Rated YA-MA discussion

The group read for December is now open.

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One of my favorite dystopia books so far. This is another one that a wide range of people should enjoy because there's nothing overly romance-y about it. There were parts of this book that literally gave me the chills. Anyone who's read this just needs to see me type "Roland's chapter" and you'll know what I'm talking about.

I can't believe it's taking so long for Shusterman to write the second book. By the time it gets here, I'll be an old woman. :)

Yes! I loved this one. The one scene was the hands-down scariest I ever read and there was nothing creepy-crawly or supernatural about it. Just goes to show that the scariest things around are some of the things humans do to each other.

One of his more recent releases Bruiser is also all kinds of wonderful. I'd totally recommend it.

Omg Stacia, Roland's chapter *___* I was like :



the whole time.

Very funny Cecilia. I listened to the audio version and thought it was fantastic, I gave this book 5 stars. It kept me captivated and I emotionally reacted to it. My one problem I thought it was too unbelievable, I just didn't buy it. I also thought the author either completely misunderstood both the prolife and prochoice movements, or misrpresented their goals to achieve a specific result. Basically, I don't believe either the prolife or prochoice advocates would ever agree to the bill that was introduced. I liked the ending of this book -- it was very neatly wrapped up. I plan on reading the sequel, but I am not dying for it.

I took it as more of a satirical hyperbole along the lines of Swift's 'A Modest Proposal'.

That gif is too funny.

I agree, it's spot-on for my reaction, too! lol

Well... I think everything is possible depending of who, how, and when. In some tribal cultures, it's normal to eat a person for a ceremony, while in our most developped societies, it wouldn't be, at least, not in this time. But if it's possible in one society, it might be possible in another. So I guess, if the concept of Unwinding was physically possible, people at a certain time and place could agree to it.

I also agree everything is possible. But I don't think a bill passed in congress could convince Americans to kill their teenage kids when they become frustrated with them. Now it is different entirely to accept that several generations later will people just do it. Of course they would with the endorsement of government and religion. But it would never happen initially, and the unbelievability bothers me. A book that dealt with the concept of creating people for harvesting of organs in a much more convincing manner is Never Let Me Go

Really enjoyed this book as well! A great dystopian adventure. I liked how it didn't concentrate solely on the society but the underground society because of it as well.

I hate to disagree, Regina, as Never Let Me Go is one of my favorite novels, but I thought Unwind was a bit more realistic in the operation at least. In NLMG, after the first and maybe second operation, what other body parts do you really have left to survive a third or a fourth?

Maree, I am sorry I wasn't clear. Above, I was talking about how I do not find it believable that parents would willinging (as a societal movement, not just a few parents) kill their kids for society's benefit and that either the prolife or prochoice movements would agree to it. The author makes huge leaps hear on believability to create a story. I decided to ignore those weaknesses b/c I enjoyed the story, but in the end I think it hurts the story than helps. Thus, I am not talking about the operation and cutting out of parts, but the concept itself and creating a system in place where the society accepts. It is more believable to me how people were (I don't want to spoil it so I will be vague) identified and used to harvest organs in Never Let Me Go. It makes sense why society would accept it as it was rooted in (view spoiler)[ what happened after a war and the need for organs and people were created by cloning specifically for the harvesting, thus no parents lost/sacrificed their children (hide spoiler)] As to the surgery. I assumed that things like one kidney or one lung were taken first, maybe eyes, there are things that can be taken where people would survive.

In the end, I personally did not enjoy Never Let Me Go, even though I think it was well written and the concept will thought out. Conversely, I enjoyed Unwind alot more, but I don't think it was as well written and definitely not as well thought out.

Regina wrote: "In the end, I personally did not enjoy Never Let Me Go, even though I think it was well written and the concept will thought out. Conversely, I enjoyed Unwind alot more, but I don't think it was as well written and definitely not as well thought out."

Interesting!

I understand what you mean about the books, now. For me, in NLMG, I kind of wondered what the point was of having more than one operation, which took care of this. And in Unwind, I too had a lot of problems with how the world worked with storking and all. I have to say that while I thought some of it was a stretch, I could see how society would get to this point for some of it, and that's what I usually like about dystopias, the one idea that they take and stretch and use to create a new world.

In Never Let Me Go, I got the idea it was based on need -- for example donor matching, blood type matching.

I also like that about dystopia, but I guess I need it to make sense, especially if it is rooted in things from our current society. One of the things I like about Dystopia is to make a comment generally about society or a point, kind of like the old school dystopia . But I struggled with this one, despite enjoying it so much -- beyond just pure enjoyment, was there a bigger societal comment? I don't think so. Maybe that people will accept anything if endorsed by religion and the government? That teenagers may be annoying, but their worth goes deeper than just how pleasant it is to be around them? But I do think it was written really in a really engaging way and in a way that the characters get underneath the readers skin.

I am not sure where he will take #2. I kinda feel the story was done, unless he plans a revolution/overthrow.

ETa: But despite my criticisms, I still really enjoyed this. And I did not enjoy Never Let Me Go -- it just didn't get to me. Not sure why.

I only saw NLMG the movie and it sort of was a bummer. Not sure if the book managed to convey anything else, but at least with Unwind, there was a glimmer of hope for something to change in the future.

Stacia that was my big problem with never. It was so damned bleak. No hope. And complete acquiescence.

That's what made it so heartbreakingly good! ;) But I can see wanting at least a chance for a happy ending.

Maree it was heartbreaking. It was also understanding why the characters just accepted it. But after I finished the book I thought -- what was the point? Did the author just want to depress me and break my heart? LOL.

Regina wrote: "I am not sure where he will take #2. I kinda feel the story was done, unless he plans a revolution/overthrow..."

I was just talking about this book with someone and wandered back in here to read the comments. After re-reading yours I wanted to comment on this part.

You do have a point. I'm sort of with you on this one because Unwind did almost read like a standalone and could have been ended with no further books, but there is definite room for things to happen if the author chooses to open that door. The rebellion at the Unwinding facility could have been the spark, the one thing that got kids thinking, "we can do this."

I'm just not sure why it's taking so long for the second book to come out. The first one was written a while ago. I'm also wishing that there would be some sort of update on if the movie is going to be made or not. I'm willing to bet that if this became a movie, I would be freaking out at Roland's scene, cheering at the breakout, and crying over the bbq/gathering scene at the end.

I don't think it was decided that there would be a second book until this year. He also has spent this year writing the script for an Unwind movie which has probably slowed things.

So there is a script in motion? Did a company pick this up? The Unwind movie website never seems to get updated.

I remember reading on his blog back in the springtime that he was writing the script and would start Unwholly once he finished that. But I haven't kept up with it since then, so I'm not sure what's going on currently.

reading his blog, his mom had a stroke a couple of months ago and he's been with her, so I don't know if that will change the expected pub date for book 2 (which is september right now)

i do think that the idea for this is present in society, as much as I HATE south park, do you guys remember an episode where Cartman's mom wanted to have a retroactive abortion? that is essentially would this could be likened to

I think strange ideas are always there, but the action of the idea is another story. The only way I could see something like this happening would be if the government was in complete control of every aspect of life. I can't imagine this coming to fruition in a democratic society.

in a democratic society no, but a society ravaged by war where military took control until things settled down...and just because a "bill" is passed does it necessarily mean that everyone agrees with it - KWIM?

although I couldn't image pro-lifers/pro-choicers ever agreeing on it

a more adult maybe view on the whole abortion debate is When She Woke - also futuristic/dystopia, but roe vs. wade has been over turned and abortion is murder...unfortunately, the ending just fizzled for me, but it was an interesting read

I really loved Unwind. I could not believe how tense it made me feel. It touched on so many sensitive subjects. While abortion was the huge theme of course, I could not help but feel uncomfortable with the religion issues. While I am a Christian who served as a missionary for several years and played several roles in The Southern Baptist church, the religious tone made me antsy. The fact that someone would see their own child as a tithe to God and be willing to have him to sacrifice him was overwhelming. While there have been times in the Bible where sacrificing a child has occurred, it seemed so extreme for today’s standards. It made me think about faith, sacrifice, love, and passion in a whole new way.
Also, several times I had to put the book down, gasp, wipe away tears, and/or let the cold wave of shock wash away. I loved how it would make young people, and adults, think about such important topics that others would never have discussed out loud.

A common theme in dystopia is how society as a whole changes to adapt to how the world has changed. Everything from language (as we saw in Blood Red Road), education, religion, etc. is seen through different eyes. People are scared, jaded, confused...so they adapt their belief systems to fit with the fallout. Obviously, this new religion doesn't fall into line with anything mainstream as we know it today, but the book used such a drastic turn to show just how much the world (goverment, citizens, and so on) had changed.

Of course, I had a hard time with the line of thought that there would ever come a time when people would decide it was okay to just start offing other people just because they wanted to. Especially when such a drastic solution was coming from two groups of people with such strong opposing viewpoints. We can probably agree that this might be the WEIRDEST COMPROMISE EVER.

But, I guess that's what makes fiction interesting. One author gets a crazy idea in their head and brings it to life.

It was definitely an interesting subject to read about and it makes you think.

I honestly don't see how there's enough of an undercurrent of rebellion to even start an uprising in this instance. Hopefully book 2 shows us that there are more people on board than we originally thought.

I think I got a different idea from the book then most of you. They kept stressing that unwinding wasn't killing the kids, they would still be alive just divided. Although I still find it completely wrong, especially when the children don't have a choice, I could see how some people might accept it. To me it brought up the questions Hayden asked in the crate. Who has a soul? When is a person truly alive? At what point do they get their soul? Ideas like that, that can't be proven but people have strong feelings/beliefs one way or another about. Like a person in a vegetable state or coma? Is it right to divide them and use their parts for others? I'm not asking for answers to these questions, because sometimes they lead to arguments, I'm more just pondering the ideas that come from them.

Anyways, I loved the characters. How Connor learned to control his anger while Lev spiraled down into anger. Their reactions to being threatened by unwinding was different and real. I read this thread about halfway through the book so when I got to the first Roland chapter I was like, was that it. It wasn't and when I later saw that one, I was shocked too! I did like the end (view spoiler)[when Connor is the new leader and is stressing that they will be fighting but not by blowing up Chop Shops but saving people and doing protests. Sort of a Martin Luther King Jr. way to it. (hide spoiler)]

Overall I enjoyed the book and thought it was thought provoking.

I like your train of thought Stacie. When my sister was in a vegetative state and we had to decide to take her off of life support I had these same thoughts. Where does the sould reside - if it was in the brain and she was brain dead then it was gone. People who are pro choice do not believe that baby has a soul until it is born where as pro lifers believe they have one from the time of conception. Whit my sister I remember looking at her and "knowing" she was empty and believing that we had to let her body go. The whole philosophical thing is very intrigueing to me.

Hasn't there been some sort of documentation of people who have received other's body parts having traces/flashes from the other person, or am I just thinking of a movie?

Even so, I'd think that if you were dissected into multiple parts, it would mean you were done. I find it interesting that so many people in a society would feel the opposite. I guess anything's possible if you were living in a culture where you were taught something from birth. Your whole system of ideals could be reshaped.

The BBQ chapter got me emotional because it was sweet, but it also creeped me out a little.

The thing is, (And I'm jumping waaaay back in the threads here), I think that the concept is supposed to be fantastical. It's supposed to make us think like this, and ponder, and turn thoughts over in our heads. I also don't think that (in our society today) they would ever agree to such a thing. Though the kids were not being 'killed' and that's why it worked for both sides. But that wasn't the point. It was giving us a glimpse of a possible future.

And just like Monsters Of Men or Froi of the Exiles it was about what people are willing to do to win a war. What they would be willing to compromise, that in their right mind would never even cross their thoughts. Kind of like Hayden (view spoiler)[and how he was being unwound because his parents wanted to make sure that the other one didn't 'win' him. Or Risa, who was just a victim of budget cuts (hide spoiler)].

The book was supposed to be a satrical fantastical view of human nature... if that's even the right word.

Skinjackers was just like this, in a lighter way. I've realized that this is just Neal Shusterman's way, lmao.

Anyway, I loved it.

I get what you're saying and I loved how much the book does make you think. Unwind would make for a great book club type of book because there are so many possibilities to discuss.

Just picked up Bruiser by him. Now I just need to make sure to read it at some point. And Skinjackers, since you read this one Wendy. I said I would if you read Unwind. :)

That's right! You did... haha. I'm gonna hold you to it.

They aren't as intense as Unwind was. They still make you think about things, but they are lighter more fun books.

I have Bruiser too, in print. So whenever you get around to it, let me know. I'll pick up mine too.

(After reading Skinjackers i just started to collect his books. I have the three Skinjackers, Unwind, Bruiser, The Eyes of Kid Midas, and Downsiders. I think 3 of them are signed...)

Oh, Bruiser is on my TR list as well (and I think I have a copy of it at home). Let me know when you guys are thinking of reading. :)

Glad you liked this one, Wendy!

Hey guys, we have a cover!

Ohhh I like! Is it September yet??

I wish!!! It looks really awesome!

Unwind has been on my TBR list for awhile. This cover of the next book is intriguing so I will have to read Unwind before Sept. Sooo many books Soooo little time...

Diane - you need to read it!!!

I agree! It's one of the better YA dystopia books.

I'm definitely doing a re-read before book 2. It's been so long.

Speaking of, Unwind is up on Pulse it right now to read for free until the rest of the month if you don't mind reading books online. You have to sign up and go to your account home page and click on the book button (I think the menu is somewhere on the upper right side of the screen).

http://www.simonandschuster.com/speci...

Wendy F wrote: "Hey guys, we have a cover!

"

aaaaagh! want

Stacia ~ enchanted wrote: "Speaking of, Unwind is up on Pulse it right now to read for free until the rest of the month if you don't mind reading books online. You have to sign up and go to your account home page and click o..."

It is also online free at onread.com and it is always there not just till the end of the month. That is the site I usually use and they have a lot free.

Oh nice. :) I don't really read online so I don't look around for places to do it at. Good to know there are places for people who don't mind doing that. If I can't download it for my reader I usually don't bother.

Although, I did actually grab Gone, Gone, Gone from Pulse It in case I had some crazy moment of wanting to read online (doubtful) and noticed that the read time is longer. Something like 14 days. I think you just have to get it by the end of month but then you still get 2 weeks.

I'd love to read Gone Gone Gone. That's been on my TBR for a while.

Wendy F wrote: "I'd love to read Gone Gone Gone. That's been on my TBR for a while."

Stacia ~ enchanted wrote: "Oh nice. :) I don't really read online so I don't look around for places to do it at. Good to know there are places for people who don't mind doing that. If I can't download it for my reader I usua..."

Ohhh! Gone, gone, gone was good... in fact her Invincible Summer was pretty good too. I do want to get my hands on Break though. :)

Break's the one I most want to read! But they all intrigue me.

I thought I had a personal copy of Gone, Gone, Gone but I didn't. I do have Invincible Summer though and in fact just made a summer folder this week for books with a summer setting or theme that I'd like to read over the summer and this book went into it.

Oh and the read time for Pulse It books are actually closer to 30 days. I just noticed that last night.