Unwind

Starred review from November 26, 2007
Shusterman (Everlost
) explores one of the most divisive of topics—abortion—in this gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller. After a civil war waged over abortion has almost destroyed America, completely new laws are in effect. Human life can never be “terminated,” but between the ages of 13 and 18, a child can be “unwound” by his parents, an irrevocable decision that leads to every single bit of his body being harvested for medical use. As the novel opens, 16-year-old Connor has secretly discovered his parents’ copy of his unwind order, and decides to “kick-AWOL,” or run away. Connor’s escape inadvertently sweeps up two other Unwinds: a ward of the state who is not quite talented enough to merit her place in a state home any longer, and the 10th son of religious parents, who gave birth to him just to “tithe” him. Beyond his pulse-pounding pace, the cliffhangers and the bombshells, Shusterman has a gift for extrapolating the effects of alien circumstances on ordinary people and everyday behavior. He brings in folklore, medical practices, and slang that reflect the impact of unwinding, creating a dense and believable backdrop. Characters undergo profound changes in a plot that never stops surprising readers. The issues raised could not be more provocative—the sanctity of life, the meaning of being human—while the delivery could hardly be more engrossing or better aimed to teens. Ages 13-up.

Starred review from January 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-An unsettling futuristic novel set after the Second Civil War. Connor Lassiter, age 16, runs away from his suburban Ohio home after discovering that his parents have scheduled his "unwinding." His body parts will go to other people who need them. He will be both terminated and "technically" kept alive, only in a separated state. The constitutional amendments known as "The Bill of Life" permit parents to choose "retroactive" abortion for children between the ages of 13 and 18. Connor meets another Unwind, Risa, and they kidnap Lev, who is a Tithe (the 10th child born to a single family with the express purpose of being unwound). Their escape and survival stories interweave as they struggle to avoid harvest camps. Luckily, an underground network is helping Unwinds escape to safety. There is evenhanded, thoughtful treatment of many issues, including when life starts and stops, consciousness, religion, free will, law, trust and betrayal, suicide bombers, and hope. Initially, the premise of parents dismantling their children is hard to accept; however, readers are quickly drawn into the story, which is told in a gripping, omniscient voice. Characters live and breathe; they are fully realized and complex, sometimes making wrenchingly difficult decisions. This is a thought-provoking, well-paced read that will appeal widely, especially to readers who enjoy Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" (2005), "Pretties" (2005), and "Specials" (2006, all S & S)."Amy J. Chow, New York Public Library"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2007
Following in the footsteps of Jonathan Swift, Shusterman uncorks a Modest Proposal of his own to solve a Pro-Life/Pro-Choice dilemma. Set in a future in which abortions are outlawed but parents have the option of signing over their 13- to 17-year-olds to be used as organ donors, the tale focuses on 16-year-old Connor, who falls in with other prospective Unwinds and finds a temporary refuge (thanks to a clandestine organization with its own peculiar agenda) before being captured and sent to Happy Jack Harvest Camp. Though laced with intrigue, betrayals, and narrow squeaks, the story is propelled less by the plot (which is largely a series of long set pieces) than by an ingeniously developed cast and premise. But even readers who gravitate more to plot-driven fiction will find this present-tense page-turner thrilling, though its guaranteed to leave some feeling decidedly queasydespite the (improbable) happy ending.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)

Starred review from October 29, 2007
Shusterman (Everlost) explores one of the most divisive of topics\x97abortion\x97in this gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller. After a civil war waged over abortion has almost destroyed America, completely new laws are in effect. Human life can never be \x93terminated,\x94 but between the ages of 13 and 18, a child can be \x93unwound\x94 by his parents, an irrevocable decision that leads to every single bit of his body being harvested for medical use. As the novel opens, 16-year-old Connor has secretly discovered his parents\x92 copy of his unwind order, and decides to \x93kick-AWOL,\x94 or run away. Connor\x92s escape inadvertently sweeps up two other Unwinds: a ward of the state who is not quite talented enough to merit her place in a state home any longer, and the 10th son of religious parents, who gave birth to him just to \x93tithe\x94 him. Beyond his pulse-pounding pace, the cliffhangers and the bombshells, Shusterman has a gift for extrapolating the effects of alien circumstances on ordinary people and everyday behavior. He brings in folklore, medical practices, and slang that reflect the impact of unwinding, creating a dense and believable backdrop. Characters undergo profound changes in a plot that never stops surprising readers. The issues raised could not be more provocative\x97the sanctity of life, the meaning of being human\x97while the delivery could hardly be more engrossing or better aimed to teens. Ages 13-up.

March 1, 2008
A near-future America allows for unwanted teenagers to be "unwound," or retroactively aborted, their body parts used for transplants, as part of the compromise that ended the Second Civil War (between Pro-life and Pro-choice armies). Life is sacred from the moment of conception until age thirteen, at which time one's legal guardian holds the ultimate power. Three teens marked for unwinding narrowly escape this fate and search for a safe haven amid betrayal, political intrigue, and harrowing, nonstop flights and fights. Connor is condemned by his parents for poor anger management and general unruliness. Risa, a ward of the state, is a play-by-the-rules pianist who isn't quite talented enough. And Lev is a tithe, part of a religious family who raised him to be a willing sacrifice to the cause. It is to Shusterman's credit that he manages to create and balance three separate and compelling journeys of self-discovery for his strongly individualized characters: Connor from petty rebel to thoughtful, inspiring leader; Risa from dutiful follower to principled protester; and Lev -- in a chilling secondary plotline -- from blindly contented sheep to suicide bomber targeting an unwinding center. Though the political foundations of this dystopic future are never quite convincing, the substantial array of issues is precisely, provocatively conveyed, offering plenty for readers to contemplate in this nail-biting, character-driven thriller.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 1, 2008
A near-future America allows for unwanted teenagers to be "unwound," or retroactively aborted, their body parts used for transplants. Three teens escape this fate and search for a safe haven. Shusterman balances three separate and compelling journeys of self-discovery for his characters. The substantial array of issues is precisely, provocatively conveyed, offering plenty for readers to contemplate in this character-driven thriller.

(Copyright 2008 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)