Unwind

By Neal Shusterman,

Book cover of Unwind

Book description

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…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked Unwind as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’m a sucker for a unique premise. I like a story that makes me think. This YA novel delivers on both counts.

In a dystopian future, parents can have their troublesome teens “unwound”—dismembered into spare parts to be distributed among needy patients. The process isn’t considered killing since all parts of the unwound child remain alive, albeit grafted onto/transplanted into many different individuals.

Tenets of religion, philosophy, society, and family converge as the author explores every facet of this disturbing scenario. One particular chapter, presented from the perspective of a secondary character as he undergoes unwinding, is the most chilling…

With the topic of Roe V. Wade in the United States, the chasm between pro-life and pro-choice has grown even more, and in a novel that is solely about a great compromise between the two ideologies, Shusterman’s dystopian saga could not be more relevant. Ultimately, Shusterman seems to have great worry about societies lack of value for human life, taking the choice away from those whose lives are being debated over. 

Unwind is a classic study on the intertwining of personal choice and the value of human life. Who owns our bodies? Do we? Does someone else? Does the government?…

Unlike the other books on this list, Unwind is set in a modern dystopia, a world where unwanted children and teens can be “unwound”—their organs harvested and given to others with their parents' permission. This book taught me that adventure isn’t just on salt-scented shores, alien planets, or alternate dimensions—sometimes our challenges are right here at home, with our own families and friends. 

From R.'s list on YA to satiate your travel bug.

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