UNWIND

By Neal Shusterman

A terrifying, futuristic cautionary tale, Unwind gripped me from page one and wouldn't let go till the end. Connor, Risa, and Lev are all scheduled for unwinding in this creepy world where it's OK for parents to donate their teenagers to society for body parts, just as long as every bit of them is transplanted into another person. Connor learns his fate, and begins running, finding Risa and Lev along the way. They all three end up in the "Graveyard," a semi-safe place in Arizona run by a retired Navy Admiral who opposes the unwinding policy. But unfortunately, the Admiral can't control all 400 unwinds and the few adults who know about his camp, and chaos breaks loose. In the midst of a mob rebellion, the Admiral has a heart attack, and Connor and Risa risk everything to take him to the hospital. They are betrayed by Roland, a fellow unwind, and all are sent to a "harvest camp." I couldn't ruin the ending here, but I've got to say that there are very recognizable events happening at the harvest camp--grim reminders of the Jewish Holocaust and current suicide bombers. Though the plot of this book may seem unrealistic, there's just enough reality in it to be downright scary, with allusions to a number of controversial issues. This is an engrossing and thought-provoking read.

---reviewed by Dail Sams