Polly Holyoke's debut MG/YA novel THE NEPTUNE PROJECT (Disney Hyperion) releases today, May 21, 2013! I'm so happy that this book is now out in the world and I'm so pleased to be celebrating with Polly! Congratulations, Polly!
I was lucky that I was able to read an advance copy of Polly Holyoke’s debut novel, THE NEPTUNE PROJECT. As soon as I began, I knew it would be one of those books that I would want to linger over, yet that I couldn’t wait to finish to see how it ended. I was right – I wanted it to last, but I ended up reading it fast. The good news is that it’s now available and later today I’ll be heading to my local bookstore to pick up the copy that I ordered a while back. Here’s my take on Polly’s novel.
REVIEW: THE NEPTUNE PROJECT by Polly Holyoke
- Middle Grade/Young Adult Science Fiction/Fantasy
- Arriving Today, May 21, 2013 from Disney Hyperion
- Available wherever books are sold
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT by Polly Holyoke is a crisply written action adventure with a reluctant, compassionate heroine, young love lost and found, and lost again, with themes of courage, forgiveness, strength of family ties, and ultimately of redemption. As the title suggests, the story takes place at sea. Not on the sea, but in the sea. Without submarines or even scuba gear. It is a futuristic fantasy, and while I admire so many things about this story, one of my favorite aspects is its authenticity. I know that human’s can’t breathe under water like fish, yet this story is so good, so well told, that I was willing to suspend my disbelief and follow where the storyteller took me. Also aiding the realism is the rich descriptive scenes, coupled with the harsh, serious realities that are a part of this natural world. As beautiful as it is, the ocean is a dangerous place.
Subtly woven into the fabric of the entire story, the haunting question: What are we willing to sacrifice to protect our world and the future for our children, and what is the cost of our actions or inactions? It’s a compelling question raised, and THE NEPTUNE PROJECT provides one captivatingly imagined answer. I’m not joking when I say that I truly hope this story is made into a movie. Live action, with someone like James Cameron guiding the way. It would be difficult to produce, yes, but worth it. To me, this story has the feel of X-Men/Hunger Games/Abyss with a touch of the gilly weed scene from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. If these stories are interesting to you, my guess is that you will love THE NEPTUNE PROJECT.
My Goodreads Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Note to writers: I think that THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is an excellent example of how an author uses rich and precise details to create authenticity in a science fiction story, and how an author can, through the use of a light touch, successfully write intense scenes for younger readers that aren’t upsetting.
Here are links to Polly online:
To Purchase THE NEPTUNE PROJECT
Again, CONGRATULATIONS, Polly! I'm thrilled that THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is on shelves everywhere!
05.21.2013