Unwind (Unwind, #1) in Edgy YA

Apr 30, 2011 Nadine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, dystopian, read-in-2011, 1st-parts, highlights

Wir befinden uns in einer Zeit, in der iPods und Plasmafernseher die Technologie der Großelterngeneration waren. Nach Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Abtreibungsgegnern und -befürwortern, die in einem Krieg gipfelten, hat man sich auf einen "Kompromiss" geeinigt: Alle Schwangerschaften müssen ausgetragen werden, aber die Eltern bzw. Erziehungsberechtigten haben das Recht, die Kinder, wenn sie zwischen 13 und 18 sind "abwickeln" zu lassen ("unwind"), was bedeutet, dass über 99,8 % der Körper der Te Wir befinden uns in einer Zeit, in der iPods und Plasmafernseher die Technologie der Großelterngeneration waren. Nach Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Abtreibungsgegnern und -befürwortern, die in einem Krieg gipfelten, hat man sich auf einen "Kompromiss" geeinigt: Alle Schwangerschaften müssen ausgetragen werden, aber die Eltern bzw. Erziehungsberechtigten haben das Recht, die Kinder, wenn sie zwischen 13 und 18 sind "abwickeln" zu lassen ("unwind"), was bedeutet, dass über 99,8 % der Körper der Teenager als Organ- und Gewebespende transplantiert werden müssen. Laut offizieller Definition bedeutet das nicht den "Tod" des Teenagers, sondern das Weiterleben in "aufgeteiltem Zustand" ("divided state").

Im Mittelpunkt der Geschichte stehen die miteinander verwobenen Schicksale dreier Jugendlicher: Connor hat sein Temperament noch nicht wirklich im Griff und gerät des öfteren in Schlägereien. Also beschließen seine Eltern, ihn "abwickeln" zu lassen. Durch Zufall erfährt er davon und flieht.
Risa ist eine Waise, die nur dann dem Schicksal der "Abwicklung" entgehen kann, wenn sie eine Jury überzeugen kann, dass sie nicht nur gut Klavier spielen kann, sondern virtuos.
Lev ist das zehnte Kind sehr religiöser Eltern, die ihn als Opfergabe (der zehnte Teil) Gott schenken wollen, sein Leben lang wurde er darauf vorbereitet, zum Wohle der Menschheit geopfert zu werden.

Die Perspektive wechselt zwischen den drei Protagonisten, aber auch immer wieder zu einer am Rande beteiligten Person. Erzählt ist die Geschichte außerordentlich spannend und schnell. Die Charaktere sind sehr unterschiedlich aber alle recht liebenswert und durchlaufen verschiedene Entwicklungen im Verlauf der Geschichte. Verschiedene Hintergrundgeschichten werden sehr langsam erzählt und erst nach und nach fügen sie sich zu einem Gesamtbild, was ich als sehr spannend empfunden habe. Moralische Fragen werden aufgeworfen und regen zum Nachdenken an. Die Gründe der Eltern der anderen "Unwinds", die im Buch auftreten, sind allesamt schrecklich und die Schicksale drehen einem zum Teil den Magen um, was auf die Dauer manchmal etwas zu "gewollt extrem" war.

Mir hat das Buch sehr gut gefallen, es gibt spannende Wendungen und gerade das Ende kommt recht unerwartet. Ich freue mich schon auf die Fortsetzung. die 2012 erscheinen soll. ...more

4 likes · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2008 Karin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: youngadult, favorites, 2008-reads

In a not specified future, the battle between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice reached the boiling point and culminated with the “Second Civil War” also known as the “Heartland War”. After many deaths on both sides, an agreement was reached - a compromise. The Bill of Life was added to the Constitution.

The Bill of Life states that life starts at conception and is protected until the age of thirteen. Once a child reaches the age of thirteen, the parent has the right to Unwind them. Unwinding is a possibi In a not specified future, the battle between Pro-Life and Pro-Choice reached the boiling point and culminated with the “Second Civil War” also known as the “Heartland War”. After many deaths on both sides, an agreement was reached - a compromise. The Bill of Life was added to the Constitution.

The Bill of Life states that life starts at conception and is protected until the age of thirteen. Once a child reaches the age of thirteen, the parent has the right to Unwind them. Unwinding is a possibility until the child reaches eighteen and once the child is eighteen, they are safe. Unwinding is a process where the child officially remains alive - but in a “divided state.” Every part of the body is harvested at a Harvest Camp and preserved and later used for people that need replacement parts. For instance, if someone is suffering from heart failure - instead of have bypass surgery you just get a new heart that once belonged to a child that was Unwound.

The story follows three kids - Connor, Lev, and Risa - strangers until fate brought them together on their separate ways to be Unwound.

Connor is a hot-head and has caused his parents just a little too much trouble. He accidentally comes across the papers his parents signed to agree to the Unwinding and decides to escape instead of allowing the government come and take him away.

Risa is a ward of the state living in an orphange. She is a gifted pianist, but not quite gifted enough to prevent her from being Unwound.

Lev is a tithe. His parents are so dedicated to their religion that they tithe 10% of everything they have. Lev is the 10th child in the family and knew he was going to be a tithe from the moment he could understand. He looked forward to the Unwinding and felt he was fulfilling a special purpose with his life.

UNWIND by Neal Shusterman is a frightening look at what a technologically advanced society could turn out to be when the government has the ability to control life to the extent that every part of the human body is available for a problem-free transplant. Yes, it would be nice to replace the part of your brain that was causing epilepsy, but would you want to know that some child between the age of thirteen and eighteen “died” for you to get it? Shusterman gives us a brief look at the possible ramifications of a society that has a Bill of Life.

...more

13 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2009 Mark rated it it was amazing

Shelves: engl-492-spring-2011, young-adult-literature, re-read, suspense, action, death-and-dying, engl-492-spring-2014, coming-of-age, engl-492-spring-2012, survival

Still just as good as the other times I've read it. Chapter 61 still gives me chills.

Let me start by saying that science fiction is not normally a genre I'm drawn to, but I do appreciate the way the best writers craft worlds that are unlike, yet just close enough to our own, to make their stories resonate. That's what Shusterman does in this book. The story is set at some unknown point in the future, after a second Civil War, "The Heartland War," has been fought between pro-life and pro-choice Still just as good as the other times I've read it. Chapter 61 still gives me chills.

Let me start by saying that science fiction is not normally a genre I'm drawn to, but I do appreciate the way the best writers craft worlds that are unlike, yet just close enough to our own, to make their stories resonate. That's what Shusterman does in this book. The story is set at some unknown point in the future, after a second Civil War, "The Heartland War," has been fought between pro-life and pro-choice factions. The resolution (if it can be called that) is the Bill of Life, which states that all life is sacred from the moment of conception, until a child reaches age 13. At that point, until age 18, parents can choose to have a child "unwound," a process that distributes that child's body parts (all of them) to other recipients. The idea is that the child is not technically dead, just alive in other forms, and in other people.

The novel revolves around three main characters: Connor, a young man whose sometimes uncontrollable temper has led his parents to sign his unwind orders; Risa, a ward of the state since her birth, who has been scheduled for unwinding in order to make more room for new arrivals at the state home (and because her musical talents just weren't enough to merit her survival); and Lev, a Tithe, who has been born specifically to be unwound upon his 13th birthday. Their paths cross early in the book, and we watch how they come together, splinter apart, and eventually all find their way to the same destination: a harvest camp, which is the final destination for all Unwinds.

I'm not going to provide a full description of the novel, because a) I don't think I'll do it justice, and b) you need to read this for yourself. This is a book that will haunt me for a while, as I'm sure it does other readers. The passage where we finally "see" what goes on in an unwinding procedure, through the eyes of Roland, is so powerful, I had to read it several times over. Shusterman has crafted a world where a 21st century moral debate gets a gentle nudge into another realm, and opens up great room for debate not only about abortion and the sanctity of life, but about larger issues like the human soul, the way children are treated in our society, and how we make use of the time we have on earth. I cannot recommend this book enough. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Nov 15, 2010 Saniya rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This Story was truly amazing! And I know this story is going to be stuck with me forever. Each and Every character was amazing. Risa, Conner and Lev. I was amazed how the Author being a male first-of-all wrote this book so nicely. I loved how he wrote the book in each and every ones point of view. And I was feeling so bad when Ronald was being unwound after all and Risa being Paralyzed... :( I don't know, but I loved Ronald and Mai and Hayden and each and every character in this book. And I abso ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 01, 2010 Lisa Gibson rated it really liked it

Wow, this book made me think a LOT! The thought of unwinding a child and parsing their organs out to all sorts of people was thought provoking to say the least. I would never do anything like that and don't think it's right, but the whole scenario really gave you pause to consider. It was easy to get drawn into the world of Unwind and pulled along with the story.

Connor is a bit of a trouble-maker but he's also a teenage boy. I really felt for him. Risa is a very accomplished pianist who has the ...more

Like · see review

May 13, 2009 Courtney rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen-fiction, sci-fi-speculative

this one was so intense! right up my speculative fiction alley. this is a book that begs for discussion and i'm fully looking forward to participating in one tonight with my high school book group. i have a feeling it will be very lively. ...more

Like · see review