Unwind

 

Unwind  by Neal Shusterman

Interest Level: Grade 7+

Reading Level: 5+

This dystopian novel, set sometime in America's future takes place after the Heartland Wars. This second civil war was waged between Pro-life and Pro-choice armies, with the U.S. Army attempting to mediate. To end the war the "Bill of Life" was created, which allows parents to have their children "unwound" between the ages of 13 and 17. Unwinding is said not to end the teens life, but instead put them in a divided state. Unwinding is the harvesting of all the body parts of the child to be used as donor parts for sick or injured people.

The story is told in alternating chapters primarily by fifteen year old Connor whose parents have signed his Unwind orders, Risa an orphaned ward of the state who is deemed not a talented enough pianist to be supported any longer, and Levi who was raised in a religious family as a tithe. Their lives collide in an accident while all three are on their way the harvesting camps and the story that ensues is one that will be sure to bring up a lot of conversation about abortion, human rights, organ donation and more.

Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.