Review Detail

Reader reviewed by WilowRaven


As
it happens at times, the synopsis of a book doesn't really do it
justice. If I had picked up this book randomly and read the back cover,
I might not have bought it. Good thing I first came across it on a blog
review :)

I really liked Project 17. Best part in my opinion, is
the fact that Danvers State Hospital is an actual place, or was, before
it was partially demolished and turned into condos. Can we say creepy?
Do a Google search - you'll find some amazing pictures and descriptions
of the place. It was empty for 14 years and I know of a few people who
were among the brave trespassers during that time. From what I have
been able to learn of the place, a lot of the random facts about
Danvers that Stolarz includes in the book are true -- the practice of
lobotomies, the use of hydrotherapy, the underground tunnels, and the
fact that until it's renovation, patient files could be found discarded
among the ruins. Also, I found a picture online of a broken American
flag window, which one character comes across while exploring. Makes me
wonder if Stolarz found the same image I did. In any case, it seems
that she did her research.

As a novel, Project 17 is the story
of 6 teenagers, brought together for various reasons, who attempt to
spend the night at the abandoned facility before it is torn down. Each
chapter is told from the point of view of a different character. We
have our main protagonist Derik. For him, the film he is attempting to
shoot is his way out of a predetermined life in the family business.
Chet's just looking for a good time while Liza needs some
extracurricular activities on her resume to get into her dream college.
Mimi has a personal agenda while Tony and Greta hope to become the next
best reality TV stars. A strange mix of personalities but once they are
alone at the hospital, they find they must work together in order to
survive.

Project 17 is a great 'haunted house' thriller but in
the end, the story is more about the characters discovering things
about themselves and each other then it is about ghosts and mystery.
5 stars

Young Adult Thriller
Hyperion Books (www.hyperionteens.com)
Published December 2007
248 pages