When fifteen-year-olds Luke and Tommy pull a prank at their school to protest a particularly boring reading assignment, they have no idea that another book--one worth millions--is actually known as the most boring book in the world. The book, Leonardo's River, is so boring that only one copy has ever been printed. When a flood threatens the town's library and the boys volunteer to help move the books out of harm's way, they are shocked to see Leonardo's River among the rare book collection. The lure of the money is so strong that Luke and Tommy return to the library that night to steal the book. There, they encounter a bunch of thugs that seem to have the same plan in mind. And they're not just in it for the money. Luke and Tommy soon discover that the book is encoded with a dangerous secret. One that could change the course of history as we know it.

The Project is a thriller for boys, with action and suspense that build as the story progresses. While the plot may seem to follow a fairly predictable path at first, it takes a turn that the reader will likely not anticipate, as the main characters travel back in time to prevent a different outcome for World War II. This historical element would appeal to history buffs and those who are at least somewhat familiar with Nazi Germany. The dialogue between Luke and Tommy is fairly authentic with lots of bro-speak that readers will relate to. Those who are reluctant readers will identify with Luke, who dislikes reading but is quite bright and has a photographic memory. He is by no means perfect, however, as he tends to act before thinking through the consequences of his behavior. The story involves some violence and the boys are sometimes in peril, but they use their courage and their wits to outsmart the bad guys. Language is mild (cr-ap, h-ll, p-ss off, j-rk).

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