After friends stressed that this was a book not to miss, I hit my local library and snagged a copy. The description, from  Amazon:

Starred Review. Grade 7 Up—Set in the future, the second civil war is fought over abortion. To end the war, a compromise is reached that ends the practice of abortion but creates an alternative called “unwinding.” Between the ages of 13 and 17, parents or guardians can choose to have their children unwound, which involves having every part of their bodies harvested to be “donated” to another person so, technically, they don’t really die. The complex and compelling plot follows three teens whose stories intertwine when they escape while on their way to the harvest camps. Fifteen-year-old Connor’s parents can no longer control him. Lev, a tithe, was raised by religious parents for the sole purpose of being unwound. Risa, a ward of the state, is a victim of shrinking budgets since she is not a talented enough musician to be kept alive. Neal Shusterman’s engrossing novel (S & S, 2007) is narrated in an even cadence and matter-of-fact tone that suits the author’s straightforward narrative style. His wide array of voices makes the involved story line, which is left wide open for what is sure to be an interesting sequel, easy to follow. This gripping, thought-provoking novel is guaranteed to lead to interesting discussions about abortion, adoption, organ donation, religion, politics, and health care.—Karen T. Bilton, Mary Jacobs Memorial Library, Rocky Hill, NJ .

After reading and enjoying “The Hunger Games” trilogy and “Divergent,” I heard “Unwind“ by Neal Shusterman was the next book I “had” to read.

I’m really glad I did. Yet another young adult dystopian creation, this book looks at what might happen if the US finally compromised on the abortion issue in a way that is both completely unexpected and mutually beneficial (and twisted) way. The premise, though appalling, is quite thought-provoking and it’s difficult to look away. Instead of dying, those who are “unwound” live on in another’s body in a “divided state,” so no lives are ever “lost-” or so the proponents of the law convince themselves. It’s disturbing, but somehow logical at the same time. The intriguing chapter that describes a character’s unwinding is all at once heartbreaking and horrifying.

The characters are nicely developed and realistic for their ages, given the bizarre situation in which they are placed. I love the way the author chose three very different experiences upon which to focus. Risa is a ward of the state whose musical talent isn’t enough to escape her fate of being unwound; a victim of a small budget in tight times. Connor is a boy who can’t stay on the right side of trouble, and his parents have had enough. He’s not worth the energy it takes to keep him on the straight and narrow, so it’s off to be unwound. Finally, we have Lev. Lev has preparing for this his entire life. He is a tithe, chosen from birth as an offering for a higher purpose. He has trained and prepared for this sacrifice, and to him it’s an honor. Each of these main characters has a different experience, and, thus, a very different viewpoint on being an unwind. There are several other primary characters who help round out the cast, and each of those characters comes to life on the pages. The character I found most disturbing, however, was the Admiral. His character has a nice depth that slowly unfolds to allow us to get to know him better; a prime example of “what you see is not what you get.” The dialogue between characters in the story rings true, and these are characters with whom to engage and live through.

Written with a voice that speaks to a young (and older) audience, this book was hard to put down and is full of thought-provoking themes. The author teaches you about this post- Heartland War world very naturally, unfolding more details as the story progresses. The “rules” become more clear as we go further into this world. We learn of other elements that are different, such as “storking,” the process of putting a baby on another’s doorstep to raise. While many of the “norms” in this time are alien to us, the author does a good job of normalizing them in the context of the book while still allowing us to see the horror. The idea that a parents can retroactively choose to “abort” a child, a child who happens to be going through the emotional and angst-ridden teen years, is almost unfathomable. And yet, when you read this story, it somehow isn’t.

It will be some time before I get this book out of my head.

Available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble