Unwind

Neal Shusterman

Jun 2009 · Unwind Dystology Book 1 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

In Unwind, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life -- not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive.

Ratings and reviews

This was a great book to pass the time. I've always loved dystopian themed books and this one caught my attention enough to keep me hooked. It was fast paced in the right moments and tense enough in the slower parts to keep my interest. The main charaters are solid and dynamic, and though Risa seems to fall into so many other stereotypical female roles of this genre, I still really loved her character as a support (literally and figuratively) I highly recommend this book if you enjoy these kinds of stories.

I can't give an accurate review because I am only 140 pages in. I can say that so far the story is captivating. The execution of that story, however, needs help. It reads more like a middle-grade book with unnecessary explanations of things like "She walks fast, but she walks funny, like she's got some injury or she is recovering from one". Obviously she just gave birth, why not describe how she is walking instead of telling us? I also just couldn't with the whole spoon feeding a newborn milk. Unrealistic, even in a fictional world. You want your readers pulled in completely, not half in, half out. I will come back to this review and edit as I see fit when I finish.

OMG. Best book. Better than Twilight. I couldn't put it down. I thought the romance between Risa and Connor was so sweet. I was literally crying at some parts. There are so many twists and turns in this book. I was bawling at the measures that these kids will go to in the name of love. 5 stars for sure!

About the author

Neal Shusterman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty award-winning books for children, teens, and adults, including the Unwind dystology, the Skinjacker trilogy, Downsiders, and Challenger Deep, which won the National Book Award. Scythe, the first book in his series Arc of a Scythe is a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. He also writes screenplays for motion pictures and television shows. Neal is the father of four, all of whom are talented writers and artists themselves. Visit Neal at StoryMan.com and Facebook.com/NealShusterman.