Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Unwind by Neal Shusterman.  Simon & Shuster, 2007, 352 pages

Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15

Recommended for: ages 15-18

Bottom Line: Unwind presents a harrowing future in which parents may request their children be “unwound” at the age of 13 if their lives are deemed unworthy.

The Heartland War was fought to settle the abortion controversy once and for all, but what finally settled it was a compromise that supposedly satisfied both sides.  Human life would be inviolate from conception to age 13.  But from 13-18, parents or guardians have the right to sign an “unwind” order, meaning their teen will be disassembled for parts if their lives don’t seem worthwhile.  If you buy that as a “satisfactory” compromise, I’ve got a monumental non-sequitur to sell you, not that the premise itself is totally unbelievable.  The combination of technology and bottomless amorality could lead us anywhere.  What’s crazy is that pro-life forces would, first of all, go to war over the issue, and second of all, be “satisfied” with the given solution–any more than the real mother in the Bible story could be satisfied with Solomon slicing her baby in half.  This novel is not about abortion rights; it’s about perpetual warfare between kids and their parents.

Once that’s understood, it’s a terrific page-turner with very little bad language, no sex, and a few interesting questions.  Connor is a problem child, Risa a ward of the state whom the state now deems unfit, and Levi is a “tithe”: conceived and raised in a large, religious, pseudo-evangelical family for the purpose of giving up his body for the good of others.  These three are violently thrown together on a highway in Ohio and begin a journey that ends up in Arizona.  They travel by means of an underground railroad that funnels “unwinds” into the Graveyard, a final resting-place for aircraft that serves as a hideout until the kids come of age and can be smuggled back into society.  Of course it’s not that easy.  The action is nonstop, the characters are distinctive and mostly sympathetic, and there are interesting discussions, such as the one about when a person becomes a soul (Birth? Conception? When they’re loved?).  The author takes a stab at moral ambiguity with a stance of non-judgmentalism: “We move in and out of darkness and light all our lives,” says one character.  “People are neither all good or all bad.”  But ambiguity shouldn’t disguise the fact that this is a story about adults—almost all of them—doing terrible things to kids.  It has some gripping and emotional moments, and the depiction of one kid while being unwound is especially chilling (and NOT for sensitive readers).  Though described as “thought-provoking” (with a sequel due September 2012), my thoughts were a bit compromised by the logical problems of the premise.  But it’s an interesting ride.

Cautions: Language (small amount of mild profanity), Violence (non-graphic)

Overall rating: 3.75 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 3.5
• Artistic value: 4

Categories: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Life Issues