As pay back for making my friend read a book that made her uncomfortable, she asked me to read Neal Shusterman's Unwind. The cover this book shows a question, "What if your parents could unwind you?" I went into this book expecting a completely uncomfortable situation, however it wasn't. Written in present tense its a little nerve racking, but nothing that doesn't go away after you are settled in.
The details are left ambiguous in the beginning of the book and that makes being with the characters so much better, because you are expected to know. You gain clearer details as the book continues, and soon you find yourself in a situation to fear being unwound yourself. The only part of the book I found uncomfortable, is that Shusterman presents 'unwinding' so clearly and easily that I found part of me thinking, "it's not a terrible idea". I quickly checked my thoughts, and let the logical side of myself kick back in....I was reading this at the group home I work in...it was my frame of mind -_- don't judge me.
The characters start off very powerful, Connor a street rat who has already been scheduled and marked as an Unwind, because he is a 'unruly child'. I found myself laughing in spite as he brought his mother flowers, and improved his grades, and started getting himself back on track after finding out that he was to be unwound by snooping. This was a painful blow to his parents...and he knew it. He later reconciles with himself and his parents, and I found myself dragged along with them.
Risa is a Ward of the state and she has very gifted skill for playing the piano, however not gifted enough. In this dystopian society, children are only guaranteed state/federal funding until they are thirteen...Risa has lasted to fifteen. They meet with her and tell her the usual propaganda about unwinding. "Your soul will be more at rest and ease in a divided state."
Lev...has the most unique story...because he is a tithe to god. Religion and Christianity being what they are embrace this new medical method with open arms. Families have taken to a new tradition of giving 1/10 of EVERYTHING, including their offspring. Lev's family had 10 kids through various methods, and their last...their "best"...their tenth was going to be unwound to serve gods will. I have no comments about this. -_-
The book creates a very dystopian society and Shusterman does it very well. It may or may not make you uncomfortable, but is definitely a painfully true book. Where it is not fact nor plausible, it rings true on a deeper level. Where we are all called to rise up against stupid, and fight for justice.
Go Read it! :D
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