Bloomability

"You're letting me be kidnapped!" These are the words Dinnie Doone said to her mom when she found out that she was being sent to Switzerland to live with her Aunt and Uncle for a year. Dinnie hates this idea and then she over hears her mom talking to her grandma about how she will be fine because she adapts to places. Dinnie hates herself for adapting so well or " I would never be going on this trip to Switzerland," she thinks.

Dinnie's family is not a normal family. Her dad is always traveling from place to place dragging the family with him. He always says he found " a new opportunity." Also, Dinnie's sister got married and just had a baby and her brother is always in trouble and is found in jail.

So Dinnie goes to Switzerland and attends the American school her Uncle owns, and she meets Lila a girl who loves to complain and nobody likes her besides Dinnie and also a boy who goes by his last name Guthrie. Guthrie is full of energy and adventure and Dinnie grows to like him more and more every day. She also meets lots of friends from all over the world and they have lots of fun and go on a ski trip. Will she adapt just like her mother said? Will she forget her family?

"You're letting me be kidnapped!" These are the words Dinnie Doone said to her mom when she found out that she was being sent to Switzerland to live with her Aunt and Uncle for a year. Dinnie hates this idea and then she over hears her mom talking to her grandma about how she will be fine because she adapts to places. Dinnie hates herself for adapting so well or " I would never be going on this trip to Switzerland," she thinks.

Dinnie's family is not a normal family. Her dad is always traveling from place to place dragging the family with him. He always says he found " a new opportunity." Also, Dinnie's sister got married and just had a baby and her brother is always in trouble and is found in jail.

So Dinnie goes to Switzerland and attends the American school her Uncle owns, and she meets Lila a girl who loves to complain and nobody likes her besides Dinnie and also a boy who goes by his last name Guthrie. Guthrie is full of energy and adventure and Dinnie grows to like him more and more every day. She also meets lots of friends from all over the world and they have lots of fun and go on a ski trip. Will she adapt just like her mother said? Will she forget her family?

Dominica Santolina Doone: A girl who doesn't have an established home. A girl growing up amid failed "opportunities". A girl created by an author, yet like girs everywhere.
Dominica (called Dinnie) is the youngest child of her parents. Her father moves the family every six months in search of nonexistent opportunities, and Dinnie's brother Crick is a juvenile delinquint, her sister Stella pregnant and married at the age of sixteen. The reader gets the impression that Dinnies mother fears for her daughter's well being when she arranges for Dinnie to attend an international school in Switzerland, where her uncle is the newly appointed headmaster. At first, Dinnie feels isolated, alone, betrayed and forced into this new opportunity . However, Dinnie discovers later that this is one opportunity that will change her forever- this was a bloomability.
I absolutely loved this book, and I believe that although many events were highly improbable, the tone of the book is truthful and the bloomabilities in this book are the bloomabilities of life. Thank you, Ms. Creech!
Ciao!

this is a wonderful, wonderful, WONDERFUL book! (though not as good as Walk Two Moons and better than 'Chasing Redbird') Dominique's life turns upside down when she is 'kidnapped' by her aunt and uncle, and they go to live in Switzerland where her uncle is the new headmaster at an international boarding school. it tells of her struggles to adjust, and the wonderful friendships she makes with kids from all over the world. This is an amzing book and i highly recomend it.

Bloomability is about a young teenage girl named Dinnie who is torn between her "first" and "second" life. In her first life her family follows her father across the United States, while he chases various "opportunities". After several years of constant moving and problems with Dinnie's siblings, Dinnie's mother and aunt decide to give her an "opportunity" of her own. This marks the beginning of her "second" life in Switzerland. Dinnie feels that she has been taken against her will and is victim of kidnapping by her Aunt Sandy and Uncle Max. Dinnie is faced with the challenge of starting her new life and yearning for her past life. In her "second" life she meets many interesting and diverse people with whom she embarks on countless adventures throughout Switzerland. Read this book to see how Dinnie blooms into a well-adjusted young lady.

I have read several of Sharon Creech's books, and each one was very good. I was expecting a lot from this one, and I was desperately hoping it would be as good as "Chasing Redbird" and "Walk Two Moons" and... it really was! It was funny, sad, romantic, etc... it keeps you on the edge of your seat, pretty often. This is not because it has fighting or murder or anything, the characters are so real, you want to know what they will do, how they will feel. There are some realtionships, arguments, and more. All in all, this book is a 5-star for sure.

With these words Jack Doone sweeps his family around the United States. For 13-year-old Dinnie, it's hard to understand all these new people everywhere. "My second life began when I was kiddnapped by two complete strangers..." Dinne accounts her travels with her aunt and uncle who she barely knows to the school that they are opening in Lugano, Switzerland. Italian doesn't come easily to Dinnie, but she talks with an 'Italian tongue.' Her friends Guthrie, Lila, Keisuke, Belen, Mari, Fadi, and more help her out, and show her around, and also show her a side of life she's never experienced. Although Dinnie doesn't realize it, she is giving back to her friends with her caring, comical outlook on life. Slowly her dot self begins to grow, her bubble expanding, until she herself is holding Switzerland.

When I was younger, in elementary and middle school, I devoured Sharon Creech books. I loved them all-The Wanderer, Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, Ruby Hollow-but I especially loved this one. I've read this book probably upwards of 20 times in my life, but it doesn't get old. Dinnie is a great character and I love the story. It's fun and leaves you feeling happy. All in all, it's a great read.

This summer, my family will be traveling to Lugano, Switzerland. This book was very educating on the Italian language, and places in Switzerland. The book also was very detalied in characters and places, and you could imagine St. Moritz, Lugano, the Dolomites, and all of Switzerland just by reading it! I highly reccommend this book, Walk Two Moons, and Absolutley Normal Chaos!

I loved Walk Two Moons and Chasing Redbird, (both by Sharon Creech,) so when I saw Sharon Creech had a new book out I really wanted to read it. The main character, a 13 year old girl named Dinnie, goes to a boarding school in Switerland. Her uncle is the headmaster, and he claims it to be a great oppertunity for her. Dinnie at first does not like the idea, but it turns out to be the time of her life. There are students from all around the world there, and they get to go on all sorts of really great trips. This book is funny, yet it really makes you think. A great read, definetly worth the six bucks you pay.

I loved Bloomability! This book was so beautifully written, the reader feels really connected to Domenica "Dinnie" Santolina Doone, a young girl from a problematic family that almost always is on the road. All of a sudden, she is "kidnapped" by her Aunt Sandy and Uncle Max (whom she hardly knows) and finds herself in an American boarding school, where she meets interesting people from across the globe and discovers dozens of "bloomabilities" inside herself. Ms. Creech, in my opinion, is an absolutely wonderful and descriptive author who lived and taught at The American School in Switzerland herself. Reading it as one who has made a few big changes in my own life affected me profoundly.

So far so good! I really enjoy Bloomability, its not to hard, but not to easy. Sharon Creech describes the scenery so well. I can picture being in a little village of Switzerland. I have a picture of the characters in my head and I feel like I am right there. The story keeps moving and there are no dull parts. I love it!!!

A beautiful book about life, freedom, and sometimes making your own "opportunities." Sharon Creech writes some of the best character development I've ever seen. And the quick dream sequences tie everything together perfectly. :-)

This book was required reading for all of the 6th grade children who will start this school year at the new middle school. She said it was okay- "it was interesting...enough." This wasn't one she wanted to read, but saw the value in the story line of a girl beginning at a new school that she didn't want to attend...and then ended up liking the school so much she didn't want to leave. So I would recommend this book for other teachers or parents who want to open up discussion about changes and transitions...and then make them do character analysis, story map or another extension activity along with reading :)

My children (12, 8, 6) and I listened to "Bloomability" on audio CD. The author writes skillfully and creates interest in her characters. Unfortunately this kept us listening, in vain, for something meaningful to happen to them, so the ending was a letdown. Nothing seemed actually to impact Dinnie, the narrator and protagonist, or her friends. The characters remain stereotyped and predictable throughout (Guthrie continues to repeat the same two Italian words and his pet phrase, "Such the best!"; Lila still starts every sentence with "I'm the kind of person who...") We are told that Dinnie has changed during her year in Switzerland without seeing or feeling her change. We never feel privy to Dinnie's thought processes. She raves about Switzerland but doesn't know if she wants to return next year--why ever not?

Altogether, the book was mildly entertaining without being particularly gripping or memorable. I would try other books by Creech, but probably wouldn't pick this one up again. Also, I have to mention that I can't recommend the audio CD version. Mandy Siegfried reads with great enthusiasm, but her pronunciation is atrocious. I cringed every time I heard the Spanish girl Belén called "Bellin," or, worse, the Japanese boy Keisuke referred to as "Kay-Sookie." Don't even get me started on the sloppy diction in words like "February" and "tentative" which shouldn't be that difficult.

"Bloomability" is a heart warming story about family who's lives are on the move. Unexpectedly, one day the main character Domenica Santolina Doone, known as Dinnie, was told to go and move with her Aunt Sandy and Uncle Max in Lake Lugano, Switzerland. Luckily, with the quick transition and the hospitality of the people there, Dinnie feels quite at home. What wasn't clearly stated was why Dinnie moved away from her family, while her family stayed behind. This book was targated to mostly sixth graders or younger; I would not recommend this highly to anyone older than that. Because the main character is a girl, I do not encourage boys to read this. If you would like an easy book just to read for fun, I would consider this book.

This is an excellent book. I connect with most of Sharon Creech's characters, and the only book that she's written that wasn't QUITE up to my standards was "Absolutely Normal Chaos", which is still a great book, though! Readers should make ALL EFFORTS to read these books! (Surgeon General's Warning: You may become addicted)

"Bloomability" is an excellent book. Read about afictional girl, who's life changes as she moves on. She is sent toSwitzerland by her parents with her aunt and uncle.She learns someItalian and hears it almost everyday.She stays there for about a year and she starts to think about home. She heard her sister had a baby, her brother got in serious trouble, and what else? I reccomend this book to people ages from 9 to 15. I also think that people who like long storys that are full of action will enjoy this book. Please pick up this book and read it.

This is my sons pursuasive essay for his advance language arts class. His assignment was to talk another classmate into reading this book. He has enjoyed this class and the other readings. I had to constantly remind him to finish this book.

"Sharon Creech is a Newberry Medal author, yet I can't recommend her book, Bloomability, to my classmates. She can't relate to American 6th grade students. It's the worst reading assignment I've had in 6th grade. I am so glad I'm done reading it.

I would have like to read about technology and science instead of about the mountains and how beautiful and white they are. The author uses many words from European languages which could be cool, but half the time, didn't explain the meaning of the words. It made it hard to concentrate on the story. I like books like the girl trilogy by Lauren Myracle. The girls talk about boys and secrets.

The Language Arts Class had more choices of novels to read than Advanced. Doing so many assignments on the same boring book got old. I feel like I said the same thing over and over. Would the curriculum committee please consider giving the advanced students more choices for their module five novel."

Bloomability is one of my favorite books.. All of Sharon Creech's books are great! I hope she writes a sequal. When I read it, I couldn't put it down. I didn't want it to end. It's one of those books you'll want to read again.

This book is the best. Dinny is "kidnapped" by her aunt and uncle and then taken to a school in wich doing good things are cool. She slowly finds that friends are important and that through it all love will endure.

Sharon Creech has done it again! Bloomability is a story about a girl named Dinnie who has moved all around the U.S. because of her father and his new, so-called "opportunities". One night, she is so-called kidnapped by her aunt and uncle and is whisked away to Lugano, Switzerland where her aunt and uncle enroll her into a private school filled with different kinds of people. While she is in school, a lot of different, and good, things happen to her. She relizes that there are always "Bloomabilities" everywhere in the world.

This is an absolutely entralling book. Every bit is as good asthe bits before. Something is always happening, from cover to cover. Ican honestly say that 'The Ear, the Eye and the Arm' is one of the best books I have ever read.

Bloomability is the best of the best...it teaches values of life you learn, struggles we will probaly all go through. Sharon Creech captures many thoughts and feeling of this young teen, in her dream and her thoughts.

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!

I first read Bloomability four or so years ago. I am a junior in highschool now, and I still consider it an amazing novel.

The characters are interesting, and heart warming. The land is beautifully described, and while the plot is fairly simple, it has so much meaning. It teaches you to appreciate life.

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, no matter how old you are. It reminds you of how wonderful it is to simply be alive.

I became a transparent eyeball!

Previous to reading Bloomability, I read Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird, and Absolutely Normal Chaos, and loved them all. They were hilarious and also contained clever plots. Bloomability, however, did now meet my expectations, which I based on my conclusive thoughts of Creech's other books. While reading Bloomability, I kept anticipating a climax, but was let down in the end when nothing signifigant had occured in the storyline. If you want to read a book by Sharon Creech, read the other ones first.

This book is definitely one of Sharon Creech's best books. After reading her first book, Walk Two Moons, I bought every book in the series! This book is a beautifully written story about Domenica Santolina Doone(or Dinnie)when she goes to an international school in Switzerland. She has tons of great adventures, and ends up in Bybanks, Kentucky, where Walk Two Moons ends up too. When I finished This book, I wondered if the characters would meet. Sharon Creech is a wonderful writer!

Bloomability is a great book. When I started this book it didn't seem that interesting but as I went along my thoughts changed about this book. This book is about a girl named Dinnie who is kidnapped (sort of) by her aunt and uncle who take her to Swizerland. Here Dinnie is living a great life. So it's not like a regular piece of literature. I don't want to tell you everything so I'll stop here. Everyone out there if you are like me then you'll read this book.

This book was definitly NOT one of the good books i have read. The book just keeps yammering on about Switzerland and some girl named Dinnie! I was forced to read this book for the 6th grade summer reading project. It was so boring i could only read 1 minute at a time! So dont waste your time and read a different book!

This book is brilliant! I dont think its about rich people at all--I think its about all different kinds of people and how you look at life like in that story that Guthrie (in the book) tells about the 2 prisonors. You can look at the dirt or you can look at the sky. I loved that! I loved all the characters, and all the different nationallities but especialy Dinnie who is watching and learning just like real kids.

This book was really, really good, but at the end something should have happened. Like Dinnie & Guthrie should have gone through some dramatic scene and I was very dissapointed that Belen and Keisuke didn't have a relationship regardless of their parents. And I also couldn't believe that she couldn't decide whether to come back or not. But other than that it was very well written.

Sharon Creech did it again with another great book. Bloomability was probably the best book I have ever read. This book totally captured my soul with the way it expressed Dinnie's feelings about life. I also fell in love with Gurthie and his amazing spirit. Bloomability totally uplifted my mood and gave me a whole new outlook towards everything. This book was soooo great and I would reccomend it to anyone who wants to be touched by a book.

*With every turn of the page, the reader is surprised and dazzled by the realistic and magical characters. The plot is such that makes you want to keep reading all the way through. Sharon Creech always leaves you wanting more, for you are able to realate to the way the characters act or respond to the situations Creech has put them in.*

This book is great book for all ages! After Dinnie gets kidnapped by her Aunt and Uncle(with her mom's help) and has to move to Lugano, Switzerland where her Uncle is the Headmaster. There she attends boarding school. Will Dinnie fit in with all the school kids, will she ever see her family again? Read the book to find out.

I loved Bloomability. Sharon Creech did a great job on this book. I rate this one right up there with Walk Two Moons. I think Sharon Creech had a lot of good points to make in this book about peoples personalities and how special we all our in our own way. I couldn't put this book down.

This is possibly Sharon Creech's Best. It continues the story of characters based in Bybanks, and has those little quirky connections to things that are often found in her books. The characters all act like real people, and are funny as well as having some romantic qualities. Once again, the ending leaves you not COMPLETELY satisfied, and you can't wait for the next book!

This book is great book for all ages! After Dinnie gets kidnapped by her Aunt and Uncle(with her mom's help) and has to move to Lugano, Switzerland where her Uncle is the Headmaster. There she attends boarding school. Will Dinnie fit in with all the school kids, will she ever see her family again? Read the book to find out.

I loved Bloomability. Sharon Creech did a great job on this book. I rate this one right up there with Walk Two Moons. I think Sharon Creech had a lot of good points to make in this book about peoples personalities and how special we all our in our own way. I couldn't put this book down.

This is an exceptionally boring book. Since I've read other books by Sharon Creech (Walk Two Moons, Chasing Redbird: Totally recomend them!), I thought that this would also be good. Boy was I wrong! Nothing happens. The girl moves to Switzerland. She goes to school. She meets people. That's it! No action, no real plot. Just rambles about some chick called Dinnie!

A wonderful story about a "misfit" girl, who had never lived in the same place for more than six months, who was "kidnapped" by her aunt and uncle and taken to Switzerland to go to an American school.

I liked the book Bloomability by Sharon Creech, but at the end of the book nothing exciting happens. I wish something actually happened and the end. Then there could be a sequal about Dinnie and Guthrie.