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Reviewed by:
  • The Project by Courtney Summers
  • Alaine Martaus
Summers, Courtney The Project. Wednesday/St. Martins,
2021 [352p]
Trade ed. ISBN 9781250105738 $18.99
E-book ed. ISBN 9781250105745 $9.99
Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 9-12

After an accident killed their parents, thirteen-year-old Lo was left severely injured while nineteen-year-old Bea found support in the Unity Project and its charismatic leader, Lev Warren. Now nineteen herself and working for a journalist, Lo decides it's time to rescue her sister and take down the Project, but the one danger she doesn't see coming is finding herself under Lev's thrall. Soon, though, startling [End Page 278] truths emerge, and Lev's righteous mask begins to slip, forcing Lo to realize she may be following her sister down a path of no return. Much like the cult phenomena it explores, this psychologically driven story of suspense pulls readers in, compels them to stay, and leaves its mark even after they wrest free. Utterly gripping from its first pages, its meticulously constructed narrative slowly interweaves elements of Bea's backstory, revealing horrific truths even as Lo falls for the community's and Lev's alluring lies. Both Bea and Lo come starkly to life against a backdrop of equally memorable characters, and though they are rarely seen together, their sisterly bond allows them to remain compelling and believable, even as they embrace the improbable. A must-read for anyone who wonders how people fall victim to cults, this novel is likewise a sure hit for anyone who prizes tautly crafted, emotionally driven suspense.

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