It’s the summer holidays and Ren isn’t sure about what he wants to do over his break. When he discovers his mum has ideas for him, he quickly decides for himself.
Hopping on a bus doesn’t take him to a long-time pen pal as planned though. To his horror he finds himself on the other side of the world in New Zealand – 100 years in the future.
All is soon explained to him. He was chosen to be part of a special time-travel program. He is to stay in 2122 for 5 months as part of a University educational historical study and 2122 students will learn about history through people from that time. Worried about how his disappearance will affect his family back in 1996, he is assured that he will be returned to his own time with no memories of his miraculous time-jump, and no time will have passed there.
Life wasn’t peachy in 1996, but Ren wishes for home. His allotted student guide for 2122 is Mithaniel, or Mars for short. He’s excited to be Ren’s guide, and is all for the sophisticated time-travel and tech conglomerate Chronotech that runs it. After Ren’s initial misgivings, Mars shows Ren the fun side of 2122.
Mars’ best friend is wary of Chronotech. She believes something isn’t right at the core of this powerful corporation. There are too many unanswered questions. The longer Ren is in 2122, the more he begins to understand until he too has questions. He’s also falling for Mars which adds even more complications. How would he even say goodbye and will he forget him the moment he is sent home?
My favourite graphic novel this year! Project Nought‘s main characters are all queer, brave, loyal and determined to discover what is going on inside a University’s time-travel project. Imagining going through what the focus character experiences, quickly sucked me into this graphic novel. Would I baulk like Ren at this intrusion in my life, or accept it whole-heartedly like funny, brash, courageous Phoebe?
Time travel can be messy in any kind of story, but Project Nought has executed it well, making this a riveting and solid read. The artwork flows brilliantly and I marveled often at the ‘camera’ angles the author-illustrator portrays.
Characters are distinctive and likeable and their emotion beautifully drawn. It was a surprise to discover Project Nought is set in Auckland, New Zealand, and as a kiwi I could place the story’s settings.
Will definitely be looking out for more of this talented author-illustrator’s work.
Author / Illustrator – Chelsey Furedi
Graphic Novel
Age – 14+
(2023, Harper Collins, Time-Travel, Graphic Novel, Future, Inclusivity, Gay, Bi, Non-Binary, LGBTQ+, Queer, Friendship, Action, Betrayal, Powerful Corporation, Lies, Secrets, Fake News, Laboratories, Experiments, Trials, Tests, Control, Social Media, News, Trust, Missing, Attraction, Science)