There are few times in an avid reader’s life where a book comes along and truly captivates that reader’s soul. That truly intense feeling of needing to read just one more chapter. Time slips by as each page slide through your greedy fingers. Before you know it, you have devoured an epic book in less than a day. I can’t tell you the last time that I read a book in a day until… Unwind by Neal Shusterman.
Unwind follows the lives of three adolescents in a world where it is terrifying to be between the age of thirteen to eighteen. This is the window in which a child’s parents can decide to have them “unwound”. The war of pro-life and pro-choice came to a head. This was the solution found between the two sides. Unwinding a child is like forcing a living person to become a donor. But not just an organ here and there. Every inch of the unwound is used in some form or another. Not a single scrap of that child goes to waste.
The main character of this story is Connor. Connor is living every kids’ worst nightmare when he discovers his parents have signed the documents to have him unwound. He has two choices: 1. He can go peacefully or 2: Run like hell. I think it is pretty obvious that he runs.
Enter our second main character, Risa. Risa grew up in an orphanage where you must be the best to avoid being unwound. There are only so many kids that can prove themselves to be an asset to society (those darn budget cuts). Unfortunately, Risa does not make the cut. She is slapped on a bus and sent to her forced fate.
Finally, we have our third and probably saddest main character, Lev. Groomed to be unwound, a tithe. he was taught to have faith that his unwinding is an honorable and noble sacrifice. A tithe believes that this is what his higher power wants from the world. Lev is in for a rude awakening when his eyes are peeled open as he sets off for his unwinding at a harvest camp.
Like I said earlier, I read this book in its entirety in one sitting. I had moments that I had to put it down for five minutes (so I could catch my breath), but I couldn’t stay away for long. The message that this carries is terrifying and heartbreaking. Though this book was written more than ten years ago, it feels like it is so relevant to the world that we live in today. I could not help but think of 1984 and Fahrenheit 451. The possibility of this coming true was all too real.
It made me reevaluate what I believe in and why I believe in it. It made me uncomfortable in the best way possible. I truly believe that Shusterman is a full-blown genius after reading this. If you are determined to be close-minded, I would not suggest this book. I am open-minded, but this still made me shiver and feel a range of emotions that I have not felt reading a book in a long time.
The characters in this book are like old friends that one may have had in school. They are all too relatable. I found my biggest connection to Connor because I felt like I was Connor at some point in my life. Awkward, sad, lonely, and very misunderstood. Being this way makes him lash out and that is something that I did as a kid (as have so many others). I was a definite headache for my parents at times and I would not be surprised if they chose to unwind me because of my less than perfect behavior.
The three main characters are not the only ones that you might find a connection with. There are a couple handful of characters that will find a place in your heart if only for a brief page or two. Their stories may even fill your eyes with tears and anger.
The biggest reason that you should drop everything to go read this is because it will make you think. It will push you to the limits of your opinions and may even open your eyes to a little bit of sad reality. It will start a conversation that you might not be ready to have but need to have. It is truly a book that could change your life.
Open To Captivate 