Every new book by young adult writer Courtney Summers has something different to offer. In 2018, readers were both thrilled and affected by Sadie, a story of a young girl's search for her sister and the family history that forced them apart. Now Summers presents us with The Project, and just as a warning, this one is also not for the faint at heart.
The Situation: Nineteen year-old Lo wants nothing more than to write. Well, what she wants is nothing more than to find her sister Bea, but that door was shut so many times that she finally moved on. Now that Lo works at a small and often failing publication, she feels like it should be any day now that her boss will throw an assignment her way. And yet she continues to fetch his coffee, arrange (and rearrange) his calendar, and answer the front office phone. One day she witnesses the horrific death of a young man, and when she finds out that The Unity Project may be to blame, she is suddenly presented with a possible way to not only prove herself to her boss with an incredible story, but also make a path into the organization that her sister Bea joined over six years ago. Before a car accident that tore their family apart, Bea and Lo were close, just as their mother predicted they would be. But then Bea joined The Unity Project, and has not been seen by her sister since.
The Problem: The Unity Project has deep pockets, a large membership, and a charismatic leader that people seem inexplicably drawn to and willing to protect. When Bea first disappeared, Lo tried everything to get access to her sister, but was turned away again and again, while being told that Bea did not want her around. Even now, six years later, the members of The Unity Project still recognize Bea's little sister, but to her surprise, Lev, the leader, agrees to meet with her. Actually, to her greater surprise, he agrees to talk to her for the article she wishes to write. Bea believed this man could perform miracles, but Lo is more than skeptical. However, even when she gains access to The Unity Project headquarters, and has Lev's undivided attention, the sinister secrets she was sure to find are hard to come by. And then Lo begins to question what she has always believed, about The Unity Project, her sister, and even herself.
Genre, Theme, History: This is a young adult fiction novel that opens in 1998, when Lo is born, and goes through the end of 2018. The chapters jump back and forth through time, telling both Lo's story in present day, as well as Bea's story as she joins the project and becomes involved in its inner workings. To those who follow Lev and join The Unity Project, it is a place that is doing a lot of good in the community and is committed to righting the world's wrongs. But to its detractors, it is nothing more than a cult the preys on the vulnerable (hence their tendency to set up shelters of various sorts for those that are hurting and in need), with a wealthy benefactor, and a man that somehow inspires both loyalty and secrecy. The Unity Project may be front and center of the story, but just behind it is the strong, but also complicated bond between two sisters. Bea left Lo behind because she believes Lev saved her sister's life. But to Lo's mind, she was only left behind. Complicated sister-relationships are a common theme in Summers' work, appearing in both Sadie and This is Not a Test.
My Verdict: I have probably stated this before, but I do not enjoy reading about cults, in either fiction or nonfiction. The creep factor is just too high. Even so, I powered through with this one, mostly because I like Summers' writing and trusted her to not make it too hard for her readers. Thankfully, the risk was rewarded with a story that was still hard to read in many places, but not so much that I dreaded to turn the page. In fact, I needed to know what happened next, despite the very obvious fact that it was not going to be something good. There is a slow reveal here of what is really happening that is done well enough to be satisfying instead of frustrating, but also tense enough to place this book in the category of 'thriller.' Other readers may certainly be more frustrated with the two sisters than I was, and it is understandable, but I especially encourage those who enjoy YA thrillers, as well as those who like true crime documentaries that focus on cults, to give this book a try.
Favorite Moment: The first crack in Lev and The Unity Project's near perfect exterior is small, but it is there, and it is something the reader has to hold onto until the next one. It is a great way to illustrate how these organizations can fool so many for so long.
Favorite Character: Foster is a man who is brought to The Unity Project by Bea. He is smart, capable, strong, and protective; he was simply approached in the right way at just the right time.
Recommended Reading: My favorite of Summers' books remains to be This is Not a Test.
No comments:
Post a Comment