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Project Hope

by Sean Joyce (Goodreads Author)

3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 · rating details · 16 ratings · 12 reviews

In the Zones, a troubled society walled off from the outside world, nineteen-year-old Dylan lives in the crossfire between rampaging gangs known as hoods, and tyrannical government guards.

Trapped in a brutal reality, he confronts the helplessness of his situation the only way he can—through his art. By day, he takes on the role of protector, caring for his little sister, L...more

ebook, 151 pages

Published June 17th 2012 by Plastic Paddy Publishing

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Sep 20, 2012 Jo Bryant rated it 3 of 5 stars

Project Hope centres on the lives of brother and sister Dylan and Lil. The siblings live in the Zones. The Zones is a society that has been walled off from the rest of the world. It is ruled by guards who more than a little enjoy the power they have over the lives of the residents. Also in the Zones are the Hoods, gangs that run riot over these same residents.
Life is a constant battle to stay out of trouble that comes at you from all sides.
Dylan has only one outlet, his art. He sneaks out at n...more

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Jul 28, 2012 Sandra "Jeanz" rated it 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW
I was sent a mobi file of this book to read by the author. He had heard about my blog from another author who I have worked with and loved her work, Shalini Boland.
The cover is simplistic in that it has a backdrop of graffiti art, with a black circle for the title and author. I don't know whether I like it or not. To be totally honest, if I saw this one on the shelf, it would not be the first book I picked up because of the cover however, when you read the book, the cover then makes se...more MY REVIEW
I was sent a mobi file of this book to read by the author. He had heard about my blog from another author who I have worked with and loved her work, Shalini Boland.
The cover is simplistic in that it has a backdrop of graffiti art, with a black circle for the title and author. I don't know whether I like it or not. To be totally honest, if I saw this one on the shelf, it would not be the first book I picked up because of the cover however, when you read the book, the cover then makes sense. The blurb would definitely attract me to the book as I have said on many occasions, dystopian is one of my favourite genres.
The book is set in a place that could sadly exist in a few years time. A troubled, society has been cut off from the outside, so the ill and the trouble maker hoodies are kept away from the main population. Guards prevent people escaping to the outside. the only time you go through the gate is if you are on a work detail at the Ready Meal factory. It's bag breaking mind numbing work but at least you are at the other side of the wall. Your pretty safe as long as you stay on the good side of the guards and the warden. Food is provided in the form of ready meals in boxes to those on the inside, "captive" Zones area. The hoodies fight and steal peoples boxes, money,etc.
The story is set around Dylan, his younger sister Lil, their friend Oscar and his elderly father. Dylan is left looking after his little sister when their parent die, taken by the "illness", they live in a flat in a tower block. Oscar lives a few floors above them in the tower block with his elderly father who is basically existing with his son's help. People trundle on day after day, coping with the monotony and fear, hoping to avoid the hoodies and hoping to stay out of the line of fire of the warden too. The only escapism that Dylan has is his painting. Oscar has a guard "friend" who enables Dylan to send his paintings to the "outside", but where is he sending them? Do they even get there? Does that place even still exist?
There is tension in the zones as the hoodies want more and more from the people, thy take what they want and demand even more. If you don't give what they ask or can't give what they demand you are beaten, often beaten to death. The air is filled with tension as the hoodies demands grow more and more...
Some of then men decide to take a stand, but will it work? What will the repercussions be? How long can people go on living like this. Is there a way of escaping to the outside? Even if there is what is it like outside? Is the art gallery still there that Dylan remembers visiting as a child.
I won't go further as I don't wish to spoil your own voyage of discovery into this book. It's gritty, at times violent, but there's always a sliver of Hope. This book seemed quite short at 151 pages, and I seemed to fly through reading it.
So did I enjoy it? Yes. Would I read a Bk2 or more by Sean Joyce? Yes. Would I recommend? Yes, for all those that love dystopian will certainly enjoy this.(less)

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Aug 26, 2012 Marni rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book centers around 19 year old Dylan and the life he's had to endure the past two years and presently. The eldest of two children, his family was put behind the wall the seperates those who are free and those who are in the Zones. After a virus swept through the Zones, Dylan is not only the big brother but protector of his young sister Lil. The wall in this story reminds me a lot of the Berlin Wall. In fact Dylan, who is an artist, depicts the warden of the zones as Hitler in one of his pi...more This book centers around 19 year old Dylan and the life he's had to endure the past two years and presently. The eldest of two children, his family was put behind the wall the seperates those who are free and those who are in the Zones. After a virus swept through the Zones, Dylan is not only the big brother but protector of his young sister Lil. The wall in this story reminds me a lot of the Berlin Wall. In fact Dylan, who is an artist, depicts the warden of the zones as Hitler in one of his pictures. The story follows Dylan over a short period of time, but gives a detailed look at his life and those around him. The monotonous factory work, the constant fear of what can happen in the dark, the thugs who rule the night and are doing what they can to make everyone's life even worse. Dylan finds himself done with this all and takes a stand.

The story never seemed to have lull. Even if the characters themselves weren't doing too much, I was never bored. I didn't understand why Dylan, who is protective of his sister and extremely watchful of her, would go out in the middle of the night to paint part of the wall with pictures. If he had been caught by the guards or warden, he probably would never have made it back. If the Hoods had caught him, he would have been beat up if not close to death, than to death.

As I had said, the wall was a reminder of the Berlin Wall and represented many things over the years. The biggest was The Iron Curtain, which seperated Western Europe from the communist rule of the Soviet Union. Families were seperated from each other, those who tried to breach the wall were shot, guards were a fierce presence. Not only was there similarities there, but also with the bar code tattooed on the factory workers. I found this as a comparison to the tattoos of those in concentration camps.

What I didn't get from the story was why the wall was built in the first place, nor why or how the people who lived behind the wall were put there are chosen to be there. I had hoped there would have been answer to that, but was disappointed when I was left without answers. What I did get, was how a population cut off from society with no true government in place, could slowly implode but never give up hope for better.

This book was provided to me, by the author, for review. I enjoyed this book and hope that there is a sequel. It would be great to see what happens with Dylan, the Zones and get some backstory. Just a quick update: The author is making this into a trilogy.(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Melissa (TheBibliophilicCat) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Post-apocalyptic fans

I was gifted a copy of Project Hope by the author, and really appreciate it! This was a great novel with a good plot. It was well written and polished, which is very much appreciated in an author's first novel. Joyce leaves quite a bit up to the reader's imagination, which some people either love or hate. I think I am just neutral on that.

The story takes place in the Zones, where tons of people have just been closed in to live in horrible conditions for no apparent reason. Obviously, some apoca...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Anastacia Knits rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, fantasy, e-books

I just received this book from the author, who kindly sent me a review copy. It had what I felt to be a bit of a slow beginning, because the themes in this book are not my usual cup of tea.

Overall I enjoyed this book, especially the ending, which I didn't really expect. At times the book is very dark & despairing, but it's well written. I liked the fact that there weren't a lot of main characters, so you could really get to "know" each one of them.

There were a few things I didn't really ca...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Ray Daley rated it 3 of 5 stars

My review of Project Hope by Sean Joyce.

This is the story of Dylan and his sister Lil, struggling to survive in The Zones. These are walled-off blocks of flats, isolated after a flu-like disease outbreak to protect the outside world. It tore apart families and left behind the stark Dystopian reality of those not much older than kids themselves looking after younger siblings or older family members like their friend Oscar.

The Zones are terrorized by the brutal and racist Hoods run by Silo & L...more

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Sep 07, 2012 Christina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-as-giveaway

This review is going to be a little different from all the others I have written, so please bear with me.

The reviews I post are a little different than the ones I keep. The reviews I keep on my computer begin with the exact description of the book, usually from Barnes and Noble. Then I write my summary of the book and that is what I use to begin the review I post. I am parting from that with this review because this time it actually makes a difference.

I do not remember how I came across this boo...more This review is going to be a little different from all the others I have written, so please bear with me.

The reviews I post are a little different than the ones I keep. The reviews I keep on my computer begin with the exact description of the book, usually from Barnes and Noble. Then I write my summary of the book and that is what I use to begin the review I post. I am parting from that with this review because this time it actually makes a difference.

I do not remember how I came across this book. Somehow, I was offered a free eBook to review. I must have read the description because I never enter any giveaways if I am not interested in the book. I already had a couple of books on my 'to read' list before this one but I replied I would be happy to review the book. When I was ready to actually begin reading, I went back to the synopsis and this is what I saw:

"In the Zones, a troubled society walled off from the outside world, nineteen-year-old Dylan lives in the crossfire between rampaging gangs known as hoods, and tyrannical government guards.

Trapped in a brutal reality, he confronts the helplessness of his situation the only way he can—through his art. By day, he takes on the role of protector, caring for his little sister, Lil. By night, he lives a secret life, breaking the curfew and braving the dangerous Zones to paint the perimeter wall with his subversive images. But with the eye of the warden upon him, and the hoods tightening their grip on the Zones, inaction is no longer an option. He must do the one thing no one else has dared to—unite the downtrodden residents and reawaken their hope."

I immediately thought, "Oh no. What have I gotten myself into?" I imagined Footloose with art instead of music and dancing, and a novel instead of a movie with a cute, although a bit nerdy, Kevin Bacon. Or maybe a superhero with special powers of art. Come on, 'by day.... by night...' Doesn't that sound a little super-heroish? Then I felt really bad because I just knew I was going to dislike this book and would probably give it a bad review. However, I brushed those thoughts aside, determined to read the book with an open mind. So I began...

And then I had to continue reminding myself, for two and a half chapters, to keep an open mind. The book is only 156 pages long in my e-reader and after more than two chapters, I was a little concerned because I was having a difficult time getting into it. I was really beginning to worry because I do not have a single artistic gene in my entire body and I should have considered the description more carefully; this book and I were not going to part on friendly terms.

Then at the end of chapter 3... WHAM! There it was- that moment when you are sucked into a book and would rather read than sleep, shower or care for your children. Unfortunately, it was in the middle of the night when that moment arrived. Considering what happens at the end of chapter 3, I started to get a little nervous and kept looking toward my window worrying that someone was out there. Then when I decided I really needed to tear myself from the book and get some sleep, I could not sleep. I kept thinking about what I would do if I had to live in the Zones.

I obviously had turned a corner and was enjoying the book. I pretty much knew around page 100 that I would give Project Hope 4 out of 5 stars. The next day, I even sent my husband away with the kids so I could be alone in a quiet house and finish my book. Project Hope was absolutely not what I was expecting. It was sad and horrific. I was outraged at how callous some of the characters were. It really brought home the sentiment that a crisis brings out the best and worst in people. That is what this book portrays.

I admit that I saw the end coming. I was 90% sure of the ending and of course I was excited when I got there and sure enough, I was right. What I did not see coming was that on page 152, I started crying. That is when I knew I was giving the book 5 stars.

5 out of 5 stars.(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Between the Bind rated it 4 of 5 stars

4 Stars from Between the Bind

Project Hope was sent to me by Sean Joyce after winning a fellow book blogger's giveaway and I was so excited to add another YA Dystopian to my bookshelf.

Dylan's day begins with taking Lil to school, a run down apartment of a former teacher where the younger kids gather to practice reading and writing. But, that's all they have now. He reminds Lil to keep her eyes down and keep walking until they get there, not drawing attention to themselves because someone is alway...more 4 Stars from Between the Bind

Project Hope was sent to me by Sean Joyce after winning a fellow book blogger's giveaway and I was so excited to add another YA Dystopian to my bookshelf.

Dylan's day begins with taking Lil to school, a run down apartment of a former teacher where the younger kids gather to practice reading and writing. But, that's all they have now. He reminds Lil to keep her eyes down and keep walking until they get there, not drawing attention to themselves because someone is always watching.

Then, he goes to the wall to wait for the buses to bring him and his fellow Zone workers to work in the factory. Occasionally, you'll see an escape attempt which is the fastest way to suicide in the zones. Well, that or refusing to give into the "hoods" demands.

But Dylan and Lil are trying to remain under the radar...at least when Dylan isn't painting the wall separating them from the way the world was...back then.

I adored all of the characters in this story - Dylan and Lil were interesting and diverse in their sibling roles while Dylan's best friend Oscar was the perfect addition to this little family. Even the relationship between Oscar and his dad was wonderful in continuing this unfortunate family dynamic. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, their struggles, and flaws.

On the other hand, I felt very confused about the reason why the wall was even there. I mean, eventually *most* of the pieces fit together, however, it took so long for us to get to that point that I almost want to re-read the story now that I know certain particulars. Although piece-y story telling can be epic, in this case it didn't quite work. I just wished the historical development of why this community is behind the wall, when the separation occurred between Zone's and the rest of the world, was more clear.

Furthermore, and I hope this makes sense, but even with the slow developing "whys" the world was very well-developed. I felt like I could see the buildings, the people, and the pain and suffering surrounding Dylan and Lil. Even the lack of social contact was apparent and understood.

I would suggest that readers with a love of dystopia read Project Hope. I love the reflection and usage of art as an outlet for the inward struggles in this society and the unique friendships and relationships developed throughout this story was beautifully written.(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 Jacqui rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this book from the author as a gift for review, this has not influenced this review in anyway!!!
this book is really well written Joyce took great care editing, this is one of my biggest pet peeves small errors can break the flow of the story when you (I) have to stop and mentally "fix" the error. I had not interruptions due to errors. The characters were well developed Dylan the main character was very dimensional I felt like I was his shadow going through everything with him. The onl...more

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Aug 14, 2012 Derek Broughton rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: topia

A well written and edited book, but ultimately the story let me down.

One night a Berlin-type wall goes up around the "Zones". Inside the wall, life goes on much as it might have done in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II - right down to the daily commute of slave labourers to work in outside factories. Now, ghettoization is nothing new in human history, and the fact that this happened isn't unreal - but why did it happen? We never find out. Why does nobody outside the Zones care? In Warsaw,...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Olivia rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read this for a book club (another member knows the author), and I thought it was much better than I expected. It's not in a genre I tend to read, and it is not the best book I read this year, but I enjoyed reading it. It was a bit formulaic and predictable, but the characters were generally engaging/sympathetic. There were a few flaws in character development and in a few of the fight scenes, but overall an engaging read.

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Aug 12, 2012 HeiDi Dowding rated it 4 of 5 stars

Great book! Very character and relationship-centric, the main character's relationship with his sister is the absolute best part about this book. Wonderful for teens- focuses rebellion and becoming independent, while also pushing the importance of character and individual action.

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May 07, 2013 Jen marked it as to-read

Apr 01, 2013 Janna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mar 15, 2013 Helena Ison marked it as to-read

Jan 05, 2013 Nitza marked it as to-read

Shelves: fantasy, dystopia

Nov 24, 2012 Rose marked it as to-read

Shelves: gr-ez

Oct 22, 2012 skyline marked it as to-read

Shelves: 2012, books-i-have, paranormal-fantasy

Oct 18, 2012 Darren rated it 4 of 5 stars

Oct 13, 2012 Jessica is currently reading it

Shelves: science-fiction

Sep 16, 2012 Terri marked it as to-read

Sep 14, 2012 Jeremy Chenevert marked it as to-read

Sep 07, 2012 Clare K. R. marked it as sampled-not-buying

Sep 03, 2012 Samantha Weck rated it 4 of 5 stars

Aug 31, 2012 Brianna Cotroneo marked it as to-read

Aug 21, 2012 Jorayne marked it as to-read

Aug 18, 2012 Shatha is currently reading it

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About Sean Joyce

Sean Joyce is a 31-year old British writer currently living in Toronto. When he's not writing, he's usually hopping from one country to another.

He is the author of the novel, Project Hope.

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