Project 17

Project 17 follows six teenagers who decide to break into the abandoned Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts on the night before its demolition. The group is led by Derik, a struggling student who plans to film the experience for a contest entry that could change his future. The teens each bring their own motives and personal stakes to the project, from investigating family history to pursuing acting dreams. The story takes place over a single night inside the decaying mental institution, which closed in 1992 after more than a century of operation. Within the hospital's dark corridors and forgotten rooms, the group encounters unexplained phenomena that force them to confront both the building's haunting past and their own fears. Through their night of urban exploration, the characters must navigate relationships, ambitions, and increasingly unsettling events. The novel addresses themes of ambition, friendship, and the weight of history, while exploring how places can hold onto the echoes of past trauma and suffering. It raises questions about the treatment of mental illness and the thin line between seeking thrills and disturbing the peace of the past.

Readers describe Project 17 as a fast-paced teen horror story that builds suspense but falls short of delivering real scares. The abandoned mental hospital setting and found-footage style narrative create atmosphere, though many note the plot becomes predictable. Liked: - Quick, easy read - Creepy atmosphere and location - Multiple character perspectives - Historical details about Danvers State Hospital Disliked: - Characters feel underdeveloped and stereotypical - Romance subplot seems forced - Ending disappoints many readers - "Not scary enough" appears in numerous reviews One reader noted: "The build-up was great but it fizzled at the end." Another wrote: "Expected more actual horror instead of teen drama." Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (6,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (89 ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.3/5 (30 ratings) Young adult horror fans rate it higher than general horror readers, who often find it too mild.

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🏥 Danvers State Hospital was a real psychiatric facility that operated from 1878 to 1992, earning the nickname "The Castle on the Hill" due to its imposing Gothic architecture. 🧠 Dr. Walter Freeman performed the first transorbital lobotomy in the United States at Danvers State Hospital in 1948, using an ice pick-like instrument through the eye socket. 📽️ The hospital's distinctive architecture and dark history inspired several works, including the video game "Outlast" and the film "Session 9" (2001). ✍️ Author Laurie Faria Stolarz is a Massachusetts native who has written over fifteen young adult novels, with several becoming New York Times bestsellers. 🏗️ The actual Danvers State Hospital was partially demolished in 2006, the same year "Project 17" was released, with portions of the building converted into luxury apartments.