The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Pages: 390
Intended Audience: Tweens and up
Genre: Dystopian/Fantasy
Notes for Parents: Some of the traditions in Quill are cruel and there is quite a bit of violence near the end

The Back Cover

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their graves.
On the day of the Purge, identical twins Alex and Aaron Stowe await their fate. While Aaron is hopeful of becoming a Wanted, Alex knows his chances are slim. He’s been caught drawing with a stick in the dirt—and in the stark gray land of Quill, being creative is a death sentence.
But when Alex and the other Unwanteds face the Eliminators, they discover an eccentric magician named Mr. Today and his hidden world that exists to save the condemned children. Artimé is a colorful place of talking statues, uncommon creatures, and artistic magic, where creativity is considered a gift…and a weapon.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first in a series.

What’s good?

Creative world-building is the shining star of this dystopian fantasy. Quill is a dull, broken down community that values intelligence and brawn over creativity, while Artimé is a hidden world full of magical marvels and wondrous creatures. The chapters are short and the plot is simple, making this a quick and easy read. The main character, Alex, is well-drawn, with palpable emotions that fuel the story. There is plenty of action and suspense, as well as explosive slam poetry, defensive painting, stinging soliloquies, itch glue, and the dreaded Shakespearean theatre curse!
Best Part: Simber the stone cheetah and Rufus the squirrelicorn

What isn’t good?

The pace is uneven. There are parts that are fast-moving and draw you in, and others that drag on way too long. Some parts are weighed down by too much dialogue, and much of that dialogue is very juvenile (e.g. “Great cats!” pg. 287). We don’t get to know the secondary characters very well, but as this is the first in the series, I assume there’s more to be revealed.
Worst part: Meghan’s brother, Sean. What was the point of him?

Recommendation þþþoo

Overall, this was a pretty good start for a series. It was a bit slow and felt a little too juvenile for my taste so I’m not likely to read more, but it was good. The premise is engaging, the lands of Artimé and Quill are wonderfully inventive, and the characters are likeable. Recommended.

McMann, Lisa. The Unwanteds. New York: Aladdin, 2011.