Young Adult Literature: Science Fiction

Unwind
Neal Shusterman
Hew York: Simon & Schuster,
2007
335 pp.
$8.99
Science Fiction
ISBN: 9781416912057

"Wait till you're the one who's dying and see how you feel about it!"

This story is set somewhere in the future where the conflict between the Pro-life and the Pro-choice camps has reached a settlement or compromise of sorts. “Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a parent may choose to retroactively “abort” a child” through an irreversible decision and process known as unwinding. Unwinding is the procedure by which ALL usable parts of a human being are removed and transplanted into eagerly awaiting recipients. On the receiving end of this ungodly decision we find the three main characters of the book Connor, Risa, and Lev.

Connor is sixteen years old. He’ll come to be known as the stuff urban legends are made of, the “Akron AWOL.” Sentenced unceremoniously to be unwound on what many would consider to be the ultimate family related holiday of all, Thanksgiving, Connor will fight to the death to continue to live.

Risa is a ward of the state, hence her last name Ward. A brilliant pianist, she is sentenced to be unwound due to “space in state homes being at a premium” and “budget cuts.” But, Risa will not take her civic duty lying down.

Lev, on the other hand is more than willing to do his civic and familial duty, Raised in a religious home to believe he was “chosen” for the honor of unwinding, he will come to lose his religion as his “me” vs. “you” attitude turns to an “us” vs. “them” attitude.

These three teenagers will come to meet a host of characters on their journey through an Orwellesque 1984 society of government surveillance and public mind control. From the Admiral, trying to amend for the sin of being a “father of the Unwind Accord” and the sacrifice of his only son, Harlan, for the cause to the Judas-like Roland and the selling of his soul in “exchange for four hundred Unwinds,” this book is a definite page turner. You will not be able to put it down.

I have to admit that I was apprehensive about this book because I typically don’t like science fiction. Then as I started reading it my entire being was assaulted as I felt my own convictions as a proponent of Pro-choice being attacked. I wondered how I could be Pro-choice but find it so hard to accept this particular choice? Then I started to think, maybe this is Shusterman’s goal. Maybe he’s trying to challenge the readers thinking. And that’s exactly what he did. Before I knew it I was sucked in. I couldn’t put this book down and it’s definitely the best book I’ve read lately. There were so many twists and turns. It reminded me of the movie Crash (2005) as the lives of the characters intertwine and collide. In addition, another movie connection can be drawn between Dirty Pretty Things (2002) and the cost, availability, and quality of organs.

This book would be appropriate for students in grades 9 and up. Themes include: adventure; juvenile flight from justice; society; ethics; and morality. Each scenario in the book can be a jumping off point for lively debate and conversation as students discuss their own feelings about the situations and circumstances. A parallel could even be drawn between the book and the recent health care reform plan. Questions for discussion could include: How much do we want our government involved in our personal health care? Could something like this ever happen if they are involved? Where do we draw the line in the Pro-life vs. Pro-choice war? The list goes on and on.

Neal Shusterman is a prolific and award winning author. To read more about him and his books go to his website.

Other titles students may enjoy about teenagers in similar situations include:

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow