Project Alpha

Gr 3–7—A global power crisis leads to a competition to find four 12-year-olds for a mission to save the planet. Eight finalists are gathered together to compete for the final spots. The competition is fierce, and while some contestants work together, others are looking out only for themselves. Once the four have been chosen, they will begin a voyage beyond their imaginations with the fate of the planet resting in their hands. This is the first in a planned six-part multimedia series to be written by different authors that will include an online component and a code to decipher. Though this is a high-stakes competition, there is surprisingly little conflict until the voyage itself is underway. Of the eight kids only Dash Conroy stands out as a well-rounded character. Robbie Daymond's narration is the real draw here, and audiobook listeners do have their own version of the code to crack. There are a few last-minute surprises and the promise of more adventures to bring listeners back for more.