Bloom

What aspects of the cryptogenic plants and their behavior are based on scientific truths? How does science function in the story? What attitudes do the characters have toward it, and why? What does this say about how they deal with this global ecological crisis?

When the black grass arrives, why do people think the government is hiding the truth about it? Why doesn’t the government tell the public that the plants aren’t from Earth? What does this say about the book’s view of how a global crisis is handled? How do the people handle it when society begins to erode?

What is the significance of the jobs held by Anaya’s and Petra’s parents in terms of plot? What is the significance in terms of the book’s themes? Does this speak to ideas of belonging and social institutions in times of crisis?

How do Anaya, Petra, and Seth each deal with hardship or conflict? What motivates them to respond to hardship or conflict in these particular ways? What does this say about their friendship?

What sacrifices do the main characters make in the story? How do their sacrifices influence the story’s outcome or shape the book’s messages? What does this say about the teens’ bond?

Anaya, Petra, and Seth experience alienation because they feel different from their peers. What are things these characters do to help each other feel a sense of belonging? What does this say about the theme of alienation and bonding within the book?

In the first part of the book, why do Anaya and Petra have such different ideas about why they stopped being friends? What does this suggest about conflict between friends? How does the evolution of their friendship reflect the book’s themes?

How is the setting of Salt Spring Island described? In what ways does this setting influence the story’s plot and characters? What does this say about the book’s comment on impending ecological disasters?