Unwind

Riley Jones

Title: Unwind

Author: Neal Schusterman

Genre: Adventure, Dystopian, Science Fiction

"Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, 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' "

                After the second civil war in America, known as the Heartland War, devastates the country, a compromise ended the war. Unwinding was the compromise. Unwinding is the act of completely dividing the body into separate parts for transplant. A confluence of events brings three kids slated to be Unwound together. Connor and Risa are willing fugitives, but Lev is their unwilling companion. Told from each of the character’s perspectives, Unwind follows the story of Connor, Risa, and Lev as they try to escape to freedom as they are hunted. Set in the not-too-distant-future, Unwind is a dark book about second chances, human nature, consequences of one’s actions, and will make you rethink how you see society.

                 I loved Unwind. It is incredibly complex and all the characters are beautifully written. The POV changes between the three characters, but it is done in a way that is not confusing and adds to the book. I love all of the characters, and there are some really interesting side characters as well that bring the story to life. Because of the topic, Unwind makes you think about morals, ethics, and how we convince ourselves that we are doing is right. Even though the characters are going through circumstances that we could never imagine, they are relatable and have depth. I was surprised at how much it makes you re-evaluate how our society works and how much you can relate events in the book to current events.

                People who like Science Fiction, Action, and Dystopias should read this book. It is very fast paced and I couldn’t put it down. Be prepared to contemplate society as a whole and human nature, for this is not a light read. The best place to read this book is in a quiet place, be that the beach, your room, or up a tree, because you won’t want to be disturbed until you have read the very last page. It is a roller-coaster of action and adventure, but it also has a hint of romance.  I couldn't put the book down for hours and was content to read all day. Listening to music, such as Radioactive by Imagine Dragons, also added to the dystopian atmosphere of the world of Unwind.

                If you read the book and are looking for more, the sequel is called UnWholly.