Ratings204
Average rating4
This ended much more differently than I expected. I'm curious to see how the events play out the next book.
Unwind was quite a dark story, but it was very enjoyable. But I honestly couldn't stand that it was written in present tense, it bothered me the whole time I read the book. D:
I wish I could rate this with a 3.5. I liked this book. It is shocking, disturbing, and thought provoking. Easy read with a serious, thought provoking topic. I'm impressed that this is for teens. I first I thought one of the character's voice used to many cliques but then I guess he started to grow and they disappeared. The characters and their stories are well developed. It does read like a movie flipping from POV and scene to scene but I don't think it takes away from the story. Easy read.
Unwind follows runaway teens Connor, Risa, and Lev in a chilling dystopian world where abortion is illegal, but parents can choose instead to retroactively “unwind” their children between the ages of 13-17. Unwound teens are often troubled (Connor), unwanted wards of the state (Risa), or religious tithes (Lev); what they all have in common is that their bodies are systematically dismantled and the various organs purchased by the highest bidder. Rather than considered the end of life, however, unwinding is excused by society as living on in a different form, since 100% of an Unwind's body parts are required by law to be used as organ donations. This society, as you might expect, makes for plenty of teen runaways–and Connor, Risa, and Lev must make it to a place called “the graveyard” if they hope to hide out successfully until they reach the safe age of 18. Unfortunately, the graveyard turns out to be even more dangerous than the streets. A thrilling, heartbreaking book, Unwind will have you at the edge of your seat in a way that is thought-provoking rather than simply entertaining. I would recommend this book for both teens and adults.
An incredible novel that really pulls you into the story and does not let go til the very last page. I had a very hard time letting the book down and had to keep reading to see what would happen next. The characters were terrific and each developed a different way. This is a distopia book that is definitely worth reading.
When I was a child, my mother took me to a pediatrician that had a plaque hanging on his wall that said “Kids Are People Too.” Quite a few characters in this book seem to have forgotten that - or never seemed to have realized it at all. The complete disregard that society has for these teenagers is unreal. That they can “unwind” them and justify it by saying they are not dead but simply going on living in a “divided state” is astounding. Unwinding just shows how far people are willing to go to get the parts they need, how far man will go when science has advanced too far, and how far the pro-life/pro-choice zealots can take their feud.
It took a little while, but I came to feel for these characters in the book. Connor and Risa, I wanted nothing more than for the two of them to escape to their freedom. Lev, there's a love/hate relationship with that kid all through the book. He just came across to me as being so conflicted. Roland, I just loathed, but wouldn't you know that HE is the one the author chooses for unwinding? Reading through the unwinding process, knowing it was happening to Roland, a character that I despised, I still found myself feeling terribly sorry for him. It was not a pleasant thing to read.
All in all, this book was amazing. Shusterman definitely knows how to write a page turner. Even though I purchased this book out of the Young Adult section, I have to say, this is definitely a book for ALL ages. It's been a little while since I've enjoyed a book this much. I'd give it more stars if I could.
Pros: excellent characterization, original ideas (unwinding, stoking), complex plot
Cons: written in present tense (jarring to read), simplistic writing (definitely a younger teen novel)
“The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of co...nception until a child reaches the age of 13. However, between the ages of 13 and 18, a parent may choose to retroactively ‘abort' a child... on the condition that the child's life doesn't ‘technically' end. The process by which a child is both terminated and yet kept alive is called ‘unwinding'”
The Bill of Life is the foundation of Neal Shusterman's novel, Unwind. Three children are about to be unwound for different reasons. Connor has become an unruly child. Risa is a ward of the state and caring for wards is expensive. Lev is a religious tithe. When Connor runs from the authorities, his path crosses that of other unwinds, all trying to survive until their 18th birthdays.
The book is equal parts social commentary and horror - because everything that happens is perfectly plausible. The body parts harvested from the teens help keep other people alive, and with a higher quality of life. But even that has a cost as these parts have ‘memories' of their own.
The characters develop throughout the story, doing things that match their maturity at various points in the book. The climax is stunning, and when you finally learn how unwinding happens... I haven't been so chilled by an idea in quite some time.
My only problem with the book dealt with the fact that it was entirely written in the present tense. I found the transitions between dialogue (which I'm used to reading in present tease) and narrative (which I'm used to reading in past tense) would bump me out of the story. It was especially noticeable when a past event was being narrated. One of my favourite aspects of the novel was storking. I won't explain it as its ‘fun' to learn about and it's a highly original idea.
If you want to get a teen boy reading, or want something fun and creepy for yourself, this is a fantastic book.
I absolutely loved this book! It brought up some really important, relevant issues without trying to force any specific beliefs on the reader. A solid 4 stars for most of the book, and 5 stars for the end of it :)
EDIT: you know what? I'm changing this to 5 stars overall. It has its flaws (like all books), but I keep thinking about it!!
I love it. And I can't really explain why.
Unwind is set in a world where there aren't any cures and doctors, just surgeons and replacements. Connor, Risa, and Lev are set to face a fate even worse than death–unwinding. Connor ran away from home to escape, Risa jumped off a bus, and Lev was “kidnapped”. Lev being the only one that wants to be unwounded eventually leaves Risa and Conner, who both end up with an old woman who claims she can help them. But can she really? And can Connor and Risa survive to the magical age of 18, the age when they can't get you? And whatever happens to Lev
