Customer Reviews

Project Sweet Life

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4 star:		(3)
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Summer jobs for fifteen year olds are optional, but for Dave, Curtis, and Victor, their dads have different ideas. They would do anything just to have one more free summer before they go to work....for the rest of their lives. Soon it's a race against time to collect $7,000 dollars before the end of the summer-and without lifting a finger.
With a daring plan, Mr. Moneybags, and some very bad luck, Dave, Curtis, and Victor embark on their last free summer and a quest find the money, even if it means lying to their parents and chasing bank robbers. Project Sweet Life is an exciting humorous story of friendship, adventure, and growing up.

****

When I first saw this book several months ago, I hesitated to read it (even though it sounded funny). Three guys ditching summers jobs and faking it just to spend one last "free" summer? What a bunch of slackers, right? As it turns out, Project Sweet Life is much more than that. Not only was it just hilarious, it was full of adventure which felt like reading a modern-day teenage Indiana-Jones episode. The three guys tried all kinds of ways to make $7,000 dollars fast (and legally); from a no-junk garage sale, to trying to catch some bank robbers, to hidden treasure. Dave, Curtis, and Victor could have succeeded in the first try, but they kept running into all sorts of bizarre roadblocks.
It was fun to read a book from a guy's point of view, Dave (the narrator) has a very clear, distinct voice and the book was just written so well. Chances are, you'll never forget this entertaining trio and their whacky plans. Project Sweet Life is a super fun book for anyone and has become one of my favorites!


About the Author
Brent Hartinger has been writing novels, plays, and screenplays for many years. Like the boys in Project Sweet Life, Brent also tried to weasel out of getting a job, but at age sixteen his parent's finally succeeded in making him get a job as a lifeguard. He lives in Washington state.



Genre: Realistic/contemporary, adventure
Age Group: YA, ages 12+
Content: None
Recommend? Yes

Project Sweet life is the story about fifteen year old Dave and his two best friends, Curtis and Victor. The day right before their summer vacation begins, their dads spring this crazy order on them, they have to get a job. They absolutely cannot have this! I mean they're only fifteen! They shouldn't have to work, besides they had everything planned out for the summer. Since they don't want this job thing ruining their vacation they decide to come up with the cash they would have made working all summer ($7,000 bucks to be exact) in a quick way so that they have the rest of the summer to do what they had been planning. Unfortunately, things don't go as planned.

I really liked this book. The story was very ...sweet. hehe It's basically about these three good friends going through an adventure. I absolutely love those kinds of stories and thankfully this book was just as good. It made me laugh out loud at times, gosh the things these kids think up! Hilarious. The three fellas were unfortunate enough to end up having bad luck in a bunch of the schemes they tried to make themselves rich quick. It was pretty fun to read about. I could easily picture this becoming a movie and trust me, I'd be one of the first to see it. :)
I loved the whole friendship subject, absolutely loved it! It's really great how each of the boys had their own funky personality but they were good together anyway, it's really cute. :)

A bunch of the schemes really seems like they would work and I was seriously thinking, "Whoa they make those seven grand that fast?" It really surprises you which is nice. Did I mention it was very funny? Gosh I just cracked up so much with the old lady part, you have no idea how much I laughed. Too funny.
The reason I didn't give this book a higher rating was because I didn't like a few things about it. I didn't like that the mother was so..weak. The husband seemed to be the one to always call the shots while the mother just sat there quitely and did nothing. I hated that VERY much. tsk tsk Another thing I didn't like was that sometimes the story got slow. Thankfully it didn't so much that I didn't enjoy the book but it still happened. If anything I'm sure younger readers will love it more than its intended audience; young adults. I would have given this four stars if it weren't for that.


[...]

"Somedays won't end ever, and somedays pass on by,
I'll be working here forever, at least until I die.
Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't
I'm supposed to get a raise next week, you know damn well I won't." -- Huey Lewis, "Working for a Living"

"I certainly understand that some people, even some fifteen-year-olds, need to work. They're saving for college, or they have to help pay bills around the house. For them, a summer job at fifteen isn't optional. But my dad makes a good living as a land surveyor. He wears silk ties! And my mom is stay-at-home. We aren't poor.
"The adults won't tell you this, but I absolutely knew it in my bones to be true: Once you take that first summer job, once you start working, you're then expected to keep working. For the rest of your life! Once you start, you can't stop, ever -- not until you retire or you die.
"Sure, I knew I'd have to take a job next summer. But now, I had two uninterrupted months of absolute freedom ahead of me -- two summer months of living life completely on my own terms. I knew they were probably my last two months of freedom for the next fifty years.
"The point is, dad or no dad, I was going to be taking a job the summer of my fifteenth year over my dead body."

Dave and his two buddies -- Curtis and Victor -- are sunk. Their fathers -- who all work and play together -- have been conversing about their sons and their sons' need to build character through summer jobs. But the three fifteen-year-old friends figure that there has got to be a way that they can use their heads and avoid spending the next ten weeks slaving away at minimum wage gigs. All they need to do, they reckon, is brainstorm a quick and effective way of accumulating roughly seven grand, split it three ways, pretend that they are heading off to work each day, and enjoy their summer in the manner in which it is supposed to be enjoyed. They dub their efforts "Project Sweet Life."

"One of the best things about a fictional job is that you can completely set your own hours. The hours I set for my 'lifeguarding job' were afternoons and evenings. That meant that I could sleep in every day of the week, and there was nothing my parents could do about it (except grumble continuously and bang pots and pans in the kitchen during breakfast, proving once and for all that adults are not necessarily any more mature than the teenagers they criticize).

Following the trio through their attempts to effect their monetary stimulus plan, we encounter a series of over-the-top money making schemes, some very evil bad guys, a double-crossing grandmother type, grand escapes, a paternal uncle who is the antithesis of Dave's dad, and some significant historical information about the underside of Tacoma Washington -- where the story is set and where author Brent Hartinger was raised. It all comes together exquisitely in a fast-paced, fun, and occasionally freaky tale on (and sometimes under) the streets and shores of Tacoma. In addition to all of the action, I especially love how Hartinger has thoroughly woven an important and unrecognized historical event into the heart of the story.

But the question remains: What WILL happen when the dads come looking for bank statements or insist on stopping by at work to see how it's going?

I have to admit that I was a bit weary when I began Project Sweet Life mostly because it was being narrated by a boy named Dave. As you may have noticed already, most of the books I tend to read are narrated by girls, so in reading this I was expecting a big change of tone. Though, by the end, I came to enjoy reading about Dave and his friends, and more importantly I came to love Project Sweet Life which was just as sweet as the title.

The characters were probably my favorite part. I loved how Brent created three very different guys in Victor, Dave, and Curtis. You see Victor was the typical goody two shoes who did what he was told and didn't think otherwise while Curtis was a type of boy who told lies or as he called it " avoided the truth." And Dave? Well, he was in between, since he was kind of a mix of the two. Anyway, I loved the dialogue and friendship between them. Plus, they got into plenty of funny situations. My only problems was that they seemed to be a bit immature at times, though now that I think about it most boys mature differently then girls.

The plot and writing were also well done. Project Sweet Life was filled with twists and turns and you were constantly rooting for them to find a way to get the 7,000 dollars they needed to trick their parents.

While Project Sweet Life was my first time reading a Brent Hartinger, it certainly won't be my last. This is definitely recommend.

Grade: A-

Fifteen-year-old Dave and his best friends Curtis and Victor are excited to spend their summer relaxing. However, then their dads throw them a curveball-all three of them must get a summer job. Dave, Curtis, and Victor believe a mandatory summer job is outrageous for fifteen-year-olds. A mandatory summer job should be reserved for sixteen-year-olds and up.

However, then the trio thinks of an idea. The three of them will have fake summer jobs. Under Project Sweet Life, they will earn $7,000, which is what they would have made if they have gotten summer jobs. However, earning $7,000 is not quite as easy as it sounds...

Project Sweet Life was an entertaining read. Every time Dave and his friends were close to earning the $7,000, something unfortunate would happen, and they were back to square one. The first two times this happened, I was frustrated, but after that, reading about their failed attempts became entertaining. In fact, each one was more entertaining than the last! Without spoiling it, the end included a failed attempt that completely fit the rest of the novel too. Another thing I enjoyed was how Hartinger cleverly weaved in the history of Tacoma, Washington, which is where the boys live. I found the history to be fascinating.

I had one problem with Project Sweet Life. I think Hartinger created the idea of fake summer jobs to be over-the-job, just like the rest of the schemes Dave and his friends get into. However, that does not mean that it did not bother me. Dave, Curtis, and Victor are fifteen. What 15-year-olds go through the trouble of having fake jobs?! I found the fake jobs to be a stupid and childish idea. I can't even refer to the trio as `teens' because it just does not feel right. I can only call them boys. The trio's refusal to get a summer also made the boys seem spoiled. Is a summer job really that bad?

Despite the ridiculous factor of the fake summer jobs, I still thought the book was good. It is fast-paced, interesting, and a great read during summer. =)

The premise seems "can't miss" and indeed Hartinger delivers the goods. Dave, Curtis and Victor thought they'd be enjoying their last summer of freedom - old enough to be out on their own, but not quite old enough to be required to get a job. Think again, guys! All three dads (perhaps in collusion) require employment, and thus Project Sweet Life is born. Who cares that parts of the book are rife with coincidence? The writing is so enjoyable that the book almost reads itself.

I have read other books by Hartinger, who has tackled some serious topics very well. I wasn't sure if this would be something I could suggest to middle schoolers...the answer is yes, yes, yes! For readers who enjoyed Lawn Boy, by Gary Paulsen, Project Sweet Life would be a great book to read next.

What will a group of teenagers do to get out of taking on an "optional" summer job?

Pretty much anything.

Fifteen-year-old Dave and his friends, Victor and Curtis, try many ways to earn the money (which they estimate to be $7,000) that they would have made at their summer jobs. But here's the catch: Rather than actually getting summer jobs, they tell their parents about "fake jobs" and instead look for ways to accumulate that lofty amount in hopes of having the rest of the summer free. Thus, the endeavor is named "Project Sweet Life."

Brent Hartinger's latest book draws upon nearly countless attempts by Dave, Victor and Curtis to get the money, including selling their possessions at a garage sale, staking out a robbery and searching for treasure. All the while, during these adventures, Project Sweet Life has to remain a secret from their families.

The main characters are fun and relatable. A reader may enjoy how Victor plays a contrast to Curtis, while Dave possesses qualities of both. Yet all of them are friends. They each help to develop the plot as they try to acquire the $7,000. Throughout their quest, they grow as individuals, but also their friendship becomes stronger.

Hartinger brings humor into PROJECT SWEET LIFE with Victor's made-up names, such as "Holy Saint Lysol, Our Lady of Kitchen Grease," "Saint Ludicrous" and "Holy Labyrinthica, patron saint of brainteasers." The book also makes use of chapter titles that feature the week number and a descriptor about the chapter, which help readers better relate to Dave as he is doing his best to make Project Sweet Life a success.

Hartinger alludes to how experiences that have some sort of ownership are often more valuable than others, where one may not have as much invested. He also illustrates positive traits, such as determination and perseverance. Dave and his friends do not give up after one attempt; they keep trying and persevering to have the project succeed. Friendship is also discussed throughout the novel, not only among the three boys but also among their parents. Finally, integrity is a theme between lying during Project Sweet Life, but also the decision-making process that Dave, Victor and Curtis go through to earn the money and what they choose not to do. For example, Victor stresses the importance of making sure that the method of obtaining the cash is legal.

Finally, PROJECT SWEET LIFE highlights the treatment of the Chinese community during the 1800s, which happens to be Hartinger's hometown. It brings to light the anti-Chinese treatment and shows the teens' commitment to assisting the Chinese community through the Reconciliation Project, a "memorial commemorating what happened." He even includes an author's note to further educate readers about the situation that occurred in Tacoma.

All in all, this is another winning novel from the bestselling author of GEOGRAPHY CLUB, THE ORDER OF THE POISON OAK and THE LAST CHANCE TEXACO.

--- Reviewed by Dan Waxman

Gold Star Award Winner!

This was going to be a great summer for Dave, Curtis, and Victor - until their dads decided they needed to get summer jobs. Everyone knows that fifteen is the last chance you get to enjoy your summer before you turn sixteen, and summer jobs are pretty much required. A summer job at fifteen is just unfair!

So instead of working, the friends decide on Project Sweet Life. All they need to do is somehow raise the money they would have gotten by working all summer, and once that's done, they get all summer to enjoy the sweet life.

But making $7,000 isn't as easy as it seems. Can they manage to hide their non-existent summer jobs from their parents? What happens when they want to visit? And can they make their money without breaking the law or working too hard and still have time to enjoy the sweet life?

When I first read the summary on the back of this book, I immediately thought of my brother. He's fifteen and this sounded exactly like something he would try and plan. I had high hopes for this book - and it didn't let me down!

This book was hilarious and had me turning pages to see what the next Project Sweet Life plan would be. There's plenty of mystery and adventure packed into Dave, Curtis, and Victor's summer. The best part was that none of it ever felt like it was unrealistic - I really believed that the crazy adventures and money schemes could actually work!

Author Brent Hartinger has the perfect voice of teen boys. His characters sounded exactly like the ones I know. This would make a great pick for reluctant readers, but is a treat for anyone. The story will have you laughing and cheering for the boys to get their sweet life.

PROJECT SWEET LIFE is a must-read!

Reviewed by: Sarah Bean the Green Bean Teen Queen