Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe
More tales of immortality in bloody collection of stories.
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Gleanings is a collection of 13 novellas set in the Arc of the Scythe universe and should be read after completing the previous three volumes. Author Neal Shusterman (Roxy), collaborates with friends and family to expand the saga further and backward through time. The individual selections mix philosophy and sci-fi thrills. A young couple in their early 20s pursue a romance that presumably includes sex, but no physical details are given. There's lots of bloodshed -- traditional gleanings involve throat slittings, but spur-of-the-moment ones can be achieved with whatever sharp object is handy. And all the stories are about death in one form or another, with the depiction of it mostly matter of fact. Strong language includes a few instances of "damn" and "hell," as well as "bastard" and "a--hole."
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Array of stories set in the Scythedom
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What's the Story?
GLEANINGS is a collection of 13 stories and novellas that reveal further implications of scythedom. Some are written by Neal Shusterman in collaboration with others. In "Perchance to Glean," the characters explore gleaning while dreaming. "A Martian Minute" delivers the backstory of Carson Lusk, who would go on to future infamy. "Never Work with Animals" features a character who begins to suspect his dog is smarter than it needs to be.
Is It Any Good?
Sometimes a concept is too delicious to let go, and this collection of supplementary tales will thrill longtime readers. With Gleanings, author Neal Shusterman and company are able to enter new territory or revisit favorite characters and settings. Newcomers need to read the original trilogy. Once up to speed, though, they're be ready for a mind-bending saga that mixes action and philosophy. Challenging, unique, and relentless, Gleanings is a welcome new component of the scythe story.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Gleanings finds new stories to tell in this seting. Why are sequels and prequels so popular among readers?
Why do some people want to curb population growth? How might it affect climate change?
What might it be like to be an immortal? Would immortality create new problems for humankind?
Book Details
- Author: Neal Shusterman
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Adventures, Great Boy Role Models, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: November 8, 2022
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 432
- Available on: Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: November 29, 2022
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