Saturday, May 30, 2015

Unwind

It has been a remarkably chaotic year in my library.  We've had the inclusion of computers for all students as well as various changes at the campus, and my library seems to be at the center.

I noticed Mrs. Edwards started reading this book called Unwind by Neal Shusterman a couple months ago.  She is now reading the third of this trilogy that apparently couldn't end with the third book, so the author added a fourth and called it a dystology (I'm a fish... I don't know what that means).  So she's been raving and telling all the students about it:
Imagine a world in the not so distant future where if you were deemed a failure or troublemaker, you could be 'unwound.'  Well, what does that mean anyway?  Nowadays, when kids get unruly they are sent to the corner or their room for a time-out, to 'unwind' and relax a bit, but that isn't the case in Neal Shusterman's novel Unwind.  Years before Connor was born, the United States had it's second Civil War over the great abortion debate.  At the end of this, was born the Bill of Life, which states simply that should parents decide they no longer want their children, sometime between 13 and 18 years of age they can rid themselves of the children retroactively.  Children will be taken from the house to a special camp where they are then 'unwound.'  Unwound kids are taken apart, piece by piece; arms, legs, organs, body parts, all surgically removed while the patient is awake then 'donated' to those who are more needy; they survive in a 'divided state.'  Connor's parents have chosen to have him unwound, but the day of his arrest he escapes and kidnaps a tithe boy (a child set to be unwound since birth because of a religion) and an orphan girl.  They trek across the country doing whatever they need to survive and not get caught.  This book (and the series) will keep you on the edge of your seat as you are constantly wondering if the next person who 'helps' them won't do it for their own selfish reasons and turn the 'Unwinds' in.  Check out the trailer below, then get in to the library and check out the book!  You certainly won't regret it.


  • Unwind by Neal Shusterman
  • Copyright: 2007
  • ISBN 10:  1416912053
  • Where to find it:  F Shu
  • Reading Range/Lexile: HL940L
I could see this book being the discussion starter for an in-depth debate or argumentative paper on pro-choice versus pro-life and what some potential conflicts or solutions would be to both options.  I would also want the students to explore the possibility of a law such as this going into effect.  Is it unConstitutional or plausible?

The standards one would cover are:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.9-10.1--Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.9-10.1--Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.11-12.3--Evaluate various explanations for actions or events and determine which explanation best accords with textual evidence, acknowledging where the text leaves matters uncertain.


1 comment:

  1. Hi Monstro (and Mrs. Edwards),
    Thanks for a lively review of a dark title. In Neal Shusterman's hands, this is undoubtedly a great tale. This "dystology" seems like it would be a solid addition to a "what to read next" list for mature readers and fans of James Dashner, Lois Lowry, Marie Lu, Veronica Roth,and the like. It's on my summer list.

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