I'm so excited to have The Neptune Project stopping by today with my review, my dream cast picks, and a blog tour wide giveaway...
The Neptune Project
by Polly Holyoke
5/21/13
Disney Hyperion
Purchase: Amazon
With her weak eyes and useless lungs that often leave her gasping for air, Nere feels more at home swimming with the dolphins her mother studies than she does hanging out with her classmates. Nere has never understood why she is so much more comfortable and confident in the water than on land until the day she learns the shocking truth—she is one of a group of kids who have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. These products of the "Neptune Project" are supposed to build a better future under the waves, safe from the terrible famines and wars and that rock the surface world.
But there are some big challenges ahead of her: no one ever asked Nere if she wanted to be part of a science experiment; the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the new Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim across hundreds of miles of dangerous ocean, relying on their wits, their loyal dolphins and one another to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids ... dead or alive.
Fierce battle and daring escapes abound as Nere and her friend race to safety in this action-packed marine adventure.
But there are some big challenges ahead of her: no one ever asked Nere if she wanted to be part of a science experiment; the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the new Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim across hundreds of miles of dangerous ocean, relying on their wits, their loyal dolphins and one another to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids ... dead or alive.
Fierce battle and daring escapes abound as Nere and her friend race to safety in this action-packed marine adventure.
(I received an ARC of this title from the pub in exchange for my honest review)
Nere
Hanson lives in a grim dystopian future where the Earth has been
ravaged by global warming and humans lack of care. Nere has always
felt like a freak, with her super pale skin, weak lungs, and
telepathic abilities, but she learns that she's special. Nere
and her companions were genetically altered to be able to live in the
sea, and when the corrupt government finds out what Nere's scientist
parents have done, she and the other altered kids must take to the
sea and travel hundreds of miles to an underwater safe haven. Guarded
by her beloved dolphins, Nere and her companions must face dangers,
like sharks and the government divers after them, and fight to
survive.
The Neptune Project was
such a fun, fantastic middle-grade read! Holyoke as crafted a truly
original and unique dystopian/sci-world and has done so wonderfully.
With superb underwater world-building, an exciting plot, and great
characters, The Neptune Project is
sure to please readers of all ages.
The
thrills, chills, and twists are plentiful and the underwater setting
makes for an endlessly exciting and unpredictable story. I have one issue with this book, which I'll get out of the way first, and
that is the world-building outside of the ocean. Nere obviously
lives in a dystopian future where the seas have risen, the air is
polluted, the government is corrupt, and important wars have taken
place, but I don't feel like we are given enough history or backstory
regarding how and why the world has become like it is. We're pretty
much plopped right into Nere's world and I would have appreciated a
little more information. But that aside, the underwater
world-building is superb, and 95% of the book takes place in the
ocean, so this world-building is the most important.
Holyoke
has clearly done her oceanography research and it shows in the
realistic underwater world she has created. This ocean landscape is
breathtakingly vivid and detailed; every smell, sound, taste, and
color jumps off the page. I felt completely immersed in this
beautiful, mysterious, and thrillingly dangerous world. This
underwater world is full of mesmerizing beauty, wondrous mysteries,
and terrifying dangers, and I love that Holyoke doesn't hold anything
back when painting this world. This is a world that will simply
enchant and enthrall young readers.
There's
a great diverse group of characters that includes humans and
dolphins. Each of the characters brings something worthwhile and
interesting to the table and together they create an eclectic,
amusing bunch. Nere is a wonderful heroine, full of curiosity,
intelligence, bravery, and compassion. I really enjoyed watching her
grow throughout the story and become a capable leader. Nere gets a
few cute boys to interact with (I'm totally Team Tobin), and the
romantic elements are very innocent and appropriate for the book's
audience. I really loved all the dolphins and how each is given their
own personality, and the way they interacted with the altered kids.
I
was pleasantly surprised to find how intensely suspenseful The
Neptune Project is.
The action-packed plot, electrifying dangers, and wicked chapter
cliffhangers kept me on the edge of my seat and turning pages with
gusto until the very end.
MY
FINAL THOUGHTS: Polly Holyoke had me completely hooked with this
excellent midle-grade adventure. The Neptune
Project has
enough action, scares, romance, and awesome underwater world-building
to keep even the pickiest readers entertained. This would make a
fantastic summer read for all ages!
Polly Holyoke has been imagining stories since she was in fifth grade. When she isn’t writing, Polly loves reading, camping, skiing, scuba diving and hiking in the desert (where she quite stupidly got herself bitten by a rattlesnake). She lives with three rescue dogs, two spoiled cats and a nice husband who is tolerant about the piles of books all over their house. Her debut middlegrade novel, THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, is the story of a young girl leading a group of genetically altered teens fighting to survive in the sea. She is thrilled that this novel will be published by Disney/Hyperion and Puffin Books UK summer, 2013. She thinks the best part about being an author is going to work in her sweatpants and getting paid for daydreaming!
MY RATING
Polly Holyoke
Polly Holyoke has been imagining stories since she was in fifth grade. When she isn’t writing, Polly loves reading, camping, skiing, scuba diving and hiking in the desert (where she quite stupidly got herself bitten by a rattlesnake). She lives with three rescue dogs, two spoiled cats and a nice husband who is tolerant about the piles of books all over their house. Her debut middlegrade novel, THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, is the story of a young girl leading a group of genetically altered teens fighting to survive in the sea. She is thrilled that this novel will be published by Disney/Hyperion and Puffin Books UK summer, 2013. She thinks the best part about being an author is going to work in her sweatpants and getting paid for daydreaming!
I've been given the fun task of picking a dream cast for some of the characters in The Neptune Project. Here are some of my picks...
Willow Shields as "Nere"
Madison Pettis as "Lena"
Cameron Boyce as "Robry"
Connor Jessup as "Tobin"
Ryan Potter as "Dai"
What do ya think of my dream cast choices?!
Win a finished copy of
The Neptune Project!
(blog tour wide giveaway, US only)
You can enter below
2 comments:
Great review & casting :)
Thanks for participating!
This book sounds really cool! I've been wanting to read a few MG titles, so I think I'll add it to my TBR. I like the premise, and it's awesome you found it to be such a good read, Aiecha. Too bad some of the above-water world building was such a let-down, but 4 stars is still great! Whoo-hoo!
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