This book had a lot of promise, but for me fell flat. There were a lot of storylines going on that didn't "go" anywhere and didn't seem to have much purpose. I was excited to read this book since I have my students read City of Ember every year and they love it. I felt the book was really pushing fossil fuels and I didn't like that. I wish I liked this book more, but really couldn't get into the whole idea of the story.

The City of Ember was one of my all-time favorite books. The characters and the premise were so fresh and well-developed. It was one that I often recommended and it served as a powerful choice for hesitant science fiction readers. I was eager to read Jeanne DuPrau's newest title. The message remains important, yet the delivery, characters and storyline did not capture my attention with the same gusto.

Project F is an exciting and thought-provoking middle-grade novel by Jeanne DuPrau. I have not read much science fiction before, but reading science fiction with a middle-grade protagonist was really good.

Keith is a curious and adventurous thirteen-year-old living in a world that has been changed forever by climate change. One day, he stumbles upon a secret mission called Project F, which seems to be a scientific endeavor with far-reaching implications. As Keith digs deeper, he discovers that the project could change the world as we know it, and he must make a choice that could have lasting consequences.

The story is full of adventure, and mystery that will keep readers engaged and thinking. Jeanne DuPrau's writing is captivating, transporting readers to a future world that feels both foreign and familiar.

With its engaging plot and memorable characters, Project F is a must-read for fans of dystopian fiction and anyone who loves a good page-turner.

I remember reading Jeanne's City of Ember several years ago. This is aimed at the same age, or perhaps even a little younger, and thus doesn't have the complexity of some reads; but it's perfect for the age it's aimed at, and it could lead to a lot of fun discussions about fossil fuels and the replacement technologies currently available.

I won't give away too much of the story, as I don't want to spoil it for you, but I really enjoyed it. I'm always curious about the nuts and bolts - how do things function, what are the rules - and this book had enough for an overview while still leaving plenty of room for me to fill in the blanks. Everything we learned was well thought out and fit together perfectly.

I'm looking forward to being able to recommend this to people, and I think it'll spark some wonderful discussions among readers. Definitely one for school libraries.

There is no denying that this book asks important questions. It wants the reader to look at sacrifice for the greater good. The problem is, it's too blunt about it. It doesn't lead the reader to conclusions; it shoves them in our face. It tells us what we should think about the world of the book. We aren't experiencing the plot with Keith. We're viewing it through a lens, through emotional distance. While middle grade readers may need some guidance in interpreting what they read this doesn't mean that the messaging needs to be a blunt instrument. With characters that are generally unrealistic and one-dimensional, there isn't much driving the reader forward.

This is a quick read that opens the door for some good discussion. It helps children think about the fact that decisions we make today have far reaching results.

This is an interesting middle grade dystopian read. using fossil fuels are illegal. A boy is on an adventure of flight when he finds out about project f, something that is to change the world. Will he find himself in danger?

I had high hopes and really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I didn't care for the characters, loved the setting and premise, but those weren't enough to win me over. The writing was a bit mispaced, and I would have loved to see more character growth. I am sure some readers will love this book, however.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Let me start by saying that I loved "City of Ember" and was very much looking forward to this book. "Project F" was a huge disappointment for me. I did not care for the main character's lying and encouraging his cousin to keep secrets (and to lie) to his parents for starters. I also did not care for the preachiness of the message. The fourteen year old main character does not seem to grow or develop throughout the story--he thinks everyone will be thrilled to see his end performance despite knowing information about it that they will not like.
The main topics in this book are climate change and the evils of fossil fuels which I could get on board with if the story were told differently. The writing itself was good and I would still read this author in the future.

I had a lot of high hopes for this title, but unfortunately it just left me feeling meh. Interesting concept, but the characters were flat.

A few hundred years in the future, life is a bit different. They have gone back to the basics. When Keith goes to retrieve his cousin on a train, a mix-up happens with his luggage. When he returns the luggage to the rightful owner, he sees something amazing. From that point on, Keith does what he can to help the people who are responsible for what he saw.
Opinion
The moral of the story was great. It is an environmentalist's dream. The actual story though is a bit drawn out and in times boring. This is supposed to be for middle school but I cannot see any of my middle school students reading it. While the idea was great, the follow through just wasn't there.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to Random House Children's Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

Middle grade post apocalyptic scifi. Keith lives hundreds of years in the future, after catastrophe has completely changed our way of life. He has a bit of an adventurous spirit, though there's not much of an outlet for it in his simple world. Then he comes into to contact with a stranger on the train and is introduced to "Project F". He's pulled in by the exciting new technology, but eventually comes to realize the consequences.

I remember thoroughly enjoying City of Ember back in my grade school days, so I was curious to pick this one up. Unfortunately, it didn't really wow me. It is for younger kids, of course, but it's too simple and the message of the evils of fossil fuels was too heavy handed. I appreciated the subplot of Lulu and her introduction to the family, but was disappointed by the reveal of her mysterious secret. Nothing really exciting or engaging happens, nor is there much real character development in general. Not my favorite.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of Project F by Jeanne DuPrau.

Project F is set in the future several hundred years. Mankind has reversed their usage of fossil fuels and now uses trains, fueled by wood, and donkey carts to travel. The Great Fall caused humans to rethink their reliance on fossil fuels, but most people have never been out of their city or seen other places because of it.

The story begins with Keith getting on the train to get his cousin. He meets a mysterious passenger named Malcom. His chance meeting with this mysterious man will change his life forever. Keith discovers their bags were switched on the train, so after he picks up his cousin, they go to find Malcom at the Graves Mountain train stop. What they find there is beyond their wildest imagination. Malcom and his crew are trying to find a way to move mankind into the future. Except they want to use fossil fuels again. This is against the law, so all of their inventing must be in secret. Keith and his cousin get more involved than they mean to, and end up telling many lies to cover their secret.

This is a short, interesting book for middle grade readers that could help facilitate some good discussions about alternate energy sources, climate change, and how we should be living in a world of fossil fuels.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Project F is a middle-grade story set in a dystopian future where fossil fuels are prohibited. Keith travels to get his cousin, Lulu, after a tragedy strikes. On his way, he encounters a strange man, Malcom, and discovers a secret called Project F. I thought parts of this story were great and made me want to discover more about the mystery. However, some just drug and did not feel like they compelled the ultimate part of the story along. The writing is well done, and I think children would probably enjoy it.

I was so excited to see a new book from the author of one of my favorite middle grade series, but this book just didn’t speak to me. It seemed preachy and simplistic to me.

A thoughtful sci-fi set in a post apocalyptic world told with an old-fashioned "authorial" narrator, resulting in an interesting, literary vibe. The message against fossil fuels is a bit simplistic, but probably appropriate for younger middle grade readers. Keith's solving of the main mystery of Project F is fairly straightforward, and I enjoyed the additional girl characters who go on lively adventures into the countryside, though their story is not too connected to the main plot. Overall, I enjoyed the contemplative and old-fashioned feel of this story, with its philosophical musings about what society might look like in the far future.

A dystopian adventure. Keith is sent on a journey to pick up his cousin who will be living with them. While riding the train to his destination, his luggage is accidentally switched. He detours to return the bag and comes upon the Project F. Being a curious boy in a world with no modern conveniences , he gets involved in the project.

A post-apocalyptic story set hundreds of years in the future, the novel has a similar concept to "The City of Ember" where a dystopian society has to survive after a cataclysmic event. In Project F, civilization has once again had huge setbacks. People still live above ground, but the human population seems to be concentrated in just seven cities, Cars, planes, and things that run on fossil fuels, are strictly forbidden and against the law. There is no real technology. Keith takes a two-day train ride to pick up his recently orphaned cousin, Lulu, on the way there is a bag mix-up where he finds a sees sketches of something mysteriously called "Project F" This bag mix-up leads Keith to a discovery that he may not be ready for. I found this to be a great read, and I'd recommend it if you enjoyed "The City of Ember", I did.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.