Book Review: Unwind

Unwind by Neal Shusterman was the TLC's latest read. I have never read a book quite like this one. It definitely questions the value of life, who has the power to make choices about life, and what happens to your soul after you die or after parts of you are taken away. But it does so in a round-about way which is appropriate for teens to read but is enough to get you thinking about the issues which are really at the core of Shusterman's plot.

The story takes place in a future America after an amendment was added that lets parents choose to "unwind" their children once they reach 13. This is the result of a destructive war over pro-life, pro-choice which wasn't ending. A compromise had to be made. Abortions (although that word is never actually used in the novel) are not allowed but "storking" your unwanted baby is as long as you don't get caught. This is exactly what it sounds like: dropping off your baby at someone's door and now it is legally their responsibility to take care of it. Of course, there are still unwanted babies who are wards of the state; lots of them, including one of the main characters, Risa. Once her talent seems to reach its peak and her age is appropriate to be unwound, she is sent to a harvest camp. Obviously, she doesn't get there so easily or we wouldn't have much of story. Connor is another main character who is sent to be unwound since he causes too much trouble. Luckily he discovers this is about to happen before it does so he formulates a plan. Lev is our other main character who has known from birth he would be tithed for God. But, that doesn't mean he isn't struggling with the idea. All of these kids come together to rebel against the system in one way or another.

What I liked most was the juxtaposition of morals and logic. It is legal to send your child to be unwound but isn't that just like abortion after the fact? Does it make you a murderer if you send your child to be unwound? Or, if part of your body is still alive, does that mean your soul is still a part of it? Does this process actually reduce the amount of underground abortions and unwanted children? Is it really better to let someone live a life and then take it from them? Do you value life if you are willing to take it from someone else in order to make yours better?

A good book should leave you wanting more. This one left me wondering about all of those questions and whether or not something like this is in our near or far future. What was extremely disturbing is the real stories at the beginning of each section. They are meant to give some "history" that leads up to this point but they are in fact real history, things that have actually happened.

There are sequels to Unwind. UnWholly is a second book in the trilogy(?) and UnStrung (out in October 2013) is an expansion to Lev's story from Unwind. I don't believe sequels or a trilogy was the plan when the book was first written in 2007 but this is now the way with adolescent literature. (If it keeps kids reading, I guess I shouldn't complain!) Also, like all other good adolescent novels, this one will also be made into a movie yet it seems it is only at the beginning stages. So that gives you plenty of time to read it first! I highly recommend this one.