Review 264: Unwind

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A dystopian world where a twisted solution to outlawing abortion, which would mean that between the ages of 13-18 the parents, or guardians, could elected to unwind the child. This means that teens become, not killed, but used for parts for other people, and all parts of their bodies. Someone has an issue with their eyes, well new eyes would come from an unwound. This has the solution of people being in good health, and the kids that don’t quite cut it, with behavior problems or whatever, then get parted out. The kids going to be unwound are told they are not dying, but living on in pieces with other people, so not to look at this as an end of life. Only those people growing up as a tithe to the church, who grow up knowing that at 13 they would become unwound as part of a spiritual offering look forward to this parted up way of being.

Naturally the story focuses on several kids that are told they are to be unwound. We follow their refusal, running away when given a small chance, and they take a tithe with them, who is not happy at this turn of events. There is an underground railroad that moves these kids who rebel to a place of safety, until it falls apart. 

It’s a fairly fast paced book, and I found it hard to put down, so read the book quickly. This is a gruesome premise and world, and this is the first in a series. This book sets up what would happen next fairly well. I listened to the audiobook which was well done narration.