Pages: 335
Intended Audience: Teens and Mature Tweens
Genre: Science Fiction / Dystopia
Notes for Parents: There are some disturbing scenes
The Back Cover
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child “unwound,” whereby all of the child’s organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn’t technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not talented enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape—and to survive.
What the cover doesn’t tell you:
This is the first book in a series.
What’s good?
This is a fast-paced, action-packed story of survival as three teens attempt to escape their fate. The main characters are well-drawn and very relatable, and there is a good supporting cast. This is a highly original, thought provoking story that, at times, is down-right disturbing. The plot twists and turns with several heart-stopping and heart-wrenching moments.
Best Part: The unwinding scene.
What isn’t good?
The premise is ridiculous. The thought that our society would degenerate to a place where unwinding teenagers is an answer to the abortion question, is absurd. Unwinding a teen for typical teen behavior, or as a solution to a custody battle, or to make more room at the orphanage…ridiculous! Don’t even getting me started about storking.
Worst part: Storking.
Recommendation þþþoo
If you can accept the premise, which I did with great effort, it’s an excellent story. I only wish it had a little more – a little more history, a little more politics, a little more resistance by the people. Perhaps it will in subsequent books. I enjoyed it, and I do recommend it.
Shusterman, Neal. Unwind. New York
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