From the Bookshelf of Study Buddies…

Unwind (Unwind, #1)

Neal Shusterman

Start date: July 7, 2009

Finish date: August 7, 2009

Discussion: Monthly Book Group

Why we're reading this: Alternate Young Adult Selection - July 2009
[close] Alternate Young Adult Selection - July 2009

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 29 topics — 528 comments total

Monthly Book Group

* Discuss Nominations
By A · 9 posts · 77 views

last updated Mar 04, 2010 11:02AM

* Master List for Nominations
By A · 5 posts · 139 views

last updated May 29, 2012 03:26AM

showing 1 of 1 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Feb 27, 2009 Jane rated it it was amazing

Shelves: yabc, autographed, young-adult, favorites, sci-fi, dystopian

...Hold on... I'm thinking...

Days after reading:
Still thinking...

The first 3/4 of the book was absolutely amazing, page turner! Then the last 1/4 I slowed down, had to read a couple of times over because it was so mind-gripping. It's disturbing, and [can't seem to find the right word:]. It's pro-life and pro-choice at the extremes at the same time.

I don't know. I have so much to say about this book, but at the same time I have nothing to say at all.

More on YABC's Unwind Discussion ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

Jul 30, 2008 Emily rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-childrens_lit, sci-fi, 2009-05, dystopian

I can’t say enough good things about Unwind. The plot held my attention and I couldn’t put it down. It was unpredictable and engaging. I sympathized with all of the characters. I had to know how things worked out for them. I thought the pacing was perfect. There were parts where he slowed down the pace, but that only seemed to turn up the intensity. Crazy. There was an extremely disturbing part where a kid does actually get “unwound” and that was absolutely mind-blowing. It sort of made me nause ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Nov 11, 2008 Izlinda rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, science-fiction, utopian-dystopian

I first heard of this book in my Intro to Philosophy class a few years ago. The classmate who brought it up was also in an Artificial Intelligence courses and she brought up Unwind as an example of fiction touching upon ethics and consciousness.

I bought this book a few months ago and though I've started it a few times, I also got pulled away. Maybe it was just waiting for the right time, which would be while I'm sick. It was good company.

I really liked this book. The way the book is separated i ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 23, 2009 Suzy rated it it was amazing

I have to say that when I first started reading this book it sounded a lot like many young adult books out there. I found it hard to believe that it would take such a prevelant concept of what can become of our society or the extremes of our current society and still differentiate itself, but it does. The book is filled with so many perspectives, insight, pain, and hope. Unwind does show us what can very well happen when we distance ourselves from others and believe that "it's not our problem." ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Apr 19, 2009 David rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2009-books, scififantasy, youngadult

Very few books end with me angry and emotionally moved. The last one I remember was 1984. Unwind is a disturbed sample of young adult literature. I would encourage more people to read it. I know some people won't have the fortitude to complete the entire book... but I think the experience is really important. ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Feb 18, 2009 Kristen Harvey rated it it was amazing

Shelves: youngadult, sci-fi, dystopian

First of all, I loved the different points of view in Unwind. Seeing the world from different perspectives gave a fuller meaning to everything that was happening. I loved the way the world unwound itself in the story. It throws us right into the drama and then slowly explains why the world is the way it is.

There was a ton of action, a hint of romance and a lot of intrigue as to what would happen next. This type of book keeps you reading until the end.

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 05, 2011 Jacalyn rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2011

In the effort to disclose information, here’s my confessions. I hate the term “Pro-Life”. Like those who are “Pro-Choice” are somehow against life in some way? After two very high risk, life-threatening pregnancies, I’m also a fan of “My uterus, my rules.” I choose what to do with it and I don’t want other people deciding this. That does not necessarily mean I am “Pro-Choice”, just that I don’t like the idea of someone else telling me what to do with my body. Finally, I really wasn’t sure I coul In the effort to disclose information, here’s my confessions. I hate the term “Pro-Life”. Like those who are “Pro-Choice” are somehow against life in some way? After two very high risk, life-threatening pregnancies, I’m also a fan of “My uterus, my rules.” I choose what to do with it and I don’t want other people deciding this. That does not necessarily mean I am “Pro-Choice”, just that I don’t like the idea of someone else telling me what to do with my body. Finally, I really wasn’t sure I could even read this book without gagging or going into some sort of thermonuclear meltdown at the thought of having babies just to farm them for spare parts which I partly attribute to having a cancer-survivor for a son.

Why did I read this book? I read it because I had far too many people tell me that it was just that good. Much like “The Hunger Games”, Shusterman’s “Unwind” tells a thought-provoking story with a terrible backdrop. The backdrop is merely a setting, one that while horrifies you. The story, however, takes you on adventure of human nature while exploring the role society plays in people’s lives.

The book touches on the wanted and unwanted in society as well as what depths people will go to survive. It makes you consider organ donation. The look into a future where people claim life “sacred” and yet treat it as a “disposable” commodity offers you the ability to truly ponder what life means to you. The book even touches on what could happen to the adoption/foster care system in a future world more gritty than our own. Legalized abandonment on a doorstep known as “storking” is a way of life in this future, and the instances seen in Shusterman’s novel is heartbreaking.

I think the most chilling topic covered is the “tithe-child”. A child born for the sole purpose to one day be “unwound”. A child whose very existence puts all new meaning to “an heir and a spare”. It made me sick to think about, but maybe that’s because I actually had people bring up this idea when my oldest son had cancer.

As with most dystopian tales, this book is not for the faint of heart. I promise, the story is worth reading. It’s just that good, but it will leave you thinking. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 15, 2011 Amy rated it really liked it

After reading Bruiser, I thought I had better read other books by this author. Another good book, in my opinion. The concept was disturbing and I don't like to think about it too much. Not really a believable concept, I just can't see how the idea of this dystopia could ever happen, but if it did, it would be WILD!! Again Shusterman's characters are great and his book is very well written. I can't wait to read his other ones. ...more

Like · see review

Jul 21, 2008 Renna Mira (AKA Enna Isilee) rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2008, reviewed-on-blog, books-i-own, linea-shelf

A very good read. Similar to Margaret Peterson Haddix's Shadow Children series, but with a more sci-fi twist.

http://squeakybooks.blogspot.com/2009... ...more

Like · see review