Bloom

Bloom

Bibliography

Panetta, Kevin. 2019. BLOOM. Ill. by Savanna Ganucheau. New York, NY: First Second. ISBN 9781549092053

Plot Summary

Ari is a recent high school graduate who plans to move with his friends and bandmates to Baltimore to make it big with their music. His parents aren't in agreement with this plan, as they need his help with their slowly failing bakery. When a young man named Hector comes in looking for a job, Ari begins to question what he wants in life and finds that his identity, hopes, and dreams begin to change.

Critical Analysis

Bloom is a graphic novel that explores two boys and their identities. Panetta's heartfelt storytelling and Ganucheau's masterful artwork will draw readers into this tale of love, passion, and finding out what you are meant to do in this one life we live.

Ari and Hector come from different walks of life but are brought together by baking. Ari's plans of moving with his friends/bandmates to Baltimore are shattered when he must stay and help with his parent's bakery. Hector, who moves into town after the death of his grandmother, decides to take his love of baking and find a job, which leads him to Ari and his family. Ari and Hector both comes to realizations as the novel goes on, about who they are and their life aspirations. Panetta does a great job of building up their friendship and eventual romance, with cute and insightful dialogue and with Ganucheau's mesmerizing montages that show how Ari and Hector grow together and see their true purpose in life.

With a cast of colorful side characters and with moments that will make you laugh and cry, Bloom is a novel that will inspire your love of baking and of seeking out those that make you happiest in life.

Review Excerpts

Booklist: "A quiet, earnest romance with warmth and depth."

Kirkus Reviews Starred: " Panetta and Ganucheau’s graphic novel debut is as much a love story between people as it is with the act of baking. Ganucheau’s art, in black ink with varying shades of blue, mixes traditional paneling with beautiful double-page spreads of detailed baking scenes, where the panels sometimes take on the shape of braided loaves."

Publishers Weekly: "While some of the supporting characters are thinly developed, a pleasantly diverse cast and realistically varied relationship dynamics from Panetta (Zodiac Starforce) offer a thoughtful look at how one grows into and out of relationships, with all the commensurate joy, awkwardness, and reconciliation that family and friends offer."

Connections

More by Kevin Panetta: Zodiac Starforce series

                                        Lorel

                                       Codes of Shovelry Handbook

Readers also enjoyed: The Girl from the Sea by Molly Knox Ostertag

                                    The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

                                    Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman

Activity: Do a character analysis of Ari and Hector. How have their dreams or aspirations changed throughout the book?