Imagine a society that has not only completely irradicated abortion, but has come to a means by which both viewpoints of Pro-Life and Pro-Choice were satisfied. But at what cost?
By Katie Clark
Neal Shusterman’s young adult novel Unwind tells the tale of the conflicting perspectives of three young adults in a society that has abolished abortion and made organ donations mandatory for those who don’t fit society’s mold.
After a second civil war between the pro-life and pro-choice movements, “the Bill of Life” is passed by the government. Every baby is born and none are terminated, at least until the age of thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, every child is evaluated and judged accordingly based on their societal contributions thus far. If someone is deemed to no longer be useful or is believed to be more trouble than they’re worth, they will be what is called “unwound”. Being unwound means you will technically live on, but your physical self will be harvested for the use of others. This is considered a justified means to end the conflict between both movements.
The narrative introduces three characters: Conner, Rita, and Levi. Conner is sixteen and a juvenile delinquent running from his parents who want him to be unwound because he’s considered a troubled teen. Rita is an orphan who is extraordinarily musically gifted, yet at fifteen she still hasn’t been adopted yet and is sent to be unwound because the orphanage can no longer afford her living expenses. Levi is a thirteen-year-old boy who is chosen to be unwound as a charitable religious service. Their very different perspectives clash harshly when the three are thrown into a very rare occurrence of chaos in which their journeys are disrupted and they manage to flee from governmental watch. Rita and Conner, naturally, are eager to keep running to survive their unwinding; Levi however, maintains that he is supposed to be unwound as a service to God and thwarts their plans to continue his religious duty. Throughout their misadventures, all three teens will be challenged and learn the value of human life, no matter age or societal status.
In his five-book dystology, Shusterman vividly captures the horrors and harsh realities of the society that the teens are trapped in, a society that seems not too far off from the one we live in today. The premise of these ideas is mostly fictionalized, however, with each new section of the book, Shusterman displays excerpts from real sources around the world that mimic the themes and events in the story. This compelling, thought-provoking storyline will touch on several modern issues that will frighten you in its relevance today. Through the eyes of Conner, Rita, Levi, and all the teens they come into contact with along the way, Shusterman will evoke many emotions in you and beg the question: what if?
The Deadline 