering just what they are and if they are friend or foe, Anaya, Petra, and Seth find others like them and begin to see the full capabilities of their power.
Will they stop this new and evolving invasion? Are the cryptogens really the enemy, or is a more sinister human element what the kids should fear?
Don't expect this middle book in the three part series to answer too many of your questions. It is a perfect mid-point in the series and leaves you with a cliffhanger that will surely make the wait for book three all the more excruciating.
I recommend this book for middle school and high school readers.

As I shared back in April, this series has been an incredible match for what we’re currently experiencing in real life with Covid-19. Book #1, Bloom, seemed almost prophetic when I first read it as the US blames China, there’s no toilet paper, and people begin wearing masks. Nevertheless, this series is definitely science fiction with the alien element to it. Strange plants appeared practically overnight and they couldn’t be killed. As the death toll increases, Anaya, Petra, and Seth appear to be the key to the planet’s survival.

Then book #2, Hatch, pulled me much deeper into the fictional world as we learn that this trio, with their unique abilities, are not alone. There are more like them. In fact, they quickly discover they can communicate telepathically, which is unusually personal and intimate with elements of smell and color. As we’d expect, the government realizes these children might not be 100% human, so they take them into custody to study. But one thing is for certain, even behind several feet of cement or buried in a deep bunker, there’s nowhere safe on Earth with so many things hatching.

I can't get enough of this series! I hope everyone does themselves a favor and purchases the first two books of this series. The third book will be released this spring and it’s going to be a very difficult wait! Talk about a cliffhanger… Hurry up May 4th!

My thanks to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and Kenneth Oppel for providing me with a digital ARC so that I could write an honest review.

Hatch is Kenneth Oppel’s continuation of his MG alien invasion tale that began with Bloom. Oppel maintains the fast-paced excitement, keeping his focus on the three young protagonists Petra, Anaya, and Seth, while adding a few new characters as well. Fans of book one will not be disappointed, save by a killer of a cliffhanger ending. Inevitable spoilers for book one ahead.

In the first book, aliens were softening up Earth and preparing it for their impending invasion by seeing our planet with various deadly plant species that weren’t just dangerous to touch or eat but were actively carnivorous, though their biggest danger was a growth rate that was quickly obliterating humanity’s food crops. Meanwhile, the three young characters (spoiler alert—seriously, stop now) began to change, each in unique fashion, with Seth sprouting feathers, Anaya claws and powerful legs, and Petra a tail, all connected to what they learned was alien DNA in their bodies. In Hatch, fauna follows flora, as the aliens continue their efforts to weaken Earth, this time with horrible, deadly creatures (if Bloom called up some echoes of Day of the Triffids, the sequel will have you fondly recalling any of numerous monster-movies).

Meanwhile, the three young teens have been sent to a secret underground bunker along with others like them, where they are poked, prodded, and tested even as their bodies continue to change. It soon becomes clear, though, that the head of the secret base doesn’t necessarily have their best interests at heart, leaving the kids to decide which place or group is more dangerous to them, the humans in their bunker or the alien monsters roaming the outside.

The series is firmly in the MG/YA mode. There’s not a great deal of detailed world-building or in-depth musings on issues. That’s not a complaint, just a note that while enjoyable enough for older audiences, it’s really not a “crossover” novel so much. On the other hand, and more to the target audience’s pleasure, it’s a fast-paced adventure story with dangerous monsters, alien invasions, mad scientists (kind of), adults who can be trusted mixed in with adults who can’t so that nobody is sure which is which, and a focus on body changes that are both dreaded and desirous, that last something any pre-teen and teen can relate to. And if the book speeds along with lots of exciting action scenes, that isn’t to say Oppel doesn’t slow down to offer up some quieter moments of introspection or dialogue that will hit home with the reader on topics such as how one sees oneself versus how other do, feelings of abandonment by friends or adults, a desire to be liked, to be pretty, to be listened to, and others. Characterization is concise and minimalist, but it’s a testament to Oppel’s skill that they all still come across as rich, three-dimensional creations who are impossible not to root for. Recommended for both younger and older-teen readers.

It was good but it really did suffer from middle of trilogy syndrome. Great for young teen readers. The trio finds themselves at the mercy of an evil scientist while finding more hybrids like them.

Fans of The Hunger Games and The Testing are going to love Hatch, Book 2 in The Overthrow Trilogy. I couldn’t put this down!

This book picks up where Book 1, Bloom, ended. After celebrating the success of the herbicide, everyone watches in horror as insect eggs rain down. From there things change quickly - the quick pacing is one of the many elements that make this book so enticing. The world has learned about hybrids like Anaya, Petra, and Seth, which results in the military intervening and transporting then to a hidden bunker. There they learn more about themselves and their new abilities. But with new information comes even more questions. Will Earth be overrun? Will the hybrids lose their humanity? Can humans accept the hybrids?

Oppel’s descriptions of each new creature in this world are both haunting and mesmerizing. The alternating POVs work so well, especially as the characters and plot lines became more complex. Oppel naturally wove the POVs together and ended each on a cliffhanger, which will drive readers to quickly devour this book.

Thank you to Random House for sharing an eArc with #BookAllies in exchange for an honest review.

This book was action packed!
Which evolution would you want? Flying, swimming or running?
Not only do they have to deal with the plants now they have to deal with mutant alien bugs! Petra, Anaya, and Seth are taken from the island and meet other kids like them and continue to evolve and change. As they learn how to use their changing bodies their new skills are put to the test protecting themselves and others.

A great follow up to Bloom, a recommended read for those wanting action, suspense, sci-fi, and some gore. Great for reluctant readers!

I loved this sequel so much. I can't wait for the 3rd in the series... great action, suspense, internal conflicts. Love what Oppel has done with this series.

Hatch picks up right where Bloom leaves off. It really is an interesting concept to think about-- alien life forms using the Earth to become their new home. After Bloom, we are left knowing about the vines and berries and water lilies and how the three main characters, Seth, Petra and Anaya, are adapting to the changes on Earth and within what is happening with their half-cryptogenic bodies. In Hatch, new creatures are introduced, along with new features happening to the kids. They are contained in an underground bunker controlled by the government throughout the story, and they are tested and poked and prodded until they figure out that this isn't the safest place for them, They try to escape, and when they do, they are rescued from the bunker by Dr. Weber and Colonel Pearson, but are separated and Seth is left behind. Anaya has been communicating with one of the cryptogens and no one likes it, but she trusts her. The cryptogens are coming to Earth because they need to take a substance for them to win the war on their home planet. The ending is abrupt, but I am assuming that the third book will pick up where this one left off and will finish the trilogy.

This review will not divulge events as most of them would be spoilers to the first book. It is unusual that the second book of a trilogy outshines the first fantastic book. Hatch is that sequel. The first half of the book is in one location. I did not find this part of the story slow, but rather essential to understanding all the transformations that our protagonists are going through. It sets that stage for the rest of the series as they struggle about where their loyalties are founded and should stay. The author develops a fantastic antagonist- you just picture this evil character rubbing his hands together plotting against our characters. I am not sure how the author does it, but I care for all three main characters equally. He reveals just enough strengths and weaknesses in each one that one character not stand out as a favored character. You may like one better than another, but each one holds their own place in the story. The second half of the book- put your seat belt on! If you did not like the essential character development in the first half of the book- I encourage you to stay tuned and keep reading. Great sections to practice visualization as you read. Again, the author ends this book on an even more riveting cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book! If you normally do not like science fiction- give this series a try!

ARC provided by NetGalley

In the first book, Bloom, the rain came and started the transformation of three friends - Anaya, Petra and Seth. Now in the second book we return to learn what is happening to the friends now. Now that the eggs are hatching - what is being born? Why is everything changing on the planet? And why are Anaya, Petra and Seth immune to this changes? I found that this installment was just as creepy and engaging as the first. We get introduced to a variety of new characters including Esta, Charles and Darron who might be on the side of the original trilogy of friends or could be working for the government, or worse - the enemy beginning to invade. I am excited to read the next one, I have to hear what happens - I can't believe I have to wait until 2021!

This second installment in this thrilling trilogy was just as terrifying as the first. Maybe even more so as we learn more about the cryptogens and their plans for earth. The book does start out a little slow, but the action picks up pretty quickly as the kids fight for not just their survival but humanity as well.

The story is still told through Seth, Anaya and Petra’s points of view. Each of them is struggling throughout with the changes that are happening to them and coming to grips with the fact that they are not fully human any more. But they do learn to accept their new abilities for the most part. There are some tense moments between the friends, and some new friends they make in the lab come between them at times. But they eventually do come to terms with their issues and are united in helping everyone survive.

Although the parts of the book that took place in the lab, were the slowest parts of the book, they were still the most interesting. We got to meet new kids in the same predicament as our main characters and see how well they were adjusting or not. The kids learn and develop new talents and abilities too, that the adults just want to exploit. The scientists behind the lab, especially Dr Ritter, were not very nice to the kids. The experiments they wanted to perform on them were heinous and downright cruel. So I was really rooting for the kids to work together to get away from them.

We do learn at the start that the new rain that started falling at the end of book one contains creatures that grow at an amazing pace. One of the downfalls of the part of the book that takes place in the lab is that we don’t know what is happening on the outside with these creatures, until they start appearing that is. These things bring the terror the plants started to a whole new level.

This book was just as exciting and wonderful as the first, but that ending just about killed me. I was sort of expecting it, but still it is quite the cliff hanger, which just makes me want the next book now. This is definitely a book I recommend for those older tween and young teens who like fast paced action and a thrilling plot.

This is the 2nd book in Oppel's The Overthrow series and picks up right where Bloom left off. The first part of the book seemed fairly slow as Seth, Anaya, and Petra are adjusting to their new life in a top-secret underground bunker. They meet other alien hybrids like themselves and discover new abilities. The action picks up later in the book and it was very hard for me to put the book down. Although I was expecting the cliffhanger at the end, it felt quite abrupt. Overall, this was a good read with more character and plot development. Despite the characters in the story being teenagers, this book definitely reads younger and I would most likely recommend this to 6th grade and up.

Excellent follow up to Bloom. I love the way the characters are developed and became more independent of each other. I can’t wait for book 3!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Hatch picks up shortly where Bloom left off. Anaya, Petra, and Seth are on Deadman’s Island still learning about the changes their bodies are undergoing. Now that they developed a repellant for the carnivorous plants, the rains came again, this time bringing eggs. Of course, on top of the eggs hatching with new dangerous creatures, Colonel Pearson is still wary of the teens and their abilities. He is accompanied by Dr. Ritter who takes the teens to a secret underground base where they meet other hybrids like themselves, also undergoing change and evolving into three types - flyers, runners, and swimmers. The teens find out that the cryptogens have put transmitters in their brains, with Anaya’s being the strongest. Ritter want to use and experiment on the kids in order to defeat the alien invasion. Anaya is able to communicate with one of the cryptogens she has named Terra, who wants to use Anaya’s blood to make a weapon to used against the alien oppressors.
Having read Bloom, I was very excited to see that second book e-ARC was available. It is fast paced, exciting, and suspenseful. The three main characters grow into their new selves while trying to keep their identities. It, of course, ends on a cliffhanger, setting up for Book 3, due in 2021. I am excited for the conclusion. I recommend this book for those who have read the first book in grades 5 and up.
#Hatch #NetGalley

I didn't like this book as much as I did the first in the series. Our main characters are separated and the new friends that they make aren't very likeable. Seth was being led around by his nose by a girl was was downright possessive. Petra was a tattletale, and Anya was very naive about the coming aliens.

An exciting sequel that continues the character and plot development of the alien invasion -- it's hard to put down and I can't wait for the next bok.

How to review this book without spoilers??!!

First, if you haven't read the 1st in The Overthrow series, go back and do so. This is not a series that's easy to jump into without the first book.

Hatch suffers a bit with typical second book in a trilogy issues: it dragged a bit during the first half of the book as Petra, Anaya and Seth adjusted to life in an underground bunker with the other hybrids. But about halfway through, the action picked up and left no room for readers to catch their breath. And then...grrr...the book ended with an intense cliffhanger. Actually, that's one reason why I rated the book 4 and not 5. Especially with a new series, where readers can't immediately pick up the next book, I think there needs to be some sense of resolution along with a push to keep people reading. While Hatch is amazing and I definitely want to know more, I didn't like the ending which felt like it cut off mid-action. Still, this is a must read for anyone who read the first book. You just may want to wait until #3 is published as well...and then plan to binge read!

Review based on an ARC received through NetGalley.