When your child comes to you and says, "Momma, will you please read this book? I loved it so much I want you to enjoy it too," you are absolutely required to read it. I didn't even really read the blurb on the cover, so I didn't have a clue what this story was about when I started.Holyoke does an amazing job of creating a new world under the sea that the reader feels comfortable in. I also liked that she had the characters speaking to each other telepathically, as traditional speech wouldn't work underwater. She put a lot of thought into how to make the world under the sea very plausible, and it shows.Holyoke also doesn't shy away from difficult situations. There are several deaths in the book, and a bit of betrayal. The author deals with them straight on, instead of trying to sugar-coat the situations.Other reviewers have been disappointed that there isn't a true climax to the book, that it focuses mainly on the journey to the colony. This is true, but it's clear that this is the first book in the series, so it is a set-up for future novels. I would highly recommend this for middle school kids and older. Also I suggest parents discuss with their kids the concept of a dystopian novel. It wasn't really obvious that this novel takes place so far in the future that the US has collapsed and global warming has drastically changed the landscape, at least not to my daughter, so I explained that all to her. I really enjoyed reading this book, with it's science fiction feel and underwater dystopian setting. Personally, I have high interest in futuristic, sci-fi novels, as well as ones about the ocean. What interested me the most was the creative plot, vividly depicted by the author. I was never bored with the book, but compelled to flip the next page and find out what new challenge Nere and her group would face. Although I loved the book itself, the writing was standard and unsophisticated; I wasn't impressed in that aspect. "The Neptune Project" is an excellent choice for those who want a unique and imaginative read, but those who mostly enjoy sophisticated language and writing techniques will find that this book is weak in that department.
What do You think about The Neptune Conspiracy (2000)?
Wow! This was an exciting book that I stayed up way too late to finish! Highly recommend it...
—leelee1213
3.5 stars. Enjoyed it - full review to come!
—cynthiaaa_cx
