Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Bibliographic Information:

Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN# 9781416912040

Plot Summary:
Set in the future, the pro-life people and the pro-choice people have made an agreement after a war. Life begins at conception and therefore there will be no abortions. However, parents are given the right to “unwind” their children between the ages of 13 – 18. During this unwinding process, every part of the child is taken and used to help others. Connor is a frustrated teen, he has a girlfriend (whose parents don’t like him) he doesn’t do the best in school (not for lack of ability, but for lack of interest) and he has gotten into some trouble both at home and at school. While looking in his parents’ desk Connor discovers that his parents have signed the order to have him unwound. He decides to run away, hoping to survive until his 18th birthday when he becomes an adult and can no longer be unwound.

Risa is a great student, a talented piano player and doesn’t get into trouble. However, she is also a ward of the state and due to overcrowding, she is to be unwound.

Lev is the tenth child in a very religious family. His family believes in tithing ten percent of everything and Lev is 1/10th of their children. He has been preparing for this his whole life. He is special. He is to be given to God.
These three teens find themselves working together to survive. They find an underground network of people who help those destined to be unwound escape. Unfortunately, Lev wants to be unwound and is secretly working against them. In addition, they also run afoul of Roland, a bully also running away from being unwound.

Critical Evaluation:
Wow. Some books you finish and are able to go on to another book right away. Other books make you stop and think. This book falls into the latter category. The whole concept that teens could be “unwound” at the whim of their parents is fascinating and shocking. How a nation could justify this behavior is unthinkable, yet at the same time a real possibility. Science is expanding at such a rate that the ability to unwind could be in our future. Furthermore, it has been alleged that human organs have been harvested for money and/or taken from political prisoners. The concept of unwinding is not that much different. Each of the three main characters grows throughout the book changing the reader’s opinion of them. The characters must decide what they believe and if/how they are going to fight for that belief. This is an exceptionally well-written book that will get the reader thinking and questioning what is right and wrong. One even comes to feel some sympathy for the bully, Roland. The book really made me think about the brain development of teens. The book takes a time in a teen’s life when s/he is most vulnerable because their brain has not fully developed and taken that vulnerability to another level.

Reader's Annotation:
After a war between the pro-life and pro-choice factions, an agreement is made where it is determined that life begins at conception. However, parents can have their children “unwound” anytime between the ages of 13 – 18 allowing the state to harvest all of their child’s parts to “help” others, ending their child’s life, but not killing them because their child will “live on” in all of the people to whom their various parts go. Connor, Risa and Lev are all to be unwound, but find themselves working together to survive.

Information about the author:
Neal Shusterman has written many novels. His novel Downsiders “was nominated for twelve state reading awards and was on an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers” list. Mr. Shusterman has written screenplays as well. He lives in California and has four children.

Genre: Science fiction

Curriculum Ties: Science, ethics, language arts

Booktalking Ideas:
• What is “a right to life?”
• How can people agree that life begins at conception, but convince themselves that teens’ lives can be taken away?
• Discuss Connor’s use of guilt after he finds the order to be unwound.
• Discuss the different reasons for the three main characters being unwound.
• Discuss the different attitudes of the three main characters about being unwound.
• Discuss if/how these attitudes change.
• How do the characters grow/change?

Reading Level/Interest Level*:
The reviews list the widest age range as 12 and up.

Challenge Issues:
Pro-life; religion; death; right to life; bullying

If the book is challenged:
• Listen calmly to the complainant.
• Ask if s/he has read the entire novel.
• Show positive reviews of the novel.
• Show the selection policy.
If the complainant still has issues with the book:
• Request that the complainant read the entire book if this has not already occurred.
• Have the complainant fill out a reconsideration form.
• Set up a reconsideration meeting.
o Provide the reconsideration meeting members with:
 Positive reviews
 Selection policy
 Reconsideration policy

Selection Process:
I did a search on Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database with the following criteria: Award winner, reviews available, and age range from 15 – 18.

Nine positive reviews

Awards/ Best Books Lists:
• Appears on eight Best Books lists
• Appears on 18 State and Provincial Reading Lists


Reading/Interest level, selection process information, reviews, and Awards/Best Books Lists were accessed using the Children’s Literature Comprehensive Database at http://clcd.odyssi.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/cgi-bin/member/search/f?./temp/~4bF5I4:1 accessed through SJSU and not available to everyone.