Bloomability [Unabridged] [Paperback]

Sharon Creech (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2001

The second life of Dinnie Doone began when she was thirteen. In Dinnie's first life, she moved home a dozen times. In each new town, her family landed in deeper trouble. Then, without warning, she was snatched by total strangers and taken far away to the other side of the world. Dinnie arrives in Switzerland and becomes a pupil at an international boarding school high in the mountains. Separated from her family, she starts a new life that's strange and frightening...beautiful and full of adventure.

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. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Pan Childrens; Unabridged edition (March 23, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0330397842
• ISBN-13: 978-0330397841
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (193 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #725,572 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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 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

This review is from: Bloomability (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.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bloomability, May 16, 2000

By 

Leora Moreno - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bloomability (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.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful!, December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Bloomability (Paperback)

BLOOMABILITY was my first book from Sharon Creech and i have to say i've never read a book with a plot so original and interesting and of course, entertaining. The first few chapters were kind of confusing and uninteresting, but eventually, from the views of Dinnie, i learned to love this book. It's a MUST read!