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Saturday, January 1, 2011

Unwind - Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publisher:
Pages: 335 pages
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Amazon |Book depository| Goodreads

Summary:

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights.
The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment the
conception until age Thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen to
eighteen, however, parents can have their children “unwound,”
whereby all of the child’s organs are transplanted into different
donors, so life doesn’t technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state, is not talented enough to kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together they may have a chance to escape – and to survive.
Review:

Unwind blew my mind away. And that said, I had to pick up my brain again to make a review. I have two words to describe the "book". Scary and disturbing.

There is one obvious argument I found and realized while reading the book: The legality of abortion.

Parents get to choose whether to eliminate you or to let you live.
Through chapter one and half of the book all I ever felt was anger. In a world where the authorities and your parents are the most powerful people through out your teenage years. The world that Neal created is so scary. I don't want to live here, that's what I first thought and really. I won’t. Never.
In Unwind, children have no choice but to follow or death will be the consequence. And if you do make a choice you'll be run out of options and you'll be the enemy of the authorities.

These people have the thing called Unwind in their bodies and it comes out naturally from them literally like talking They can easily say that "Unwound is JUST a process where you'll be divided and donated to different donors in the world! But you'll live" and I was so really mad about that.
At first I kept shoving the book away but somehow it's pulling me, tempting me to read and finish it. But temptation won. -.-;

Life here are like toys. Once the parents are fed up with their children they just have to sign up the unwinding paper and let the authorities do the thing. it's like tasting a food and spitting it out if they didn't like the taste and get rid of it. Easy right? Of course the parents who willingly sign the contract will be happy to know that you'll be gone soon. And some would even celebrate. Children in the age of 13-18 do not own their life. It all depends on their parent’s decision. It's either you have to force yourself to be somebody else to please them or make a choice. But prepare for the consequence.

The parents view their children as a tool, a material which they can easily get rid of if they want to; donate if they need to; pass or give away. Why not, right? its legal anyway. They can just make love and make many more like their son or daughter who might be better than the other.

Teenagers like Connor who cant be controlled And where trouble seems to follows him. So his parent suddenly had enough of the troubles his bringing and wants him out of their life.

If you are like Risa. A ward of the state. Where no one thinks she's talented enough plus her existence herself is just a waste of money because she does not bring any good results to every little things she's doing.

Lev on the other hand is a tithe. He was born to be unwounded. He's parents made him in order to donate him and thinks it’s a good will for their god. I don't know whose god they are talking about.

These teenagers are the main characters of the story as they all choose to runaway and fight for their lives.

There are disgusting scenes here. But I have to keep moving on. Anyways I just want to warn those who haven't read the book to brace yourself and prepare for the mind blowing plot.


Kay-c

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6 comments:

Michelle Flick said...

I too thought this book was disturbing as well... and you know its a good book because it stays with you!

Adrianne said...

Unwind lingered with me for weeks. Truly disturbing stuff. Not something I would recommend for a twelve year old, but definitely something an inquisitive 16 year old should read. It was scary. Truly scary, not cheap-ploy jumping out at you with a rubber knife scary. Shusterman seems to be able to delve into the teenage mind set with authenticity.

Elisquared said...

I've been wanting and wanting and wanting to read this book! (I hate when that happens: the book is out, but somehow you STILL haven't read it!!!)

It is terrifying to think that parents can simply get rid of their kids by unwinding them. This comments on our society in a way, because there is so much that children are forced into, and ultimately their parents control what happens.

I feel Shusterman has done something hard and shocking in writing this book. It makes you think, just how far would people REALLY go?

Kay-c @DerangedBookLovers said...

@ Mflick1 - I honestly want to get rid of the book. Everytime I see it I get this awful feeling >_<
@ Adrianne - Indeed.
@ Eli Squared - Just thinking about it makes me shiver.

Unknown said...

Great review! I have yet to read this book but I plan to someday soon! I have heared alot of positive feedback from the blogging community.

Unknown said...

This seems like an interesting book! I've never heard of it before... love your review :)

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