Module 8: Fantasy and Science Fiction

"In a perfect world everything would be either black or white, right or wrong, and everyone would know the difference. But this isn't a perfect world. The problem is people who think it is". 

Unwind, Neal Shusterman

Book Summary: 

The first twisted and futuristic novel in the perennially popular New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology by Neal Shusterman.

In America after the Second Civil War, the Pro-Choice and Pro-Life armies came to an agreement: The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touched from the moment of conception until a child reaches the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, a parent may choose to retroactively get rid of a child through a process called "unwinding." Unwinding ensures that the child's life doesn’t “technically” end by transplanting all the organs in the child's body to various recipients. Now a common and accepted practice in society, troublesome or unwanted teens can easily be unwound.

With breathtaking suspense, this book follows three teens who all become runaway Unwinds: Connor, a rebel whose parents have ordered his unwinding; Risa, a ward of the state who is to be unwound due to cost-cutting; and Lev, his parents’ tenth child whose unwinding has been planned since birth as a religious tithing. As their paths intersect and lives hang in the balance, Shusterman examines complex moral issues that will keep readers turning the pages until the very end.

Reference: Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind, New York, N.Y. Simon & Shuster,

Impressions: 
I have always been a pro-life advocate, and I always will be. I have also always been an organ donor and always will be. However, this book has made me think about what would have happened to all the millions of aborted babies had they would have been born. I also started thinking more about organ donation and all the thousands of people who die all the time waiting for an organ. What a strange book that brought about a version of the solution to these issues. I never thought too much about many of the issues that were brought up in this book. I'm glad I did and thought about the children that never will be, but also about some of the things the ways science is heading in the direction of this book. To me, it's incredible how this author seems to fortell the future of the human parts market. Only recenlty was the Planned Parenthood fetus harvesting horrors uncovered.

Reading how differnt authors take our problems and envison the world where they are supposodly solved is always a good read especially for youth. Mr. Shusterman has done a wealth of research about these issues and incorporated them skillfully into a book and eventually a series that is both entertaing and thought to provoke. Another dystopian novel but this one combines the use of advanced technology to help "solve" the world's problems. It is a cross between science fiction, dystopia, and futuristic fiction. I can't wait to read the next book and see the movie. I'd applause, but someone might think I was a clapper.

"Futuristic fiction sometimes focuses on dystopia- an imaginary place where people live dehumanized and often fearful lives." (Tunnell, 2016, Children's Literature Briefly)

Professional Review:

Set in the future, the second civil war is fought over abortion. To end the war, a compromise is reached that ends the practice of abortion but creates an alternative called "unwinding." Between the ages of 13 and 17, parents or guardians can choose to have their children unwound, which involves having every part of their bodies harvested to be "donated" to another person so, technically, they don't die. The complex and compelling plot follows three teens whose stories intertwine when they escape while on their way to the harvest camps. Fifteen-year-old Connor's parents can no longer control him. Lev, a tithe, was raised by religious parents for the sole purpose of being unwound. Risa, a ward of the state, is a victim of shrinking budgets since she is not a talented enough musician to be kept alive.
Neal Shusterman's engrossing novel (S & S, 2007) is narrated in an even cadence and matter-of-fact tone that suits the author's straightforward narrative style. His wide array of voices makes the involved storyline, which is left wide open for what is sure to be an interesting sequel, easy to follow. This gripping, thought-provoking novel is guaranteed to lead to interesting discussions about abortion, adoption, organ donation, religion, politics, and health care.

Bilton, K. (N.D.) [Review for Unwind by Neal Shusterman] Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, Rocky Hill, NJ Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1416912045?ie=UTF8&isInIframe=1&n=283155&redirect=true&ref_=dp_proddesc_0&s=books&showDetailProductDesc=1#iframe-wrapper

Library Uses: 

This book is being made into a movie to be released sometime next year. It can be used as a display for upcoming summer movies.