Unwind : Book Review

“ In a perfect world everything would be either black or white, right or wrong, and everyone would know the difference. But it isn't a perfect world. The problem is people who think it is. “

Unwind is a dystopian novel written by Neal Shusterman. It is the first novel of a trilogy, the second of which – Unwholly – came out recently. After the second Civil War, the Heartland War has been fought between pro-choice and pro-life, a compromise was reached. A child from the age of conception to thirteen must remain untouched. But, there’s a solution. Unwanted children between the age thirteen and eighteen can be “retroactively aborted or unwound”. They get sent to harvest camps so 99.4% of their body parts can be reused for people in need.

Unwind is a book that grips you right from the beginning. The author does a good job of making the world believable and justifies the unwinding process. The unwound kids are not really dead, they just live in a divided state, so it isn’t really murder. Besides there is always someone somewhere who could use an organ or two. People who are wounded, people who are sick needn’t wait for other dying people to be generous and donate their organs. This justification doesn’t make it ok but it helps you be neutral while reading the book.

The book is everything it promises to be. It is astonishing, unsettling, creepy, weird and amazing. While not light and easy, it is still an easy read. Everything that you think can go wrong in a world like that, goes wrong. Everything is patiently explained and tied up in a neat bow by the end of the book. There are no blank spaces or gaps left. The book explores every angle possible with its three protagonists – a delinquent, a child of the state (orphan) and a religious “tithe” (born just to be unwound). While the switching storylines are annoying at first, it helps you get the bigger picture and you get used to it.

Unwind is thought provoking and compelling. While you may not form an emotional connection with the characters, you will with the book. Although the book touches some controversial topics, it doesn’t force them upon you and lets you form your own opinions. This book would make a good stand-alone despite being part of a trilogy and is definitely recommended.