Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publish Date: November 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Pages: 352pp
IBSN: 1416912045
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Range: 12 and up
Price: $16.99
Amazon: $8.99 Annotation: Connor has just found out he is on the list to be killed unwound: taken apart piece by piece for organ and body parts donation. On his desperate attempt to escape he meets Risa and Lev, who are also “unwinds” on the road.
Summary: Set in a dystopian society where the war over abortion has come to the conclusion with The Bill of Life, which does not allow any child to be touched from the moment of conception till the age of thirteen. Between thirteen and eighteen teenagers can be killed unwound for their body parts for those who are in need of them. A medical breakthrough allows the entire use of the body, which has society convinced that unwinds are not killed, but live on in a separated state. The story follows three teens, Connor, Risa and Lev, who are from different backgrounds and who are all consigned to this fate. Throughout their journey they change their attitudes about themselves and learn to become leaders among the Unwinds.
Evaluation: Extremely thought provoking story that is set in a dystopian future where the abortion debate has turned into a war, leaving the final solution a morbid compromise where no one can abort a fetus, but they can “unwind” (harvesting body parts) their child between the ages of thirteen and eighteen. This is INSANE! I thought the author did an excellent job presenting questions about the value of life, and the extent to which one is willing to go to defend one's beliefs. This is a quick read, as you just cannot put it down.
Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness:
- Parental Abandonment
- Fighting for your life.
- Survival.
- Comforting your idea of what life is/means.
- Relationships.
Reason this book was chosen: The controversial issues this book presents such as the value of life and the extent to which one will go to defend one’s beliefs. Additionally, the reviews for this book are phenomenal. Someone on Good Reads explained the book as follows: “Pro-Life verses Pro-Choice equals The Bill of Life.”
Similar Titles:
The Unwind movie site: http://unwindmovie.com/UNWINDMOVIE/UNWIND.html
Awards:
ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008
ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2008
Check out this book trailer!
