From the Bookshelf of YA and Beyond…

Unwind (Unwind, #1)

Neal Shusterman

Start date: May 1, 2010

Finish date: May 31, 2010

Discussion: MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSIONS

Why we're reading this: Won for May book read
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MONTHLY BOOK DISCUSSIONS

July 2017: The Thirteenth Tale
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What Members Thought

Jul 26, 2011 Erika rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, dystopia, ya, series

When i decided to pick this book from the library, i read some reviews that said it was a shocking, frightening, hunting read, and i must admit i was kind of skeptical about that..

I started reading the book, and it was interesting to see that it was describing all the situations from the different perspectives of the characters, but nothing really amazing about it like all the reviews said.

But then it started to get so extreme! all the situations that happened were so unexpected, and it was just ...more

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Oct 10, 2012 Anna rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, young-adult, kick-ass-heroine, adventure, series, men, fantasy

OH MY GOD! THAT PROCESS!

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I was literally staring off into space for like 10 minutes. Or was it 20.

Oh God. That was really scary. I can't stomach that scene and I'm not sure I can sleep it off.

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"Unwind didn't go out with a bang -- they didn't even go with a whimper. They went out with the silence of a candle flame pinched between two finger."

It's been 5 years and I just knew about this (apologetically shakes head). Sometimes, reading long-gone books left me with doubt that doesn't measu ...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Sherbie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, just-so-awesome, dystopian-post-apocalyptic

Only read this book when you are quite ready for the worst. 5/5 rating. :)

When I started having a hard time quieting my mind after reading this book to help me "fall asleep", I realized it was not my smartest move. I even had to go online and play Sims, just to get it off my mind. At first, the notion of "unwinding" a person sounded too unworldly and odd for me, not to mention too inhumanely horrible. Can you believe it, I almost did not pick up this book when I saw it at the library shelf?! And ...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Micki rated it it was amazing

From the book jacket:

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 From the book jacket:

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.

Let me preface review this by saying I am a huge Neal Shusterman fan, and I think he is an absolutely brilliant writer. I also must say this is my favorite Shusterman book to date, and I have loved every single book of his I’ve read. And I have read A LOT of his books.

Unwind is a futuristic, and dare I say dystopian, novel that deals with the subject of reproductive rights in a way that will blow your mind. It is thought provoking with characters who are well rounded and realistic; the plot is fast paced and will leave you breathless with one particular haunting scene that make you think twice about a lot of things… The setting, in spite of being specific at times, leaves you feeling like it could maybe be a place that is not so far away, as in…maybe it’s your own backyard. If I were a teen reading this book, I might wonder if my name was, theoretically, on the list of those destined to be herded up and sent to a harvest camp.

The issue addressed here is such a controversial and explosive topic in our society, and Shusterman manages it in a masterful way. The “solution” to this issue as presented in this novel is frighteningly real and timely; with our many scientific advances, including transplants and cloning—when you really allow yourself to think about it—the possibility of being “unwound” doesn’t seem so far-fetched. Shusterman forces the reader to consider the possibilities and examine possible consequences, both intended and unintended.
...more

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Apr 23, 2021 Michelle rated it it was amazing

Dystopia is my thing... So a book about a world where you can decide to "abort" (now called "unwind") when a child turns 13, and the struggle of 13 year olds to survive...I couldn't put it down. ...more

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Jun 07, 2011 Kara rated it it was amazing

Wow! what an amazing book and talented writer! This book tackles a pretty heavy subject and makes some amazing points, but never seems forced or contrived. I am still shocked by one chapter towards the end. I plan on reading more of this authors work and highly recommend this one.

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Jun 22, 2011 Mana rated it it was amazing

Shelves: science-fiction-dystopia, books-i-never-wanna-forget

this is an amazing book showing how a society gone bad copes with the contraversial issue of abortions, and how 3 teens decide to be exceptions

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Sep 23, 2011 MisTris rated it liked it

Once I got past the initial horrified reaction to the premise, I got very into the book. I grew to really like the characters. There was a scene with Roland at the end that made me ill, though, and it was the only time I felt bad for him.

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