Customer Reviews

The Shadow Project

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you like a little thriller, mixed in with paranormal activity and a CIA and MI-6 match up, then The Shadow Project is a must read for you. The Shadow Project has the CIA and MI-6 teamed up together to not only track terror suspects, but paranormal activity that has been going on with a particular terror cell. This activity has it's terror coming from the astral plane and the likely candidates to reach it are three teenagers.

I liked that it's fiction mixed with a little bit of fact. While I was a little lost when I first started the book, I quickly realized there a few character voices who tell story. I like that each chapter is titled with the character's name, so you know who's telling the story. I didn't mourn the fact that I didn't feel a connection to the characters, as the story is non stop action and quickly flew by.

I did like Danny, the main character. He's a bit of a broken boy who's grown up with his Nan, who's just suffered a major stroke. I do love her character, as you get to know more about her in the book. Danny has taken to being a thief, which is how he stumbles upon the hide out of the project. Danny isn't just some street smart kid who's had his fair share of fights, he's also very intelligent and was recently accepted to Cambridge University. He also has a gift which is needed in aiding MI-6 and the CIA. He has no idea what he's gotten himself into when MI-6 offers him a deal he can't refuse.

I don't know if I'd classify this book as sci-fi, action, paranormal, or mystery. Having this mix made for a quick, easy read that I enjoyed more than I had anticipated. With the very mild language and the fast pace action, I think this a book those 12 and older would enjoy.

This was a great book. The characters were interesting and it sucked me in from the first page. The plot took some unexpected turns. Read it all in 5 hours!

This was an interesting story that I believe will have great appeal to 6th and 7th graders especially. The premise is rather unique in that it offers a combination of a traditional spy thriller, where our young heroes must do battle against terrorists, and a science fiction/fantasy adventure complete with critters that rip off heads and feast on the hearts of their victims. I must admit that I was a bit surprised at the level of mysticism and felt that the narrative got rather muddled up during the second half of the story.

Danny, our lead protagonist is an engaging character; it's obvious that the author has made some efforts to flesh him out by detailing his love for his Nan and his lack of self confidence. Less effort was taken with Opal and Michael and I believe the story suffered a bit for it. If this is a series, I will be interested to see what happens with them.

The combination of science and mysticism and the ensuing confusion of some of the plot elements and the rather grisly scenes would give me caution about recommending this to younger kids. Older middle schoolers should enjoy it however. This book tries to be alot of things and succeeds well enough that I would recommend it to any fan of Alex Rider or the paranormal. I look forward to seeing if Danny, Opal and Michael get to continue their adventures!

i read the other reviews after i read this book they were not quite acccurate i read this book while i was in 7th grade and thought this would appeal to someone in a lower grade

Danny picks the wrong house to break into; what looks like an old home is actually housing for secret government operations. The Project is attempting to defend the world against a terrorist organization. They're using astral projection to spy and locate this group.

At the moment, they're looking for one man in charge of a terrorist cell who is in hiding. Danny looks into an operation room just before they send a girl out on a mission. He can see parts of the process that normal people can't ever see. The government takes notice.

They let him escape and then capture him again to make a deal. They'll keep him out of jail, pay for his spot at Cambridge, and look after his grandmother if he works for them. Danny takes the offer.

However, the terrorists have their own unique supernatural methods of spying and they catch one of the Project's operatives. The whole operation is in grave danger, and Danny and two other operatives must secure an ancient weapon in order to stop the Sword of Wrath. The weapon must be taken over in an alternate world, where nothing is as it appears and one wrong step could mean the end of everything.

THE SHADOW PROJECT is a new action tale featuring spies, an alternative universe, and one dangerous mission. This book combines spies with paranormal twists, creating an awesome and unique read. Plus, the author describes the fact that research into extrasensory perception really did exist among agencies.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

Young Danny Lipman is a talented thief. But when he breaks into a secret government facility, Danny is introduced to a world he didn't know existed. Teenagers are being used as government spies for MI6, via remote viewing, which a person's energy leaves their body and travels anywhere, not being seen or heard. This has been a completely safe procedure, until Opal's latest mission. When tracking a dangerous terrorist, Opal is seen by an evil mystic and captured outside of her body.

Despite being a thief, Danny is a likeable character, brave and protective of his elderly grandmother. Danny's grandmother is not the frail, ill woman she appears to be either. Opal and Michael, the current available teenage operatives are confident on the outside, but on the inside just insecure teens. A fantastic, complex plot, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and a new look at the world of the paranormal; this was a surprising and completely unique story. With the feeling of a spy novel, this science fiction/fantasy novel covers a lot of ground, literally and figuratively. The blending of these genres should attract a wider range of audience, from teens to adults.

This is a really fun book. Certainly not life changing by any means, but it has all the necessary elements that make up a great spy thriller - action, secret espionage, special technology, likeable heroes, fast-pacing, secret religious societies, a great good versus a terrible evil, pending world destruction, and hints at romance (or just romance in general). The cast of characters is perfect as well, and although they're a bit stereotypical, it works well for a book like this.

To be honest, this is the first sci-fi/fantasy spy book that I've read in a while that I really loved. Not that I'm generally into them, but it could rank among the Dan Brown's and James Patterson's, but with a more YA feel. I recommend this to everyone looking for a fun, fast read.

-Lindsey Miller, [...]