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The Neptune Project #1
The Neptune Project
Nere has never understood why she feels so much more comfortable and confident in water than on land, but everything falls into place when Nere learns that she is one of a group of kids who --unbeknownst to them -- have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. These products of "The Neptune Project" will be able to build a better future under the sea, safe from the barren country's famine, wars, and harsh laws. But there are some very big no one asked Nere if she wanted to be a science experiment, the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim through hundreds of miles of dangerous waters, relying only on their wits, dolphins, and each other to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids . . . dead or alive. Fierce battles and daring escapes abound as Nere and her friends race to safety in this action-packed aquatic adventure.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2013
213 people are currently reading
4564 people want to read
About the author
Polly Holyoke
7 books410 followersPolly Holyoke is the author of adventurous fiction for kids. SKYRIDERS, her new series about brave young couriers on their talking flying horses, along with its sequel THE SKY KING, are available now from Viking Children's Books. SKYRIDERS was named one of Bank Street's Best Children's Books of 2024. Her books published by Disney/Hyperion include THE NEPTUNE CHALLENGE (2015) and THE NEPTUNE PROJECT (2013). They have been named to state reading lists in TX, MD, FL, HI and OH. THE NEPTUNE PROJECT won Florida's Sunshine State Young Reader's Award. The last book in the Neptune Trilogy, THE NEPTUNE PROMISE, is available on Amazon and BN.
A former teacher, Polly loves doing school visits and conducting writing workshops.
She currently lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Learn more at www.pollyholyoke.com.
A former teacher, Polly loves doing school visits and conducting writing workshops.
She currently lives in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Learn more at www.pollyholyoke.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 483 reviews
January 23, 2013
It takes a skillful author to bring readers into an unfamiliar world and make them feel secure. The detail has to be just right, without overpowering the story; the characters have to be grounded in reality, to give us something to identify with; and even the nonhuman creatures have to resonate warmth and personality. Polly Holyoke has done all this and more with her fabulous debut, The Neptune Project.
Holyoke has drawn up an authoritarian futuristic America sprung from a planet plagued by environmental catastrophes—global warming, polluted oceans, and extinct species. Thirteen-year-old Nere’s parents realize their best hope for humanity lies in the sea, and they have altered Nere’s genetic makeup to allow her to breathe water like a fish—something Nere only discovers when the government cracks down and she has to flee for her life. At her mother’s behest, Nere travels over a thousand miles with a group of other genetically altered kids hoping to find her father’s safe haven colony, and along the way the group finds out just how dangerous the sea can be.
Part science fiction, part adventure story, The Neptune Project is a fast-paced, well-written story for upper-middle-grade readers. Kids will be fascinated by Nere’s aquatic survival skills and her crucial friendship and telepathy with a pod of dolphins. The older set will recognize the painful middle-school tenderness of a girl’s first romance. This book has something for everyone. You won’t want to miss it.
DISCLAIMER: This review was written after reviewing an advance reader's copy (ARC).
Holyoke has drawn up an authoritarian futuristic America sprung from a planet plagued by environmental catastrophes—global warming, polluted oceans, and extinct species. Thirteen-year-old Nere’s parents realize their best hope for humanity lies in the sea, and they have altered Nere’s genetic makeup to allow her to breathe water like a fish—something Nere only discovers when the government cracks down and she has to flee for her life. At her mother’s behest, Nere travels over a thousand miles with a group of other genetically altered kids hoping to find her father’s safe haven colony, and along the way the group finds out just how dangerous the sea can be.
Part science fiction, part adventure story, The Neptune Project is a fast-paced, well-written story for upper-middle-grade readers. Kids will be fascinated by Nere’s aquatic survival skills and her crucial friendship and telepathy with a pod of dolphins. The older set will recognize the painful middle-school tenderness of a girl’s first romance. This book has something for everyone. You won’t want to miss it.
DISCLAIMER: This review was written after reviewing an advance reader's copy (ARC).
April 30, 2013
Intended Audience: Middle Reader/YA
Sexual content: N
Ace/Genderqueer characters: ?
Rating: PG-13 (for violence and death)
Writing style: 2/5
Likable characters: 2/5
Our protagonist, Nere, is a lonely misfit with weak lungs who gets along better with dolphins than humans. She also happens to be a gifted telepath (it runs in the family). At least a hundred years in the future, global warming has expanded the oceans and covered much of what was the United States—now the Western Collective. When the government passes a death sentence upon her town, Nere is forced to complete a transformation her mother has been preparing her for since conception. The Neptune Project is a desperate bid to create a new civilization under the ocean, outside of the Western Collective’s grasp, and children like Nere were genetically engineered by the project’s founders to survive life underwater.
The majority of the book details Nere’s travels with other “Neptune kids” up the west coast of North America toward a secret colony where they can live in peace. While the writing shows a deep familiarity with ocean life, sailing, and diving, the characters are flat and unmemorable, which made it very difficult for me to care about what happened. There was lots of action and a surprising amount of violence and death, but the blunt reporting of facts and events one right after another made it hard to feel connected with the characters emotionally. The narration is in first person present tense from Nere’s point of view. I’ve seen this done before, and if done right, it can be very engaging. But here it just felt awkward—third person would have been better, because I wouldn’t have expected to know the character with as much depth and immediacy.
The dialogue also felt strange to me, and made it hard to place the characters’ ages. At one moment naiveté made them seem young, perhaps in the middle school age group, and at others their vocabulary and speech patterns made me think college age or older. It seems likely that the author wrote this book out of a love for the ocean, but hasn’t had the time or practice necessary to develop strong characters and natural dialogue. I know the book’s set 100 years or more in the future, so maybe by that time fourteen year olds really will call each other “dartling” and “sweetling”—maybe it’ll be the next big cool thing to say, but in 2013, the best I could do was try not to roll my eyes too much when I encountered it.
Oh yeah, and there are dolphin characters too! Mariah is the matriarch of an entire pod that has worked closely with Nere’s family for years, and the dolphins have about as much personality as the human characters—maybe more, in some instances. Since I’m an animal lover, I liked the occasional debate about the rights and intelligence of cetaceans which occurs between the human characters. Some of the dolphins can speak English telepathically instead of merely sending images or impressions, but the grammar is a bit stilted. I’m still trying to decide if I like the effect of that or not.
There are no stated genderqueer or ace characters in this book, but Nere does mention at some point that she doesn’t want to make any of the boys in the group like her. Since it’s a book for kids, I wouldn’t expect an actual mention of sexual desire even if it were technically present, so I assume that when Nere begins to show interest in one of the boys and wants to kiss him (or rather, eventually wants to return the kiss he more or less forced on her) she could be sexually attracted to him as well as romantically. It’s easy to read her as either a hetororomantic ace or as a young straight girl who has much more important things to think about—like survival. I’m more inclined to believe the latter.
When it comes to gender, the characters are fairly mainstream representations of boys and girls. Although Nere takes on a leadership position later in the book, she is never presented as an intimidating figure like Kyel, the boy who was leader before her. Instead her nurturing qualities are the focus—which is fine, but as I said, fairly mainstream.
Finally, there’s no real climax to this book. There’s a brief period of setting up the situation, then it’s action-action-action for 300 pages at about the same level of intensity throughout, and then a very quick resolution which leaves lots of room for a sequel. If there is a sequel, I won’t be reading it, but I’d be willing to bet there are a lot of twelve-year-olds who will.
Sexual content: N
Ace/Genderqueer characters: ?
Rating: PG-13 (for violence and death)
Writing style: 2/5
Likable characters: 2/5
Our protagonist, Nere, is a lonely misfit with weak lungs who gets along better with dolphins than humans. She also happens to be a gifted telepath (it runs in the family). At least a hundred years in the future, global warming has expanded the oceans and covered much of what was the United States—now the Western Collective. When the government passes a death sentence upon her town, Nere is forced to complete a transformation her mother has been preparing her for since conception. The Neptune Project is a desperate bid to create a new civilization under the ocean, outside of the Western Collective’s grasp, and children like Nere were genetically engineered by the project’s founders to survive life underwater.
The majority of the book details Nere’s travels with other “Neptune kids” up the west coast of North America toward a secret colony where they can live in peace. While the writing shows a deep familiarity with ocean life, sailing, and diving, the characters are flat and unmemorable, which made it very difficult for me to care about what happened. There was lots of action and a surprising amount of violence and death, but the blunt reporting of facts and events one right after another made it hard to feel connected with the characters emotionally. The narration is in first person present tense from Nere’s point of view. I’ve seen this done before, and if done right, it can be very engaging. But here it just felt awkward—third person would have been better, because I wouldn’t have expected to know the character with as much depth and immediacy.
The dialogue also felt strange to me, and made it hard to place the characters’ ages. At one moment naiveté made them seem young, perhaps in the middle school age group, and at others their vocabulary and speech patterns made me think college age or older. It seems likely that the author wrote this book out of a love for the ocean, but hasn’t had the time or practice necessary to develop strong characters and natural dialogue. I know the book’s set 100 years or more in the future, so maybe by that time fourteen year olds really will call each other “dartling” and “sweetling”—maybe it’ll be the next big cool thing to say, but in 2013, the best I could do was try not to roll my eyes too much when I encountered it.
Oh yeah, and there are dolphin characters too! Mariah is the matriarch of an entire pod that has worked closely with Nere’s family for years, and the dolphins have about as much personality as the human characters—maybe more, in some instances. Since I’m an animal lover, I liked the occasional debate about the rights and intelligence of cetaceans which occurs between the human characters. Some of the dolphins can speak English telepathically instead of merely sending images or impressions, but the grammar is a bit stilted. I’m still trying to decide if I like the effect of that or not.
There are no stated genderqueer or ace characters in this book, but Nere does mention at some point that she doesn’t want to make any of the boys in the group like her. Since it’s a book for kids, I wouldn’t expect an actual mention of sexual desire even if it were technically present, so I assume that when Nere begins to show interest in one of the boys and wants to kiss him (or rather, eventually wants to return the kiss he more or less forced on her) she could be sexually attracted to him as well as romantically. It’s easy to read her as either a hetororomantic ace or as a young straight girl who has much more important things to think about—like survival. I’m more inclined to believe the latter.
When it comes to gender, the characters are fairly mainstream representations of boys and girls. Although Nere takes on a leadership position later in the book, she is never presented as an intimidating figure like Kyel, the boy who was leader before her. Instead her nurturing qualities are the focus—which is fine, but as I said, fairly mainstream.
Finally, there’s no real climax to this book. There’s a brief period of setting up the situation, then it’s action-action-action for 300 pages at about the same level of intensity throughout, and then a very quick resolution which leaves lots of room for a sequel. If there is a sequel, I won’t be reading it, but I’d be willing to bet there are a lot of twelve-year-olds who will.
April 28, 2014
Genre: Science Fiction
AR level: 5.9
Grade appropriate: 4th and up
In library? Yes! We have 4 copies and they are constantly checked out.
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5-- I really did love this book. I was not really looking forward to it, but several of the kids had been telling me how great it was and it’s on the Bluebonnet list this year so I gave it a whirl. Was pleasantly surprised.
Creativity: 5/5-- It’s a dystopic book set under the ocean. Didn’t see that one coming!
Characters: 5/5-- I did truly like the characters. They were likable but still realistic with flaws and lots of mistakes.
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to kids: 5/5-- Never on the shelf.
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5-- A good way to judge this for me is “How many kids are turning this book in unfinished?” Answer: None.
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: mild-- The heroine gets kissed twice.
Violence: medium-- They do have to fight for their lives. A mother gets killed in the beginning trying to save her daughter and there is plenty of fighting against sea creatures looking for a good meal.
Drugs/Alcohol: none
AR level: 5.9
Grade appropriate: 4th and up
In library? Yes! We have 4 copies and they are constantly checked out.
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5-- I really did love this book. I was not really looking forward to it, but several of the kids had been telling me how great it was and it’s on the Bluebonnet list this year so I gave it a whirl. Was pleasantly surprised.
Creativity: 5/5-- It’s a dystopic book set under the ocean. Didn’t see that one coming!
Characters: 5/5-- I did truly like the characters. They were likable but still realistic with flaws and lots of mistakes.
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to kids: 5/5-- Never on the shelf.
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5-- A good way to judge this for me is “How many kids are turning this book in unfinished?” Answer: None.
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: mild-- The heroine gets kissed twice.
Violence: medium-- They do have to fight for their lives. A mother gets killed in the beginning trying to save her daughter and there is plenty of fighting against sea creatures looking for a good meal.
Drugs/Alcohol: none
July 4, 2013
I only want to add to the reviews read here that this book should appeal to "picky" readers. It's got everything they enjoy and it's effortless. There is action, suspense, and drama as well as, well developed characters in a dystopian world. It takes a skilled writer to make telepathy and underwater living a natural part of a novel. It's also an easy read without being easy. The story has you on edge, you root for the characters and it keeps you guessing. Also a treat for those parents who read what their kiddos read : fun!
February 2, 2022
this is probably one of my favourite books of the 'younger age' trope. i found this book when i was like 11 and then the rest was history :")
this book is absolutely AMAZING and oh my god this whole trilogy is like,,, absolutely godly.
read it and you (most likely) won't be disappointed.
why are you still reading this? go on, get this book now.
this book is absolutely AMAZING and oh my god this whole trilogy is like,,, absolutely godly.
read it and you (most likely) won't be disappointed.
why are you still reading this? go on, get this book now.
June 24, 2013
This review first appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me
When I read the summary for THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, the words “genetically modified” caught my eye. I’m a sucker for main characters that start out as average, only to discover they have some special ability that makes them unique and powerful. I mean, don’t we all wish we had something like that?
Nere, the protagonist of THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, calls herself “Freak Girl.” She has weak lungs and eyes that are super sensitive to light. She’s never felt super comfortable on land, preferring to spend her time in the water with the dolphins she and her mother train. It turns out there’s an excellent reason for that -- she was genetically modified by her scientist parents to live underwater.
Nere lives in a sort of dystopian world, where global warming is cutting the food supply and creating other environmental changes. We never get details on what happened to the above-water world, but for once, I didn’t mind. The world the author created below the water captured all of my interest. I haven’t run across many books set underwater, but after reading THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, I’m going to be on the lookout for more.
Forced to leave land behind for good, Nere and her friends begin a long journey to her father’s undersea colony. Along the way, they learn they’re not the only kids genetically modified to survive underwater. Nere comes into her own as a character and strong girl, learning to become a leader and to believe that she’s more than just a freak.
I absolutely have to mention the dolphins. Nere always had a close relationship with the dolphins her mother used for research, but once she’s underwater, the relationships grow even more. There’s a whole pod of dolphins that make the journey with Nere and the other Project Neptune kids, and just like the kids, each dolphin had its own personality. The dolphins and Nere communicate telepathically, with some dolphins able to speak English and some communicating in pictures/feelings. The dolphins were some of my favorite characters.
I read THE NEPTUNE PROJECT in one sitting. As I said, I was captivated by the undersea world, which is saying something because I’ve never had that much of an interest in it. But as I read the book, I could see the beauty in it, as well as the adventures to be had in the ocean.
I did have a couple of small issues with THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, but they didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. One was that I had a hard time figuring out how old Nere and the other kids were. If Nere’s age was ever mentioned, I forgot it. Which leads into my next quibble: THE NEPTUNE PROJECT straddles the line between middle-grade and young adult. The book is mostly “clean,” with a couple of sweet hints at romance, but nothing too passionate. There’s a bit of a love triangle, but romance isn’t the focus of the book, which is something I liked overall.
Instead, the focus is adventure, and for the characters learning to use their new abilities. There’s plenty of action in the book, and the author wasn’t afraid to put her characters in danger. Although humans are the top of the food chain on land, they aren’t so powerful underwater, even when genetically modified.
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT doesn’t have a big climax at the end, and I was sort of expecting one after all the action scenes and the journey. Instead, the book leaves room for a sequel or two, and I hope there’s one in the pipeline! I really want to find out what happens next to Nere, the other kids, and the dolphins.
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is a quick-paced, well-written mix of adventure and science fiction, one that I’d recommend to younger and older readers looking for something a little different.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
When I read the summary for THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, the words “genetically modified” caught my eye. I’m a sucker for main characters that start out as average, only to discover they have some special ability that makes them unique and powerful. I mean, don’t we all wish we had something like that?
Nere, the protagonist of THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, calls herself “Freak Girl.” She has weak lungs and eyes that are super sensitive to light. She’s never felt super comfortable on land, preferring to spend her time in the water with the dolphins she and her mother train. It turns out there’s an excellent reason for that -- she was genetically modified by her scientist parents to live underwater.
Nere lives in a sort of dystopian world, where global warming is cutting the food supply and creating other environmental changes. We never get details on what happened to the above-water world, but for once, I didn’t mind. The world the author created below the water captured all of my interest. I haven’t run across many books set underwater, but after reading THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, I’m going to be on the lookout for more.
Forced to leave land behind for good, Nere and her friends begin a long journey to her father’s undersea colony. Along the way, they learn they’re not the only kids genetically modified to survive underwater. Nere comes into her own as a character and strong girl, learning to become a leader and to believe that she’s more than just a freak.
I absolutely have to mention the dolphins. Nere always had a close relationship with the dolphins her mother used for research, but once she’s underwater, the relationships grow even more. There’s a whole pod of dolphins that make the journey with Nere and the other Project Neptune kids, and just like the kids, each dolphin had its own personality. The dolphins and Nere communicate telepathically, with some dolphins able to speak English and some communicating in pictures/feelings. The dolphins were some of my favorite characters.
I read THE NEPTUNE PROJECT in one sitting. As I said, I was captivated by the undersea world, which is saying something because I’ve never had that much of an interest in it. But as I read the book, I could see the beauty in it, as well as the adventures to be had in the ocean.
I did have a couple of small issues with THE NEPTUNE PROJECT, but they didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book. One was that I had a hard time figuring out how old Nere and the other kids were. If Nere’s age was ever mentioned, I forgot it. Which leads into my next quibble: THE NEPTUNE PROJECT straddles the line between middle-grade and young adult. The book is mostly “clean,” with a couple of sweet hints at romance, but nothing too passionate. There’s a bit of a love triangle, but romance isn’t the focus of the book, which is something I liked overall.
Instead, the focus is adventure, and for the characters learning to use their new abilities. There’s plenty of action in the book, and the author wasn’t afraid to put her characters in danger. Although humans are the top of the food chain on land, they aren’t so powerful underwater, even when genetically modified.
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT doesn’t have a big climax at the end, and I was sort of expecting one after all the action scenes and the journey. Instead, the book leaves room for a sequel or two, and I hope there’s one in the pipeline! I really want to find out what happens next to Nere, the other kids, and the dolphins.
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is a quick-paced, well-written mix of adventure and science fiction, one that I’d recommend to younger and older readers looking for something a little different.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews:
June 29, 2016
Review by Hope 8x2
The Neptune Conspiracy is set in a future where the sea rises to dangerous high levels. In the neantime, a character called Nere Hanson along with her handful of friends are shocked to learn they have been volunteered by their parents to live in the deep, dark sea.
Protected by her loyal companions; a group of dolphins named 'The Pod.' Bravely, Nere leads her friends with the help of the pod on a journey to her Dad's little colony. They attempt to fight off government divers, sharks and even giant squid. Their survival skills will be put to the ultimate test, guided by their faithful dolphin pod; will they learn to trust each other before the dangerous world destroys them?
At first I was not sure what I was expecting from this book, seeing as there are not many books out there that handle an underwater setting. Nevertheless, I thought that the writer had done a phenomenal job creating detailed descriptions of what it would actually be like under the ocean. I was washed away by the depth of knowledge and the amount of research that the writer had put in to the book. It was very clear that Ms. Holyoke had a vast knowledge of the underwater world. Which aided in building the fictional world within my imagination.
Although, I was impressed by the knowledge I wasn’t too keen on the climax of the story asI felt it was drawn out. Then the climax wasn’t really a climax it was a CLIFFHANGER! therefore, for me, getting to the end of the book required some effort. It’s not saying I didn’t like the book however, at times I found myself quite bored. Saying this I didn’t feel that impressed at the end of the book, despite my interest in the overall idea with the story.
If you like under water adventure survival stories then you will sure like this. I didn’t think it was bad but I didn’t think it was amazing so I gave it three star because it drifted away in parts.
The Neptune Conspiracy is set in a future where the sea rises to dangerous high levels. In the neantime, a character called Nere Hanson along with her handful of friends are shocked to learn they have been volunteered by their parents to live in the deep, dark sea.
Protected by her loyal companions; a group of dolphins named 'The Pod.' Bravely, Nere leads her friends with the help of the pod on a journey to her Dad's little colony. They attempt to fight off government divers, sharks and even giant squid. Their survival skills will be put to the ultimate test, guided by their faithful dolphin pod; will they learn to trust each other before the dangerous world destroys them?
At first I was not sure what I was expecting from this book, seeing as there are not many books out there that handle an underwater setting. Nevertheless, I thought that the writer had done a phenomenal job creating detailed descriptions of what it would actually be like under the ocean. I was washed away by the depth of knowledge and the amount of research that the writer had put in to the book. It was very clear that Ms. Holyoke had a vast knowledge of the underwater world. Which aided in building the fictional world within my imagination.
Although, I was impressed by the knowledge I wasn’t too keen on the climax of the story asI felt it was drawn out. Then the climax wasn’t really a climax it was a CLIFFHANGER! therefore, for me, getting to the end of the book required some effort. It’s not saying I didn’t like the book however, at times I found myself quite bored. Saying this I didn’t feel that impressed at the end of the book, despite my interest in the overall idea with the story.
If you like under water adventure survival stories then you will sure like this. I didn’t think it was bad but I didn’t think it was amazing so I gave it three star because it drifted away in parts.
July 6, 2015
This one's a hard one to rate for me. Let me start by saying I loved the ideas around this book and the originality of it. The whole situation and main character felt very real and I genuinely think science can accomplish this one day.
What I didn't get on with was how fast this was paced. I mean I really hate it when books are too slow paced but this one was soooo fast! I felt because it was so fast I didn't get to know many of the characters as well as I would've liked to. I also would've liked to have the underwater world described better and I'd have liked to know more of Nere's feelings and more on how she adapted because lets face it to move and live permanently in a totally new environment is one heck of a step. It just seemed she adapted awfully fast. Another thing I would've liked to know more about was exactly how parents all over the country managed to alter their kids genes and how they got in contact with the first scientists of the Neptune Project and I'd have liked to have known more about the state of the world... But maybe we'll find all these out in the next book which I'll definitely be reading!
Now for thee things I did like. The action was just non-stop and I might sound strange for this but I found this a bit dark at times as there were a few deaths. Plus I hope those mutant kids appear again in the second book as I'd love to find out more about them. The ending leaves room for so much more to happen and I look forward to when my library can buy in the next book.
What I didn't get on with was how fast this was paced. I mean I really hate it when books are too slow paced but this one was soooo fast! I felt because it was so fast I didn't get to know many of the characters as well as I would've liked to. I also would've liked to have the underwater world described better and I'd have liked to know more of Nere's feelings and more on how she adapted because lets face it to move and live permanently in a totally new environment is one heck of a step. It just seemed she adapted awfully fast. Another thing I would've liked to know more about was exactly how parents all over the country managed to alter their kids genes and how they got in contact with the first scientists of the Neptune Project and I'd have liked to have known more about the state of the world... But maybe we'll find all these out in the next book which I'll definitely be reading!
Now for thee things I did like. The action was just non-stop and I might sound strange for this but I found this a bit dark at times as there were a few deaths. Plus I hope those mutant kids appear again in the second book as I'd love to find out more about them. The ending leaves room for so much more to happen and I look forward to when my library can buy in the next book.
September 21, 2013
Global warming, overpopulation, decreased resources--the world has gone to heck in a handbasket. Nere isn't as badly affected because she and her mother's work with dolphins is considered important. Then everything changes and Nere discovers she was part of an experiment--The Neptune Project. Left with no choice her mother finishes the transformation of Nere and two others from their town. Now they breath water, and the sea is their home. But the sea is not safe. They meet others like them and journey to a safe place--a colony created by Nere's father. Getting there, however, is fraught with danger. Sharks, a giant squid, the government lackeys who want them dead, and even other teens who have been changed, block their way. And, of course, there are love interests, rivalries, and lots and lots of dolphin help. Oh, and telepathy because you have to be able to communicate. This is an interesting book, the first in a series. While aimed at YA there's nothing really inappropriate for a younger crowd. The characters are well-drawn and the concept is interesting. Yes, it does require a considerable suspension of disbelief because the author doesn't adequately account for the way sound, movement, and objects change in water. (The teens were dancing with music provided by percussion instruments? Underwater? Really?) Still, for those looking for a new series, this might be a good choice.
September 18, 2013
3.5 stars. I was expecting this to be a chip off the old dystopia block, and the cheesy cover really doesn't help, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself reading a dystopian science fiction with some actual science in it. The narrative is straightforward and clearly written, but has enough interesting details to set it apart. And it will make you want to hug a dolphin.
One thing I really appreciate is that Nere, the protagonist, is a leader who actually acts like it. She isn't some random or symbolic chosen one, she is picked for her clearheadedness and experience. I also like that she doesn't lie to or attempt to control her friends in order to, you know, "protect" them. This drives me crazy in books like these, because it is always ALWAYS counter-productive, and is generally not the best way to take down a powerful corrupt entity.
I was mostly happy to suspend my disbelief, but I will admit that what gave me pause was when I realized that this entire thing is taking place underwater. Silly, I know. All the action scenes work fine, but when I got to the parts with kissing or crying--I mean, how does one cry underwater? How could you tell? Also, I tend to picture books like movies, and if this was a movie it would basically be long long scenes of people floating and staring at each other, because they communicate by telepathy. I don't see it as a major flaw, it just made me laugh.
One thing I really appreciate is that Nere, the protagonist, is a leader who actually acts like it. She isn't some random or symbolic chosen one, she is picked for her clearheadedness and experience. I also like that she doesn't lie to or attempt to control her friends in order to, you know, "protect" them. This drives me crazy in books like these, because it is always ALWAYS counter-productive, and is generally not the best way to take down a powerful corrupt entity.
I was mostly happy to suspend my disbelief, but I will admit that what gave me pause was when I realized that this entire thing is taking place underwater. Silly, I know. All the action scenes work fine, but when I got to the parts with kissing or crying--I mean, how does one cry underwater? How could you tell? Also, I tend to picture books like movies, and if this was a movie it would basically be long long scenes of people floating and staring at each other, because they communicate by telepathy. I don't see it as a major flaw, it just made me laugh.
June 23, 2016
I won this on a goodreads contest and I have to say I'm really glad I did. It's the not the sort of book I think I would have picked up but when I saw it in the contests, I was intrigued and thought 'why the hell not'. Not only did the book arrive in a super quick time, I got a personalized postcard from Polly Holyoke, the author, a bookmark and she also signed the book. These acts of kindness warmed me towards this book before I even turned the first page.
I was immediately drawn into the story, it was easy to read but with an incredibly original plot that would be hard to find elsewhere. Everything about the ocean and the genetic alternations that the teenagers go through have clearly been thoroughly researched and shows the amount of effort Polly has put into her story. All the characters are distinctly themselves and Nere and Robry are so easy to fall in love with as out all the dolphins.
I would recommend this book for anyone looking to read a good adventure!And especially any readers who love dolphins!!
I was immediately drawn into the story, it was easy to read but with an incredibly original plot that would be hard to find elsewhere. Everything about the ocean and the genetic alternations that the teenagers go through have clearly been thoroughly researched and shows the amount of effort Polly has put into her story. All the characters are distinctly themselves and Nere and Robry are so easy to fall in love with as out all the dolphins.
I would recommend this book for anyone looking to read a good adventure!And especially any readers who love dolphins!!
June 3, 2025
a favorite from my teen years!!!
August 8, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is set in a future where the seas are rising and wars and famines wrack the surface world. Nere Hanson and her teen companions are shocked to learn that they have been genetically altered by their desperate parents to live in the sea. Protected by her loyal dolphins, shy Nere leads the rest on a perilous journey to her father's new colony. Fighting off government divers, sharks and giant squid, can Nere and her companions learn to trust each other before their dangerous new world destroys them?
What I Liked:
I was not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I know for a fact that I did not realize it was a Middle Grade novel! I love Middle Grade, and I am really glad I got the chance to read this book. I believe it is my first Middle Grade read of the year.
Anyway. The concept of this book was very interesting! I haven't read many books that deal with an underwater setting, and I thought that Ms. Holyoke did an excellent job of describing the ocean and underwater. I was blown away by the depth of her knowledge of the ocean (no pun intended), and how she went from talking about one type of fish to another with ease. It was clear to me that Ms. Holyoke had a vast knowledge of the underwater world, and that she did her research well. I have to say, that is my favorite thing about this entire book - the description of below the surface, and the use of many different fish species and other ocean-related things that added to the authenticity of this novel.
The novel is set in a futuristic time. In this novel, the world has been heating up drastically due to global warming, and there is garbage everywhere, and the Marines basically own the ocean. I didn't get a good feel for what was going on above the surface, because the majority of the book is spent underwater. But I thought that it was awesome that Ms. Holyoke used an environmental problem to get her novel going (because I'm all about the environment, as an environmental engineering major).
So Nere (the protagonist) and a bunch of other kids have been subjected to change from land-loving humans to sea-loving humans. Nere's parents perfected some sort of shot that made Nere and two other kids from Nere's island able to survive underwater. Nere and the other two kids meet up with other kids from other areas of the world, and they all must swim across the sea to meet Nere's father in an underwater community.
The romance threw me off. It wasn't that I was torn between two guys - because Nere wasn't torn between two guys (though there was the presence of two guys). I liked the obvious guy well enough, but his predicament at the end... I didn't really buy it. I won't spoil anything, but I was not impressed with the male love interest at the end of the book.
The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, and the author did say she had another book written. Hopefully that book takes care of the cliffhanger!
What I Did Not Like:
It's not to say that I didn't like this book... I just didn't love it. I didn't feel impressed at the end of the book, despite my fascination with the overall idea of the story. And there were little things that bothered me throughout the book.
For one, I seriously thought this book was a Young Adult book (for older teens, I suppose) for a good portion of the book, because Nere's voice and actions are pretty developed. I guess that can be seen as a good thing, that she's mature, but it just didn't make sense when I found out her age. She didn't act like an adolescent. So I was confused about that.
And you already know that I can't stand the love interest's decision at the end of the story. Why can't he just run away? What's so hard about swimming away? I hope I didn't spoil anything - but you all probably have no idea what I'm talking about.
I also didn't really see a climax in this book. It just kept going and going (which was really boring), and there would be a problem pretty often (like, sharks, or the Marines), but I didn't see a ton of buildup, and then the "climax" wasn't really a climax. And getting to the end took some effort, because I felt like the story just drifted on and on for a sizable percentage of the story.
And the cliffhanger ending. I was a tad bit irritated with it, and I have half a mind not to read the next book (if it gets picked up by Disney-Hyperion), because I don't really care to see where this story is going.
Would I Recommend It:
If you liked Middle Grade, yes! Go for it! You might enjoy it. If you're a Young Adult fan, then probably not. I'm glad I got the chance to read this one, but if it weren't for the tour, I probably wouldn't have picked it up.
Rating:
3 stars. Not bad, but not amazing either.
The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Rating: 3 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley
Summary (from Goodreads):
THE NEPTUNE PROJECT is set in a future where the seas are rising and wars and famines wrack the surface world. Nere Hanson and her teen companions are shocked to learn that they have been genetically altered by their desperate parents to live in the sea. Protected by her loyal dolphins, shy Nere leads the rest on a perilous journey to her father's new colony. Fighting off government divers, sharks and giant squid, can Nere and her companions learn to trust each other before their dangerous new world destroys them?
What I Liked:
I was not sure what I was expecting from this book, but I know for a fact that I did not realize it was a Middle Grade novel! I love Middle Grade, and I am really glad I got the chance to read this book. I believe it is my first Middle Grade read of the year.
Anyway. The concept of this book was very interesting! I haven't read many books that deal with an underwater setting, and I thought that Ms. Holyoke did an excellent job of describing the ocean and underwater. I was blown away by the depth of her knowledge of the ocean (no pun intended), and how she went from talking about one type of fish to another with ease. It was clear to me that Ms. Holyoke had a vast knowledge of the underwater world, and that she did her research well. I have to say, that is my favorite thing about this entire book - the description of below the surface, and the use of many different fish species and other ocean-related things that added to the authenticity of this novel.
The novel is set in a futuristic time. In this novel, the world has been heating up drastically due to global warming, and there is garbage everywhere, and the Marines basically own the ocean. I didn't get a good feel for what was going on above the surface, because the majority of the book is spent underwater. But I thought that it was awesome that Ms. Holyoke used an environmental problem to get her novel going (because I'm all about the environment, as an environmental engineering major).
So Nere (the protagonist) and a bunch of other kids have been subjected to change from land-loving humans to sea-loving humans. Nere's parents perfected some sort of shot that made Nere and two other kids from Nere's island able to survive underwater. Nere and the other two kids meet up with other kids from other areas of the world, and they all must swim across the sea to meet Nere's father in an underwater community.
The romance threw me off. It wasn't that I was torn between two guys - because Nere wasn't torn between two guys (though there was the presence of two guys). I liked the obvious guy well enough, but his predicament at the end... I didn't really buy it. I won't spoil anything, but I was not impressed with the male love interest at the end of the book.
The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, and the author did say she had another book written. Hopefully that book takes care of the cliffhanger!
What I Did Not Like:
It's not to say that I didn't like this book... I just didn't love it. I didn't feel impressed at the end of the book, despite my fascination with the overall idea of the story. And there were little things that bothered me throughout the book.
For one, I seriously thought this book was a Young Adult book (for older teens, I suppose) for a good portion of the book, because Nere's voice and actions are pretty developed. I guess that can be seen as a good thing, that she's mature, but it just didn't make sense when I found out her age. She didn't act like an adolescent. So I was confused about that.
And you already know that I can't stand the love interest's decision at the end of the story. Why can't he just run away? What's so hard about swimming away? I hope I didn't spoil anything - but you all probably have no idea what I'm talking about.
I also didn't really see a climax in this book. It just kept going and going (which was really boring), and there would be a problem pretty often (like, sharks, or the Marines), but I didn't see a ton of buildup, and then the "climax" wasn't really a climax. And getting to the end took some effort, because I felt like the story just drifted on and on for a sizable percentage of the story.
And the cliffhanger ending. I was a tad bit irritated with it, and I have half a mind not to read the next book (if it gets picked up by Disney-Hyperion), because I don't really care to see where this story is going.
Would I Recommend It:
If you liked Middle Grade, yes! Go for it! You might enjoy it. If you're a Young Adult fan, then probably not. I'm glad I got the chance to read this one, but if it weren't for the tour, I probably wouldn't have picked it up.
Rating:
3 stars. Not bad, but not amazing either.
January 12, 2014
ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
What worked: I loved the premise of this one. I mean come on, genetic modification, underwater antics and a world that's gone to hell? Alas, this is another that I just couldn't finish and The Neptune Project bit the dust at 71%.
What irked: I should have known when a character gives an explanation for the genetic modification in a very offhand manner early on in the book that The Neptune Project was going to be a miss. Then we have a couple of random theories/dialogue that comes out of nowhere and gave me whiplash. About halfway through the book, it got a little tedious. I couldn't relate to
any of the cardboard characters, not even the "love interest" who was more bipolar than swoon worthy. One extreme to the other and I literally had no idea what was supposed to be happening between the two characters.
Another thing I couldn't wrap my head around, these kids are all supposed to be fourteen and yet they're callous and cold when it comes to killing people and other animals. If they see someone being killed, oh sure, tears are sprouting all over the shop. But actually shooting someone is no problem at all, no lasting guilt. I don't believe that for a second, even taking into consideration the world they live in.
Finally, all of the "telling" made me give up the ghost. The Neptune Project didn't work in any way for me but I gave it a good bash.
What worked: I loved the premise of this one. I mean come on, genetic modification, underwater antics and a world that's gone to hell? Alas, this is another that I just couldn't finish and The Neptune Project bit the dust at 71%.
What irked: I should have known when a character gives an explanation for the genetic modification in a very offhand manner early on in the book that The Neptune Project was going to be a miss. Then we have a couple of random theories/dialogue that comes out of nowhere and gave me whiplash. About halfway through the book, it got a little tedious. I couldn't relate to
any of the cardboard characters, not even the "love interest" who was more bipolar than swoon worthy. One extreme to the other and I literally had no idea what was supposed to be happening between the two characters.
Another thing I couldn't wrap my head around, these kids are all supposed to be fourteen and yet they're callous and cold when it comes to killing people and other animals. If they see someone being killed, oh sure, tears are sprouting all over the shop. But actually shooting someone is no problem at all, no lasting guilt. I don't believe that for a second, even taking into consideration the world they live in.
Finally, all of the "telling" made me give up the ghost. The Neptune Project didn't work in any way for me but I gave it a good bash.
January 1, 2023
i am still a die-hard neptune project fan and i will die on that hill. i think this book was on a name that book list when i was in elementary school and i read it so many times (and took it everywhere with me), the front cover was worn off, and i take impeccable care of my things. i always recommended it to friends and tried to get people to read it as much as i did. when the sequel came out, i was in heaven and quickly read that too. and now that there's a third book? i am losing my mind.
besides the parts that are glaringly pick me/not like other girls and the love triangle (i'm not a huge fan of love triangles), i adore this book. i like the broad swath of characters and the stylization of the text to communicate both spoken dialogue and telepathy. i think the plot is clever and still very much relevant in today's times. i would kill to have this adapted into a movie or tv series!
to my eight-year-old self with a copy of this book, i see you and i promise you we aren't too old yet. this book was a wonderful way to end my year and my reading challenge!
besides the parts that are glaringly pick me/not like other girls and the love triangle (i'm not a huge fan of love triangles), i adore this book. i like the broad swath of characters and the stylization of the text to communicate both spoken dialogue and telepathy. i think the plot is clever and still very much relevant in today's times. i would kill to have this adapted into a movie or tv series!
to my eight-year-old self with a copy of this book, i see you and i promise you we aren't too old yet. this book was a wonderful way to end my year and my reading challenge!
February 25, 2013
A really unique idea done really well. Holyoke did her research and it shows. I love that she makes everything so realistic. The ocean can be beautiful but it's also a very dangerous place and Holyoke doesn't pull her punches. The book does leave you with questions, but I liked the way it was set up and with the way it ends, I'm sure any questions will be answered in the (inevitable) sequel. The only thing I had a problem with was
September 6, 2014
I can't believe it took me this long to read Polly's debut. I mean, my kids were pestering me for years - "It's one of the best books ever!" they said.
They were right. In the mood for adventure? DO IT.
They were right. In the mood for adventure? DO IT.
April 6, 2013
Two-second recap: The Neptune Project is a unique addition to both the dystopian and science fiction genres. The combination of deep-sea confrontations, long-lost relatives, and a heroine facing an uncertain future, all add up to a breathless, exciting adventure that will keep readers riveted until the very last page.
***
Back in 1993, there was a little show on NBC called SeaQuest. It detailed the underwater adventures of a crew living in a high-tech submarine called SeaQuest, and their adventures in dealing with a coalition of underwater confederations and nations, engaging in research, and acquiring natural resources from the ocean.
Even though the show didn’t do well in the ratings, I loved it. I loved the idea of people living permanently in the ocean, and exploring how they adapted to a completely different ecosystem. Since the cancellation of the show, I’ve always been on the lookout for a good book or show that explored similar innovative themes.
I’m now happy to say that I’ve found a book that fills those requirements, in Polly Holyoke’s The Neptune Project. This is a book with power, intrigue, realpolitik and, ultimately, a lot of heart.
***
Plot overview:
For years, Nere has struggled with fitting in on land.
Though she was once an avid swimmer, Nere has spent the last several years dealing with uncooperative limbs and severe lung problems. She is now dependent on lung medication to survive – an increasingly scarce resource in a dystopian California ruled by the Western Collective.
While Nere makes the best of her situation by working with the dolphins that her mother studies, her world is changed irrevocably when the Collective passes some new measures that would take Nere and her mother far away from their home.
Faced with no other alternative, Nere’s mother reveals that Nere’s lung condition and limbs are actually the result of a genetic experiment. Unbeknownst to her, Nere and a group of other kids have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. Known as the Neptune Project, these kids are the hope for the future to build a society that is safe from the country’s wars and harsh laws.
However, as Nere meets up with the other kids from the Neptune Project to travel to their rendezvous point, she’s faced with challenges she never expected. They have to travel through hundreds of miles of uncharted territory, and have to also evade creatures, factions and a dangerous government who isn’t quite so willing to let them go.
***
Whew. I know that overview was long, but that’s just how action-packed The Neptune Project is. Holyoke has built up an extraordinary, complex world in a mere 352 pages.
So with that being said, let’s get on with what worked and what didn’t work.
Things that worked:
* The characterizations. When I first read the synopsis that Nere had “awkward limbs, and “pale-bordering-on-translucent skin”, I immediately thought: “Oh man. Please don’t let Nere be a Bella Swan 2.0.”
And fortunately for me, she wasn’t. Nere starts off the book less physically capable than others, but there’s never any doubt that this is a girl with a lot of internal strength and will. Nere makes it very clear from the onset that she’s not afraid to do anything to protect her friends, the dolphins and her mom, even at great personal risk.
And once Nere gets into the ocean and really starts getting into her element, she learns - through realistic trial and error - how to become an effective leader. Even though she states outright that she would prefer not to be in a leadership position – she accepts her responsibilities with intelligence, humility and great capability.
Ultimately, I was left thinking that Nere could be a great role model for younger readers, who may believe that conditions like asthma may prevent them from being successful and/or a leader. She absolutely proves that any setbacks can be overcome.
As for the other characters, Holyoke does a good job of creating a cast with intriguing, varying motivations. Lena, Dai, Kyel, Ree, etc., are all very human in their interactions and reactions, including being reckless and careless in some of their actions. Holyoke does a great job in emphasizing that despite the fact they’re undertaking a monumental trip, they’re really still children at heart.
* The unique plotline. While there have been books which have explored the idea of living in the ocean to some degree (e.g. Dark Life by Kat Falls), I haven’t encountered any books which have juxtaposed both the character’s life on land and in the ocean as effortlessly as The Neptune Project.
Holyoke does an excellent job of showing consistently why Nere’s parents felt that there was no other alternative to their current situation, than conducting dangerous genetic mutation experiments on their children, making them leave their lives on the land, and the establishment of the Neptune Project.
Also, I loved the fact that Holyoke added into the storyline about Nere’s telepathic abilities. Even though it seems farfetched when I first thought about it, it became more plausible to me, the further I read. The idea that people could develop these abilities in the far future after a war being fought over genetic engineering, is actually plausible, given some of the scientific stories we’re currently seeing in the news.
* The writing. Holyoke writes with the confidence of an established writer. Her dialogue flows smoothly and is realistic, and her descriptions of the continuously changing ocean are detailed, rich and believable.
I did have one minor quibble with the writing, though: Holyoke had a tendency to add unnecessary exclamation points in action scenes. I felt like she had already established the energy/excitement within those scenes, and the exclamation points took me out of the moment. However, I think this is an issue that won’t impact younger readers as much.
* The plotting. The flow of the book is brisk and kept me riveted. We’re thrown into the action from page one through a midnight rescue, and Holyoke uses this to immediately show us how damaging and dangerous the Western Collective is.
Of particular note: there are some pretty big bombshells dropped throughout The Neptune Project – including a character that was previously believed deceased, turning out to be alive – and Holyoke reveals these revelations smoothly and in a completely believable way.
Also, there is romance in the book, and it also unfolds in a very slow, realistic way. Holyoke actually shows the characters getting to know each other. There’s no instan-love here, and I think readers will both relate to the uncertainty of the characters over their feelings, and also appreciate the slow burn.
* The ending. The Neptune Project is a part of a duology – possibly a trilogy. (Details are unclear!)
Holyoke could have easily gone the way of other trilogies in the YA genre and written a cliffhanger ending, leaving readers hanging on until the release of the next book.
Instead, she chooses to leave the book with an ending that allows it to be a stand-alone. As a reader who doesn’t really like the standard of shock!trilogy!endings, I really appreciated this.
(However, I will definitely be back!)
Things that didn’t work/Things to consider:
Let me just preface this by saying: I'm not a marketing/publicity/graphics design expert. So I'm strictly saying this as a consumer.
I think the current US cover for The Neptune Project is beautiful, but it doesn't fully encompass what book is about. Without looking at the synopsis, there's no hint that this is actually a very unique, well-written dystopian/science fiction book.
(In fact, my boyfriend walked by when I was reading, and asked if the book was about dolphin trainers.)
While I seriously hope this doesn't happen, I am concerned that people are going to bypass this book, simply based on the cover alone. So while I'm generally against redesigning a book halfway through a dulology/trilogy, I would be all for it in this case. Holyoke has written a spectacular novel, and it deserves to be picked up and read!
ETA: Polly confirmed via Twitter that The Neptune Project is intended more toward the MG crowd, so the cover actually makes perfect sense.
So let me amend my original review by saying: I think that the cover may not work for the YA crowd for the above reasons, but I think this story works perfectly as a YA tale.
***
Final Verdict:
Polly Holyoke has created an incredibly well crafted world full of drama, courage and intrigue. Readers will love following along with Nere’s journey, as she discovers the truth about her background, and her future.
I recommend this book for readers who enjoy science fiction and dystopians, with a special emphasis on reluctant readers. I believe that younger reluctant readers will find Nere’s journey to be compelling, intriguing reading, and this book (and its sequels) will inspire them to seek out other books as well.
***
Back in 1993, there was a little show on NBC called SeaQuest. It detailed the underwater adventures of a crew living in a high-tech submarine called SeaQuest, and their adventures in dealing with a coalition of underwater confederations and nations, engaging in research, and acquiring natural resources from the ocean.
Even though the show didn’t do well in the ratings, I loved it. I loved the idea of people living permanently in the ocean, and exploring how they adapted to a completely different ecosystem. Since the cancellation of the show, I’ve always been on the lookout for a good book or show that explored similar innovative themes.
I’m now happy to say that I’ve found a book that fills those requirements, in Polly Holyoke’s The Neptune Project. This is a book with power, intrigue, realpolitik and, ultimately, a lot of heart.
***
Plot overview:
For years, Nere has struggled with fitting in on land.
Though she was once an avid swimmer, Nere has spent the last several years dealing with uncooperative limbs and severe lung problems. She is now dependent on lung medication to survive – an increasingly scarce resource in a dystopian California ruled by the Western Collective.
While Nere makes the best of her situation by working with the dolphins that her mother studies, her world is changed irrevocably when the Collective passes some new measures that would take Nere and her mother far away from their home.
Faced with no other alternative, Nere’s mother reveals that Nere’s lung condition and limbs are actually the result of a genetic experiment. Unbeknownst to her, Nere and a group of other kids have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. Known as the Neptune Project, these kids are the hope for the future to build a society that is safe from the country’s wars and harsh laws.
However, as Nere meets up with the other kids from the Neptune Project to travel to their rendezvous point, she’s faced with challenges she never expected. They have to travel through hundreds of miles of uncharted territory, and have to also evade creatures, factions and a dangerous government who isn’t quite so willing to let them go.
***
Whew. I know that overview was long, but that’s just how action-packed The Neptune Project is. Holyoke has built up an extraordinary, complex world in a mere 352 pages.
So with that being said, let’s get on with what worked and what didn’t work.
Things that worked:
* The characterizations. When I first read the synopsis that Nere had “awkward limbs, and “pale-bordering-on-translucent skin”, I immediately thought: “Oh man. Please don’t let Nere be a Bella Swan 2.0.”
And fortunately for me, she wasn’t. Nere starts off the book less physically capable than others, but there’s never any doubt that this is a girl with a lot of internal strength and will. Nere makes it very clear from the onset that she’s not afraid to do anything to protect her friends, the dolphins and her mom, even at great personal risk.
And once Nere gets into the ocean and really starts getting into her element, she learns - through realistic trial and error - how to become an effective leader. Even though she states outright that she would prefer not to be in a leadership position – she accepts her responsibilities with intelligence, humility and great capability.
Ultimately, I was left thinking that Nere could be a great role model for younger readers, who may believe that conditions like asthma may prevent them from being successful and/or a leader. She absolutely proves that any setbacks can be overcome.
As for the other characters, Holyoke does a good job of creating a cast with intriguing, varying motivations. Lena, Dai, Kyel, Ree, etc., are all very human in their interactions and reactions, including being reckless and careless in some of their actions. Holyoke does a great job in emphasizing that despite the fact they’re undertaking a monumental trip, they’re really still children at heart.
* The unique plotline. While there have been books which have explored the idea of living in the ocean to some degree (e.g. Dark Life by Kat Falls), I haven’t encountered any books which have juxtaposed both the character’s life on land and in the ocean as effortlessly as The Neptune Project.
Holyoke does an excellent job of showing consistently why Nere’s parents felt that there was no other alternative to their current situation, than conducting dangerous genetic mutation experiments on their children, making them leave their lives on the land, and the establishment of the Neptune Project.
Also, I loved the fact that Holyoke added into the storyline about Nere’s telepathic abilities. Even though it seems farfetched when I first thought about it, it became more plausible to me, the further I read. The idea that people could develop these abilities in the far future after a war being fought over genetic engineering, is actually plausible, given some of the scientific stories we’re currently seeing in the news.
* The writing. Holyoke writes with the confidence of an established writer. Her dialogue flows smoothly and is realistic, and her descriptions of the continuously changing ocean are detailed, rich and believable.
I did have one minor quibble with the writing, though: Holyoke had a tendency to add unnecessary exclamation points in action scenes. I felt like she had already established the energy/excitement within those scenes, and the exclamation points took me out of the moment. However, I think this is an issue that won’t impact younger readers as much.
* The plotting. The flow of the book is brisk and kept me riveted. We’re thrown into the action from page one through a midnight rescue, and Holyoke uses this to immediately show us how damaging and dangerous the Western Collective is.
Of particular note: there are some pretty big bombshells dropped throughout The Neptune Project – including a character that was previously believed deceased, turning out to be alive – and Holyoke reveals these revelations smoothly and in a completely believable way.
Also, there is romance in the book, and it also unfolds in a very slow, realistic way. Holyoke actually shows the characters getting to know each other. There’s no instan-love here, and I think readers will both relate to the uncertainty of the characters over their feelings, and also appreciate the slow burn.
* The ending. The Neptune Project is a part of a duology – possibly a trilogy. (Details are unclear!)
Holyoke could have easily gone the way of other trilogies in the YA genre and written a cliffhanger ending, leaving readers hanging on until the release of the next book.
Instead, she chooses to leave the book with an ending that allows it to be a stand-alone. As a reader who doesn’t really like the standard of shock!trilogy!endings, I really appreciated this.
(However, I will definitely be back!)
Things that didn’t work/Things to consider:
Let me just preface this by saying: I'm not a marketing/publicity/graphics design expert. So I'm strictly saying this as a consumer.
I think the current US cover for The Neptune Project is beautiful, but it doesn't fully encompass what book is about. Without looking at the synopsis, there's no hint that this is actually a very unique, well-written dystopian/science fiction book.
(In fact, my boyfriend walked by when I was reading, and asked if the book was about dolphin trainers.)
While I seriously hope this doesn't happen, I am concerned that people are going to bypass this book, simply based on the cover alone. So while I'm generally against redesigning a book halfway through a dulology/trilogy, I would be all for it in this case. Holyoke has written a spectacular novel, and it deserves to be picked up and read!
ETA: Polly confirmed via Twitter that The Neptune Project is intended more toward the MG crowd, so the cover actually makes perfect sense.
So let me amend my original review by saying: I think that the cover may not work for the YA crowd for the above reasons, but I think this story works perfectly as a YA tale.
***
Final Verdict:
Polly Holyoke has created an incredibly well crafted world full of drama, courage and intrigue. Readers will love following along with Nere’s journey, as she discovers the truth about her background, and her future.
I recommend this book for readers who enjoy science fiction and dystopians, with a special emphasis on reluctant readers. I believe that younger reluctant readers will find Nere’s journey to be compelling, intriguing reading, and this book (and its sequels) will inspire them to seek out other books as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2022
the way i devoured the whole series back in 2017 i want to cry neredai owns my heart they were the first ship i ever got attached to i miss toby sm too and all the other Neptune kids pls come back😕😕 u guys don’t understand this book made me realise i wanted to become a writer and i even dmed the author on ig for tips i miss that era i miss this book so so much remembering this means the world to me i love u polly for creating this dai kuron my first book bf hey im gonna cry
September 6, 2022
This book is absolutely amazing and one of the few that I can reread without getting bored of it. The characters are sympathetic, the world-building is done very well, and I love the concept of it.
August 7, 2024
I still think Dai is every bit as hot as I thought he was when I was 10
5 stars ⭐️
5 stars ⭐️
July 31, 2015
I absolutely love the ocean and the idea of kids who can survive in it sounded like an awesome book idea to me. I hoped I would love this book, but unfortunately I just didn't find anything to like about it at all. Every single element of this story, from the 'futuristic planet ruined by global warming' to the 'evil oppressive government ruining the lives of everyday folk' to the 'love triangle between the main character and the good boy and the misunderstood bad boy that no one else likes', is a cliche and overused trope that we've seen in a hundred other books made for young adults these days.
Some of the grammar decisions really confused me, like why the author chose to make the dolphin speech in lowercase letters instead of properly capitalizing the sentences. Was this so we can tell the dolphin's speech apart from the kids' speech? Considering she still uses the conventional "he said" and "she said" at the end of the sentences of dialog, that is just an unnecessary and confusing decision.
I was surprised that at no point in the story is water pressure even mentioned. Well, at one point the main character does say she felt the difference in water pressure when she gets pulled down by a giant squid, but it is never addressed as one of the life-threatening things the kids have to watch out for as they swim around and up and down in this ocean world. Since the bends is such a common worry for real life divers, I thought the author would at least mention once or twice that the kids' mutation makes it so that doesn't affect them, or something. But she never even gives it a passing mention. Did she do her research about real diving before writing this?
There is one character who is introduced pretty late in the story who speaks maybe a half-dozen words of Spanish thrown into her English speech. It did not surprise me at all when I read a review that stated some of the Spanish is not even correct.
Lastly, I found the climax to be... well, anti-climactic. It goes by very quickly, with very little payoff. The last two chapters introduce the idea that there are genetic 'monster' kids with jellyfish stingers in their fingers, extra arms like an octopus, the ability to shock people with electricity, etc. There's no set up for this at all (other than the fact that the Neptune kids themselves have some genetic modifications obviously) and it comes as a shock when the book has less than 20 pages to go and they dump into our laps the idea that 'evil Neptune kids' exist. This is all most likely because it's a clear set up for a sequel. That I can understand, but I wish the author had made a more exciting climax. There are other parts of the book, such as the giant squid attack, that feel more climatic than the climax.
I don't believe in saying "well the book is good enough for kids." Kids need smart books just as much as adults. Although this book had some interesting ideas as a foundation, they weren't explored at all and instead this is just turned out to be just another dime-a-dozen post-apocalyptic story that are so popular these days.
Some of the grammar decisions really confused me, like why the author chose to make the dolphin speech in lowercase letters instead of properly capitalizing the sentences. Was this so we can tell the dolphin's speech apart from the kids' speech? Considering she still uses the conventional "he said" and "she said" at the end of the sentences of dialog, that is just an unnecessary and confusing decision.
I was surprised that at no point in the story is water pressure even mentioned. Well, at one point the main character does say she felt the difference in water pressure when she gets pulled down by a giant squid, but it is never addressed as one of the life-threatening things the kids have to watch out for as they swim around and up and down in this ocean world. Since the bends is such a common worry for real life divers, I thought the author would at least mention once or twice that the kids' mutation makes it so that doesn't affect them, or something. But she never even gives it a passing mention. Did she do her research about real diving before writing this?
There is one character who is introduced pretty late in the story who speaks maybe a half-dozen words of Spanish thrown into her English speech. It did not surprise me at all when I read a review that stated some of the Spanish is not even correct.
Lastly, I found the climax to be... well, anti-climactic. It goes by very quickly, with very little payoff. The last two chapters introduce the idea that there are genetic 'monster' kids with jellyfish stingers in their fingers, extra arms like an octopus, the ability to shock people with electricity, etc. There's no set up for this at all (other than the fact that the Neptune kids themselves have some genetic modifications obviously) and it comes as a shock when the book has less than 20 pages to go and they dump into our laps the idea that 'evil Neptune kids' exist. This is all most likely because it's a clear set up for a sequel. That I can understand, but I wish the author had made a more exciting climax. There are other parts of the book, such as the giant squid attack, that feel more climatic than the climax.
I don't believe in saying "well the book is good enough for kids." Kids need smart books just as much as adults. Although this book had some interesting ideas as a foundation, they weren't explored at all and instead this is just turned out to be just another dime-a-dozen post-apocalyptic story that are so popular these days.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 17, 2013
I have this theory that I enjoy books more while I'm on vacation. Most books I read at the beach tend to have higher scores and I can really get wrapped away in a book by the ocean. The Neptune Project doesn't fit this theory however. I almost put the book down on more than one occasion and, while the story does improve over the course of the novel, it isn't one I'd recommend to many readers.
The Neptune Project is based off of a promising idea. The story follows genetically altered kids struggling to stay alive in the open ocean, and swimming to reach an underwater colony that provides a safe haven for people like themselves. The cover and premise captured my attention instantly, but unfortunately the content did not reach my expectations. After reading the first few chapters, I recognized some key problems with the author's writing. While Holyoke has an amazing idea behind her novel, her characters and writing fail to deliver. Great authors show, instead of tell and Holyoke tends to tell instead of show. The problem may be that Holyoke chose to write The Neptune Project in first person instead of third. Because the narrative is in first person we the readers expect to feel like we have greater insight into Nere, her personality and her character. Nere, on the other hand, does not give us this advantage. I never felt like I got to know her, relate to her, or like her. Also the tell instead of show aspect seems to make Nere's love interests appear as random pawns, instead of meaningful bonds. In the beginning of the novel, I was sure Cam was more of a friend/brother figure... until the kiss... but once Nere fully mutated she didn't waste another thought on him. It was like Cam had never existed in the first 74 pages of the novel. Nere also never really grew. Her actions seemed random and often out of character, probably because the audience, us readers, aren't sure of her character in the first place! At least the supporting cast is far more interesting, but again they lacked depth and a developed back story. Luckily I can say I enjoyed the dolphins as main characters, and I liked how Holyoke formatted their talking, or "thinking", underwater.
Finally, the plot behind The Neptune Project is the group's journey to the colony. This journey seems long and drawn out, never reaching a climax but simply coming to a close upon the final couple of chapters. Sure, the idea behind this novel is interesting, but I felt cheated. There's an awesome idea here, but it's clouded by undeveloped characters and bad exposition. I wish this novel had been edited for another year and then hit the market because then I think it might have reached its potential. I don't like being critical but, this book really disappointed me.
~Jess
The Neptune Project is based off of a promising idea. The story follows genetically altered kids struggling to stay alive in the open ocean, and swimming to reach an underwater colony that provides a safe haven for people like themselves. The cover and premise captured my attention instantly, but unfortunately the content did not reach my expectations. After reading the first few chapters, I recognized some key problems with the author's writing. While Holyoke has an amazing idea behind her novel, her characters and writing fail to deliver. Great authors show, instead of tell and Holyoke tends to tell instead of show. The problem may be that Holyoke chose to write The Neptune Project in first person instead of third. Because the narrative is in first person we the readers expect to feel like we have greater insight into Nere, her personality and her character. Nere, on the other hand, does not give us this advantage. I never felt like I got to know her, relate to her, or like her. Also the tell instead of show aspect seems to make Nere's love interests appear as random pawns, instead of meaningful bonds. In the beginning of the novel, I was sure Cam was more of a friend/brother figure... until the kiss... but once Nere fully mutated she didn't waste another thought on him. It was like Cam had never existed in the first 74 pages of the novel. Nere also never really grew. Her actions seemed random and often out of character, probably because the audience, us readers, aren't sure of her character in the first place! At least the supporting cast is far more interesting, but again they lacked depth and a developed back story. Luckily I can say I enjoyed the dolphins as main characters, and I liked how Holyoke formatted their talking, or "thinking", underwater.
Finally, the plot behind The Neptune Project is the group's journey to the colony. This journey seems long and drawn out, never reaching a climax but simply coming to a close upon the final couple of chapters. Sure, the idea behind this novel is interesting, but I felt cheated. There's an awesome idea here, but it's clouded by undeveloped characters and bad exposition. I wish this novel had been edited for another year and then hit the market because then I think it might have reached its potential. I don't like being critical but, this book really disappointed me.
~Jess
May 18, 2022
ok so i finished it
IM VERY RELIEVED i thought that maybe i hyped this book up too much in my head and that it wouldn’t be as good as i remembered it being but! i very much enjoyed rereading this.
nere and dai are so cute i love both of them and i can definetly see why dai was my first “book crush” lol.
there were times were i was definitely reminded that this is very much a middle grade book, but i’m not gonna hold that against the story bc i rly love the premise and i liked all of the characters.
i’m going to read the other two book immediately lol
IM VERY RELIEVED i thought that maybe i hyped this book up too much in my head and that it wouldn’t be as good as i remembered it being but! i very much enjoyed rereading this.
nere and dai are so cute i love both of them and i can definetly see why dai was my first “book crush” lol.
there were times were i was definitely reminded that this is very much a middle grade book, but i’m not gonna hold that against the story bc i rly love the premise and i liked all of the characters.
i’m going to read the other two book immediately lol
October 31, 2013
In this book Polly's ideas are anything is possible and maybe someday humans can survive underwater. Nere Henson tells the story.She lives near the ocean. She has breathing problems, night vision, and can read minds. Her best friends are Cam and Robry. Her ex best friend is Lena, but she does not know why they are not friends anymore. Nere's mom is an illegal scientist an her dad is dead (or so she thought). One day the Coast Guards make everyone leave their homes and move inward. Before her and her mom leave she tells Nere that she is part of The Neptune project. The Neptune Project is a group of about fifty kids that before they were born were given the Ibility to survive underwater. She soon finds out that Robry and Lena are part of The Neptune project too. Their mission is to find Safty Harbor run by the one and only Mark Hanson (Nere's dad). On the way they meet Kyle, Thom, Ree, Dai, Tobin, Bria, Penn, and Kalli. Who are also part of The Neptune Project. Love, wars ,and friendships are made.
I really enjoyed reading this book! I love it because Nere almost seems normal. She gets bullied at school and deals with relationships. She tells us on page 31 "She doesn't even look at me while I walk past her and quietly take a seat in the back. Being ignored by Lena still hurts. she used to be my only other friend besides Robry and Cam. Like me, Lena has parents who went to a university. Like me, she's always had weak lungs and had to wear dark glasses. She used to come swim with the dolphins and me all the time, and then the summer we both turned ten, she suddenly just stopped being my friend." Holds both of those traits. From reading this book I learned that you need to adapt to your surroundings weather it's a new school or the ocean. I can relate to Nere. I have been suddenly ignored by a friend and I have changed my envornment to a new school. These were both hard for me, but I learned to live with it. I love this book in every way except everything happened too fast especially the beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone that can take on death of humans and animals as well as weapons and a little bit of blood. I will read the second one of this series when it comes out.
I really enjoyed reading this book! I love it because Nere almost seems normal. She gets bullied at school and deals with relationships. She tells us on page 31 "She doesn't even look at me while I walk past her and quietly take a seat in the back. Being ignored by Lena still hurts. she used to be my only other friend besides Robry and Cam. Like me, Lena has parents who went to a university. Like me, she's always had weak lungs and had to wear dark glasses. She used to come swim with the dolphins and me all the time, and then the summer we both turned ten, she suddenly just stopped being my friend." Holds both of those traits. From reading this book I learned that you need to adapt to your surroundings weather it's a new school or the ocean. I can relate to Nere. I have been suddenly ignored by a friend and I have changed my envornment to a new school. These were both hard for me, but I learned to live with it. I love this book in every way except everything happened too fast especially the beginning. I would recommend this book to anyone that can take on death of humans and animals as well as weapons and a little bit of blood. I will read the second one of this series when it comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 26, 2016
Exciting Undersea Aventure
Trapped in the ocean -- with no way out.
Suddenly, her relentless hands grab my head and force it under the water. :You'll be all right.: I hear my mother's words in my mind. :I promise you. Just relax and breathe in.:
My lungs are pure fire now. I have to breathe. I have no strength left to fight her.
I open my mouth and the water rushes in, and I'm dying. Black spots dance across my eyelids. Then suddenly, I cough and choke, and then I'm not dying anymore. I can breathe again. I gasp and gulp, trying to get used to the incredible sensation of cold water rushing in and out of my chest.
Nere has always been different: her eyes are sensitive to normal light and she has difficulty breathing properly. When the Western Collective decides to force the inhabitants of her fishing town to move inland, Nere discovers the secret her mom has been hiding from her. Her parents genetically engineered her to be able to live under the sea. The land is largely uninhabitable and any hope for the future of life on earth will have to be undersea. Nere is shocked and surprised by this revelation, but she doesn't have a choice. She and the other Neptune kids have to travel to an undersea location where they can live safely. It's a long journey with many hazards along the way.
This book is amazing. The author explains enough about being underwater that it is believable but it doesn't take away from the story. Nere and her friends are brave but they face many perils. Not just ocean predators either. The Neptune kids communicate telephathically and they all have different skills under the sea. Nere is a strong telepath and can communicate with the dolphins. I love the way she talks to the dolphins and they help her when she is in trouble. The dolphins are a significant part of the story and I love their personalities.
I am currently reading book 2 and I hope there is a book 3 coming out soon!
Recommended to:
4th grade and up. This exciting story has enough twists and drama to please most young readers.
Trapped in the ocean -- with no way out.
Suddenly, her relentless hands grab my head and force it under the water. :You'll be all right.: I hear my mother's words in my mind. :I promise you. Just relax and breathe in.:
My lungs are pure fire now. I have to breathe. I have no strength left to fight her.
I open my mouth and the water rushes in, and I'm dying. Black spots dance across my eyelids. Then suddenly, I cough and choke, and then I'm not dying anymore. I can breathe again. I gasp and gulp, trying to get used to the incredible sensation of cold water rushing in and out of my chest.
Nere has always been different: her eyes are sensitive to normal light and she has difficulty breathing properly. When the Western Collective decides to force the inhabitants of her fishing town to move inland, Nere discovers the secret her mom has been hiding from her. Her parents genetically engineered her to be able to live under the sea. The land is largely uninhabitable and any hope for the future of life on earth will have to be undersea. Nere is shocked and surprised by this revelation, but she doesn't have a choice. She and the other Neptune kids have to travel to an undersea location where they can live safely. It's a long journey with many hazards along the way.
This book is amazing. The author explains enough about being underwater that it is believable but it doesn't take away from the story. Nere and her friends are brave but they face many perils. Not just ocean predators either. The Neptune kids communicate telephathically and they all have different skills under the sea. Nere is a strong telepath and can communicate with the dolphins. I love the way she talks to the dolphins and they help her when she is in trouble. The dolphins are a significant part of the story and I love their personalities.
I am currently reading book 2 and I hope there is a book 3 coming out soon!
Recommended to:
4th grade and up. This exciting story has enough twists and drama to please most young readers.
June 24, 2013
'The Neptune Project' is a wholly original and unique young adult fantasy/dystopian novel that follows leading lady Nere as she lives in the dystopian future where she struggles to come to terms that she is a part of "The Neptune Project" - one of several children who were genetically engineered to survive in the ocean. Nere and the other children of the project are supposed to help build a better world underneath the water, where the wars and famine of the current earth won't effect them. Now, on top of dealing with the startling news of her origins and destiny, Nere must learn to get along with the aloof Neptune kids, swim hundreds of miles in the ocean in order to reach the undersea colony, and stay ahead of the government who will stop at nothing to get their hands on her and the other Neptune kids.
This was a really fun novel that takes the reader on a journey and adventure that you'll never forget. The plot is completely refreshing and brings a whole new level to the YA genre. It mixes several genres together, including action, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, dystopia, and even some romance - and creates a beautiful novel like none other. The characters were all well written, especially the main character of Nere. She's a typical teenage girl who has health problems and family issues like everyone else, but underneath all of that she is courageous, smart, strong, and resilient. She's also an extremely devoted friend, which shows a lot throughout the book. The plot was totally fresh and original - I've never encountered a novel like this one before. The author did a fantastic job intertwining several genres and story lines to create a wonderful novel that will appeal to fans of all genres and readers of all ages. The writing itself was incredibly well done with a quick pace and effortless flow to the book that had me flying through the pages. Definitely recommended for YA fans of all genres!
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really fun novel that takes the reader on a journey and adventure that you'll never forget. The plot is completely refreshing and brings a whole new level to the YA genre. It mixes several genres together, including action, fantasy, science fiction, adventure, dystopia, and even some romance - and creates a beautiful novel like none other. The characters were all well written, especially the main character of Nere. She's a typical teenage girl who has health problems and family issues like everyone else, but underneath all of that she is courageous, smart, strong, and resilient. She's also an extremely devoted friend, which shows a lot throughout the book. The plot was totally fresh and original - I've never encountered a novel like this one before. The author did a fantastic job intertwining several genres and story lines to create a wonderful novel that will appeal to fans of all genres and readers of all ages. The writing itself was incredibly well done with a quick pace and effortless flow to the book that had me flying through the pages. Definitely recommended for YA fans of all genres!
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
September 15, 2016The 'Neptune Project' focuses on Nere (pronounced 'neare') and her brothers and friends who are genetically altered to breath and see under water. After the world is polluted to an unlivable state and wars break out, scientist decide to create human/dolphin/fish people, the scientist in this case being Neres parents and other kids parents. After living above water for most of her life Nere is finally told about what happened. She is then told about a safe haven her father, who she believes to be dead, created for fish/humans were they will create the next generation since human kind is doomed extinction. She meets others along the way to the safe haven and finds out what happened to her brother and his mysterious disappearance.
I was able to meet the author of this book and get an answer to a few questions.
Q: How old is Nere?
A: 13, so twelve at the beginning of the book.
Me: WHHAAAAATTTT?!?!
A few complains and unanswered questions:
1.Nere is telepathic along with the other underwater people and can not only communicate with people but also dolphins, one dolphin even speaks english because it grew up with humans and then taught English to it's kids. huh?
2. Not only are the dolphin/human kids telepathic but Nere's mom, who's not a dolphin/human, is also telepathic, suggesting that everyone is telepathic, this was obviously written so that the dolphin kids could comunicate under water. Is everyone telepathic?
3. At one point in the book a dolphin/kid is in trouble with other dolphin/humans for almost attacking someone without permission from the others, they then discuss whether they should execute him or not.
Overall I thought this wasn't a very good book I thought it was meant for younger kids, but then like 30 people died, so I think it's meant for people 10(ish). I didn't think there was very good character development, and I couldn't relate to any characters. I almost liked Dai until he started with the whole execution thing and I didn't like how the story ended with him and the gang thing. 2 stars from me.
I was able to meet the author of this book and get an answer to a few questions.
Q: How old is Nere?
A: 13, so twelve at the beginning of the book.
Me: WHHAAAAATTTT?!?!
A few complains and unanswered questions:
1.Nere is telepathic along with the other underwater people and can not only communicate with people but also dolphins, one dolphin even speaks english because it grew up with humans and then taught English to it's kids. huh?
2. Not only are the dolphin/human kids telepathic but Nere's mom, who's not a dolphin/human, is also telepathic, suggesting that everyone is telepathic, this was obviously written so that the dolphin kids could comunicate under water. Is everyone telepathic?
3. At one point in the book a dolphin/kid is in trouble with other dolphin/humans for almost attacking someone without permission from the others, they then discuss whether they should execute him or not.
Overall I thought this wasn't a very good book I thought it was meant for younger kids, but then like 30 people died, so I think it's meant for people 10(ish). I didn't think there was very good character development, and I couldn't relate to any characters. I almost liked Dai until he started with the whole execution thing and I didn't like how the story ended with him and the gang thing. 2 stars from me.
December 8, 2012
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.
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.
September 15, 2024
I JUST REREAD THIS SHIT AND OHBMTGODDD POKLY HOLYOKE YOU COOKEDDD AHAHWOSJAKAKDBSKKSJDKAK dai kuran was start of this animal in me that thirsts for sarcastic n witty dark haired male protags. Thank You Polly Holyoke we all say in unison
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