E-book
Unwind Unwind Dystology Series, Book 1
Record details
- ISBN: 9781416994961 (electronic bk)
- ISBN: 1416994963 (electronic bk)
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Physical Description:
electronic resource
remote
1 online resource. - Publisher: 2009.
Content descriptions
| Target Audience Note: | Grade 3 - Grade 4. UG/Upper grades (9th-12). 740L Lexile Level. 5 ATOS Level. |
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| Genre: | Electronic books. Electronic books. Fiction. Juvenile works. |
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Electronic resources
- Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2007 October #2
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 it's guaranteed to leave some feeling decidedly queasyâdespite the (improbable) happy ending. Copyright 2007 Booklist Reviews. - Horn Book Magazine Reviews : Horn Book Magazine Reviews 2008 #2
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 Horn Book Magazine Reviews. - Kirkus Reviews : Kirkus Reviews 2007 October #1
Shusterman's Everlost (2006) dealt with death and children with a sense of innocence, redemption and even humor. None of that is present here. In a time not far distant, life is deemed to be sacrosanct from the instant of conception until the age of 13. From 13 to 18, however, parents and guardians have the opportunity to have children "unwound." Technically, life doesn't end, but every part of the child is "harvested" to be parceled out and passed on to the highest bidder. In this gruesome age of organ harvest, readers meet Connor (doomed to be unwound by his parents), Risa (doomed as a ward of the state due to overcrowding) and Lev, a tithe, conceived for the express purpose of being unwound and "donated" to society. Their story of escape and struggle to survive in a society that lauds itself on the protection of life, but which has reduced human body parts to market commodities, unrolls against a bleak background of indifference, avarice, guilt, regret, loss, pain and rebellion. Well-written, this draws the reader into a world that is both familiar and strangely foreign, and generates feelings of horror, disturbance, disgust and fear. As with classics such as 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, one can only hope that this vision of the future never becomes reality. (Science fiction. YA) Copyright Kirkus 2007 Kirkus/BPI Communications. All rights reserved. - Library Media Connection : Library Media Connection Reviews 2008 January
A war was fought over life and death and, in the end, life won out.at least until age 13. During the years between 13 and 18, all bets are off and your parents can have you "unwound" at a Harvest Center. The process is one where organs and other body parts are transplanted into needy recipients; the child is not technically dead, just recycled. Of three teenagers bound for Harvest Centers, Connor and Risa are fighting to survive. Lev, on the other hand, is a tithe; one who is chosen to be unwound and is considered sacred. In a future where the world's view of life and death are blurred by politics and violence, some will be forced to redefine what it is to be truly alive. This is a dark look into a future that is not entirely impossible. Shusterman's handling of politically charged topics is masterful, without being preachy. It's a great book for older teens and could be paired with David Klass's Firestorm (Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2006), for those who like fiction with a political bent or with Nancy Farmer's House of the Scorpion (Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), 2002) for those who are into genetic engineering for hire. Recommended. Donna Knott, Middle School Librarian, The Lovett School, Atlanta, Georgia © 2008 Linworth Publishing, Inc. - LJ Express Reviews : LJ Express Reviews
In the not-so-distant future, everyone has an absolute right to life--unless your parents decide on the do-over option. Between your 13th and 18th birthdays, they can have you "unwound," your pieces and parts extracted and recycled for the donor market. Why It Is Great: The unwound are kept alive until the very end of the harvesting process. A single scene made this book one of the scariest reads published for teens last year. Why It Is for Us: Shusterman's exploration of good intentions gone very, very bad will resonate with adult readers frustrated by the prochoice/prolife debate. The premise falls down in a few, significant places, but the book will still reward fans of dystopian sf. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. - Publishers Weekly Reviews : PW Reviews 2007 November #4
Shusterman (Everlost ) explores one of the most divisive of topicsâabortionâin 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 provocativeâthe sanctity of life, the meaning of being humanâwhile the delivery could hardly be more engrossing or better aimed to teens. Ages 13-up. (Nov.)
[Page 54]. Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information. - School Library Journal Reviews : SLJ Reviews 2008 January
Gr 9 Upâ 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).âAmy J. Chow, New York Public Library
[Page 126]. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. - Voice of Youth Advocates Reviews : VOYA Reviews 2007 October
Shusterman's latest novel takes place after the Heartland War. Waged between the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life "armies," the conflict was settled with the drafting of The Bill of Life, which states that life is protected until the age of Reason, but between the ages of thirteen to eighteen a child can be "unwound" at the request of the parents. Unwinding is an honorable action according to adults, but it is a terrible fate for the Unwind in that the organs, limbs, and brain tissue are disseminated to other humans who require transplants or appearance "upgrades." The novel follows three protagonists who are attempting to "kick-AWOL" and survive to eighteen to escape their unwindings: Connor, the rebellious teen; Risa, a ward of the state being unwound because of budget cuts; and Lev, a tithe born as an unwind sacrificeThe novel begs two questions: When does a life have value? Who determines whether it is worth keeping? Unfortunately who is unwound and who gets which "parts" is often determined by socio-economic status. In addition, parents seem to shamelessly unwind their children for typical teen frustration and rebellion. Betrayal by parents and the system is a horrifying truth for the protagonists. As such, there are many passages that are difficult to read either for their heartrending nature or their shocking specifics, particularly the detailed "harvest" of a well-known character. Poignant, compelling, and ultimately terrifying, this book will enjoy popularity with a wide range of readers beyond its science-fiction base.-Courtney Wika 4Q 4P J S Copyright 2007 Voya Reviews.
