Bloomability [Paperback]

Sharon Creech (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 4, 2012 | Age Range: 8 and up

Kidnapped!

The kidnappers are actually her Aunt Sandy and Uncle Max, but that doesn't matter to Domenica Santolina Doone, better known as Dinnie. She feels as if she's being taken out of the country against her will. Certainly no one asked her opinion. Dinnie is used to change-with her family constantly moving from state to state while her father searches for one new "opportunity" after another. But when her aunt and uncle whisk her away to an international school in Lugano, Switzerland, Dinnie feels that this might be one "opportunity"that isn't right for her.

Suddenly Dinnie's surrounded by kids from many different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. Home, and her first life, seem so far away. Can she adapt to a new country, a new home, and new friends? Or will it just be easier to close herself off-just survive-and never realize all the "bloomabilities" that are possible?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Creech makes use of "a light first-person narrative and some insightful dream flashes," to convey an uprooted 13-year-old's coming of age, said PW. Ages 8-12. (Sept.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-In Sharon Creech's Bloomability (HarperCollins, 1998), Domenica Santolina Doone, known as Dinnie, finds herself far from home and among strangers. At the beginning of this first person narrative, Dinnie tells us she has been kidnapped and taken to Switzerland by her aunt and uncle. It is an "opportunity," but in Dinnie's nomadic family, "opportunity" is a loaded word that means you may have to pick up and leave at any moment. Suddenly Dinnie has some stability, but at the same time everything is strange and she is not sure where to turn. Creech, through Dinnie's voice, makes the theme fresh and interesting. Actress Bonnie Hurren makes Dinnie's family, friends, and humor come alive. We follow along as she makes new friends, learns Italian, and waits anxiously for letters from home. Dinnie has great adventures in Switzerland. At her uncle's boarding school, she meets a cross section of American, Asian, Middle Eastern and European students. Hurren does an especially good job providing voices for Dinnie's two aunts and their hilarious postcards. Dinnie's blooming and self-discovery are realistic and enjoyable. This audiobook will appeal mostly to girls.

Suzanne Libra, Huron Middle School, Northglenn, CO

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Audio Cassette edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (December 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 006440823X
• ISBN-13: 978-0064408233
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (197 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sharon Creech is the author of the Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and the Newbery Honor Book The Wanderer. Her other work includes the novels Hate That Cat, The Castle Corona, Replay, Heartbeat, Granny Torrelli Makes Soup, Ruby Holler, Love That Dog, Bloomability, Absolutely Normal Chaos, Chasing Redbird, and Pleasing the Ghost, as well as three picture books: A Fine, Fine School; Fishing in the Air; and Who's That Baby? Ms. Creech and her husband live in upstate New York.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars My favorite Sharon Creech book so far January 8, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I've read Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, and Absolutely Normal Chaos, and I liked Bloomability more than any of those three. I do have to agree that there didn't seem to be much plot, but it kind of added to the 'real-life' quality of the book--in real life there isn't a plot.

The main thing I loved about this book is how you can experience Dinnie's year in the boarding school in Switzerland. I liked all the little things that were included; the 'thinking' homework, the descriptions of teachers, how the students from all different countries acted towards eachother, the short weekend trips Dinnie went on, the letters from aunts, etc. I was in raptures because of the beautiful setting, and I loved all the Italian words that were thrown in.

The character descriptions were really interesting, and I think the characters were one of the strong points of this book. While Dinnie herself didn't seem to have much of a strong personality one way or another, Guthrie and Lila were both very opposite personalities, but still both very strong ones.

I have to disagree with anyone who thinks there wasn't enough romance in this book. These kids are only 13, remember? I thought the little bit was just the right amount. (Besides, it didn't seem like there was a whole lot more romance in Sharon Creech's other books.)

I reccommend this book to girl aroung Dinnie's-and my-age, especially if you have an interest in Switzerland, or have ever wanted to go to a boarding school yourself.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Bloomability May 16, 2000

By Leora Moreno

Format:Paperback

Bloomability struck me as a remarkably unique book. I love Sharon Creech and all of her books. I'm not sure I have a favorite. This particular one made me think more than the others. Although my life couldn't compare to Domenica Santolina Doone's, some of her thoughts match mine. Domenica is "kidnapped" by her aunt and uncle and taken to Switzerland. She goes to a school there and makes lots of friends, two of which are Guthrie and Lila. Guthrie is someone who loves the world enormously and expresses it all the time, while Lila is a very difficult person who complains a lot. Even so they're all friends. What I loved most about this book was the way Sharon Creech phrased Domenica's thoughts and feelings. For example, Domenica feels like she's in a bubble, seperated from the rest of the world. Creech divides sections of Domenica's life into "her first life" and "her second life." I think it's amazing how many well thought metaphores and similies she includes in this book. She also includes some of Domenica's dreams, a very nice addition. Bloomability is a quick, interesting, and entertaining read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Novel with a Concept that will stay with you for a lifetime April 7, 2010

By Lille

Format:Paperback

I read Bloomability nearly TEN years ago and it has remained one of my favorite novels. It's a great story about a young girl (Dinnie) who gets uprooted from the world she's always known - it's not a world of particular stability, and she's often been forced to into situations where she has to adapt but she's always had her family (crazy as they are) around her. Now Dinnie is being whisked away to Switzerland for a better opportunity and a new life at a new school and she is as scared, upset, and resistant as any one of us would be. But at the same time, she's a very adaptable girl and slowly learns to accept her surrounding, make friends where others make enemies, and shows her gentle, kind, accepting nature.

I read this book after I moved across the USA when I was 12 and I felt much like Dinnie did. But I loved being able to immerse myself in this world with these flamboyant and unique characters and the world they inhabited. All these characters are believable and exciting, yet uniquely flawed as we all are, "grouchy" Lila who hides her insecurities, wild outgoing Guthrie whose adventurous spirit gets him into trouble, posh!Belen who loves dorky!Keisuke but has to keep their relationship a secret, Japanese Keisuke who invents the term "Bloomability" out of a misunderstanding/mispronunciation of the English words. To imagine and recreate their own adventures in my mind - I don't think I'll ever look at a snowy mountain top and not think of how Dinnie thought of gelato ice cream back home with her family interspersed on that image.

How ridiculous crappy movies get made all the time and this one hasn't is beyond me frankly~