Unwind (Unwind Trilogy #1)

This was a great, thought-provoking read that actually made me tear up a little towards the end. Neal Shusterman gives you the perspective of three very different teens who are all facing the same consequences but for very different reasons.

Could this story have been told from the perspective of just one person? Of course, but I don’t think it would have been so effective on me as a reader. Unwind is a story about controversial subject matter and I think it was successful at not being preachy or patronizing. Ultimately, I think it was written objectively and its purpose was only to get the reader to reflect and think deeper on the subject because clearly, not everything is always black or white. The perspectives of Lev, Risa and Connor (as well as a few others in some chapters) provided the grayness in between so if you don’t empathize or identify with one character, you will with one of the others. Even though they are all going to be unwound, the three of them have very different takes on what it means and how they feel about it.

One of the best scenes of the book is when Neal describes an actual unwinding. It’s not actually gory or described in a particularly gruesome way, in fact it’s a very clinical and sterile process, but that – and the doctors’ flippant attitudes – is what makes it most horrifying. So horrifying I even found myself sympathizing with some of the antagonists in this book.

Although it’s not light subject matter, Unwind is a great page-turner that you can definitely breeze through in a few days. I did!

Reader reviewed by Paige

Unwind is an excellent book for science fiction lovers. A war has recently happened known as the second civil war or the heartland war. The abortion bill has a terrible contract has people choosing, for life or against life. Unwinding the use of other body parts, is taking place. Conner and Risa are on the run from being unwound both for different reasons. They are stuck with each other and soon are stuck with young 13 year old Levi. Levi, due to his religion, is meant to be unwound. Together, they are thrown into a wild adventure. Levi tries to turn them in by pulling a fire alarm. Levi gets separated from them, and makes a friend. Risa and Conner are taken away to a safe house, known as the 'Graveyard', that isn't very safe at all. Then Levi gets there, as a clapper. (which means explosives in their blood) Together they try to free themselves.

This book could have been better. Toward the end it was going really fast. I was like whoa, when did that happen, then I have reread the recent chapter I finished. The setting in the being was not cleared up, like what state is this set in. What time in the future is this set. The book was funny in some places.
In my opinion this book is overall a good book in a weird way because of the use of other body parts. My favorite characters would be Risa, and Conner. Because Risa reminded me of myself in some ways. Conner was funny, and he is the one of the main characters. Levi really got on my nerves because of the reasoning behind unwinding people due to his religion. I found this book good, and more of a book for a science fiction lover.

Reader reviewed by Vicki

Very compelling story. I truly enjoyed Shusterman's novel about a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts. The story had twists and turns throughout and it makes you wonder about life. When does life actually begin, and end? It also makes you think about what it means to be alive! Highly recommended

Reader reviewed by Debbie

The concept of this book was what first grabbed me.  The idea that
society could get to the point where they think harvesting a body of
its part is not really killing a person but letting them live on in
other people is just disturbing.  In fact, its so crazy that I can see
after any big disaster or war people actually falling for it and
supporting the idea.   At one point in the book you are actually there
for the unwinding of one of the characters and talk about disturbing.

Connor initially appears to be a jerk that deserves to be unwound
but from his interaction with Risa he soon realizes the person he can
become.  Although their journey was not an easy one we see how Connor,
Risa and Lev change as they are on the run and they realize the world
is not really what they thought it was and what they can do to change
it.  I thought this was a really thought provoking book for both adults
and teens.

reprinted here with author's permission.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

In an alternate (or future)
United States, the Heartland War between pro-life or pro-choice parties has
been fought, and one of the compromises that the people have come up with is
unwinding: any teen between 13 and 18 can be signed over by their parents to
the government, to be "unwound" into parts for other people's bodies.
It's not death, they say, because you remain in divided parts. But is it really
living?

Connor is a troublesome teen
whose parents are having him unwound. Risa is an orphanage at the overcrowded
state home that is planning to cut costs by having a number of kids unwound.
And Lev is a tithe--born and raised to fulfill his role of being an Unwind, and
thus giving back to his god and the community.

The three teens are thrown
together in a desperate adventure to save their own lives--and, eventually, the
lives of thousands of other Unwinds. But the journey they must make is a
dangerous one, one that can fall apart at any second through betrayal or bad
luck. How much can they possibly do to undermine the system that threatens to
dismantle them?

UNWIND takes on a variety of challenging topics that to
this day still have no clear answer: abortion, how to deal with unwanted
pregnancies, religion, and the existence of souls. Thankfully, it provides no
cut-and-dry answer to these issues, and instead presents them in a thrilling
and approachable novel. While I was not particularly impressed by Shusterman's
writing style (too much telling and not enough showing), the
characters--especially Connor and Risa, but even some of the secondary
characters--come across as strong, unique, and appealing. They are good
protagonists for readers to follow in this book that will most certainly leave
an impression on you.

Reader reviewed by Chelsea, 2008 Teen Demi-Goddess

In Unwind, a demented society has taken root. A war has been fought between the prolife and prochoice groups, ending in a terrible contract.

Every child must be born, but if deemed unworthy, can be unwound between the ages of 13 and 18 basically killing the child in the process. Society agrees to this on the condition that every body part remains alive in another human being. Every single organ and limb of the unwind goes straight to the hospital to be used.

Unwind focuses on three children who, each for different reasons, are being sent to unwind centers, better known as Harvest Camps. After certain situations, all three find themselves fleeing their lives in order to remain whole.

In the beginning of the novel, I found it extremely hard to believe this could happen. The prolife supporters, who believe in saving childrens lives, would in no way agree to this process. And the Prochoice supporters sure, they can get rid of their kid, but only after thirteen years, and in an incredibly more horrific way. It was hard for me to grasp this, and impacted the first quarter of the book for me in a negative way.

But as I got deeper into the storyline, the plot thickened and it was easier to see why the society came to be. There were a few twists and turns that kept me surprised, and a whole lot of suspense. After the first quarter of the book, the storyline was fast-paced and extremely easy to get sucked into. I highly suggest this for fans of science fiction. Or anyone else, for that matter.