The Neptune Project by Polly Holyoke Review

Reading Level: Middle Grade
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Source: Author
First book in a possible series
*This was gifted to me by author for review*
With her weak eyes and useless lungs that often leave her gasping for air, Nere feels more at home swimming with the dolphins her mother studies than she does hanging out with her classmates. Nere has never understood why she is so much more comfortable and confident in the water than on land until the day she learns the shocking truth—she is one of a group of kids who have been genetically altered to survive in the ocean. These products of the "Neptune Project" are supposed to build a better future under the waves, safe from the terrible famines and wars and that rock the surface world.
But there are some big challenges ahead of her: no one ever asked Nere if she wanted to be part of a science experiment; the other Neptune kids aren't exactly the friendliest bunch, and in order to reach the safe haven of the new Neptune colony, Nere and her fellow mutates must swim across hundreds of miles of dangerous ocean, relying on their wits, their loyal dolphins and one another to evade terrifying undersea creatures and a government that will stop at nothing to capture the Neptune kids ... dead or alive.
Fierce battle and daring escapes abound as Nere and her friend race to safety in this action-packed marine adventure.

Review
I really haven't read a book like this before. It's not a mermaid book. Yes, it's about kids living under water. But there's a science to it that I found very interesting. 

This tells the story of Nere. She's never really fit in. But she didn't understand why. Until the day everything changed. Now she's among people like her and must make the journey through the sea to survive.

This features a lot of characters. They were all fabulous. Nere is our main story teller. I loved her. She was so caring but still very strong. She was a great leader while still being fair. It did take me awhile to get used to her voice though. I loved the dolphins but I couldn't understand the way they spoke. It was a little confusing. I can't wait to see more of all the characters. 

This story had two super cool aspects to it. One, it was very scientific so we learned a lot. Two, the world building was amazing. I loved all the sea creatures and ship wrecks. It was so unique. The story was pretty fast paced. I had trouble putting it down. Overall I thought this was fantastic. It was incredibly well done. I cannot wait to continue this series!