After getting caught attempting what they considered to be a very funny school prank, Luke and Tommy are already in big trouble at school. So when they try to get out of reading what they consider to be the most boring book in the world, The Last of the Mohicans, their teacher is less than sympathetic. In their hunt to prove their assigned reading really is the dullest, they come across another book rumored to be so boring that the printer fell asleep while creating it and destroyed all copies except one!
At first glance, it appears to be just another boring book, but when Luke and Tommy realize that hidden inside this book is a secret code, they get pulled into a mystery involving secret inventions, malicious Nazis, and time travel. This action-packed adventure story follows the two friends as they attempt to rescue their kidnapped teacher and save the world from a deadly evil plan. Ages 11-14 275 pages
9780375869457
Recommended by Carrie Shaurette, New York City Librarian, USA
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Uber-cool and fast-paced, The Project is another hit for author Brian Falkner! A tour de force of a solid, break-neck plot, masterful storytelling, cool teen dialog, and super-smart kids Luke and Tom. The boys help their town’s library move books from the basement as the librarian fears that flood waters will invade the structure and ruin the books. They spot a rare –only one copy in the world—book that is worth millions—it has a drawing by Leonardo da Vinci on the cover and is the most boring book in the world—no, really…it is filled with boring words that make no sense and the plot is meandering and boring. That’s not the point, really. Who would write such a boring book...and why is it worth millions…and why are bad guys trying to find it? Unless there’s something hidden in the book—worth killing for!
When Luke and Tom sneak back in the library that night, they encounter some German thugs who are looking for the book. The boys escape with it and hide it outside the house in a pile of ashes near the chimney. The boys turn to the Internet and begin researching everything they can about da Vinci and the author of the book Darcy Benfer. They realize they may be holding the last piece in a puzzle that can change the world!
The boys will have to travel back to Nazi Germany to stop the bad guys from destroying the world and winning the war. It’s a race against time. What if they can’t ever come home?
Fans of The DaVinci Code and action thrillers will want to read The Project. Falkner fans won’t want to miss this one. Unputdownable!
Highly, highly recommended grades 7-up.
Recommended by: Pamela Thompson, Librarian, Texas USA
See more of her books at: https://booksbypamelathompson.blogspot.com/
Editor's Note: Sounds like an older read-alike for the 39 Clues books and also Terry Prachett's Johnny and the Bomb (Johnny Maxwell trilogy)
