 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Unwanteds
- By Lisa McMann
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Magical mid-grade fantasy with violent premise and battles.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this dystopian novel begins with a rather disturbing scene: frightened teens are sent to a death farm, thinking they will be exterminated in a lake of boiling oil. What follows a fast-moving fantasy and magic for kids, especially the more reluctant readers, who are not quite ready for Harry Potter, but are looking for an adventure -- and a little magic. There is a very obvious good-vs.-evil storyline and readers get the message that creativity is essential to a thriving society.
What's the story?
Quill is a gray, oppressive world where -- on one day each year -- 13-year-olds are separated into three castes: Wanted, Necessaries, and Unwanted. Wanteds go to the Academy, Necessaries get to work, and the Unwanteds, mostly creative kids, are sent to the Death Farm to be thrown into a lake of boiling oil. Told from the point of view of one boy, Alex, marked Unwanted because he draws pictures in the mud, the story really begins when the Unwanteds arrive at the Death Farm and instead discover a place called Artime, which is very different from their terrible expectations. There, they meet Marcus Today, the magician-leader of Artime, who has created a world where each individual is valued and encouraged to grow. But it's not long before Alex and his fellow Unwanteds will have to use their creativity in a violent battle between the two societies.
Is it any good?
The beginning chapter is a bit shocking, though most kids, especially those who love touching the edges of terror, will find themselves pulled into the story immediately. The rest is filled with fast-paced action and magic, and kids who were labeled as "Unwanted" are empowered through their own talents. The writing is not complicated, which makes the story approachable for reluctant readers. More mature readers may wish the characters, societies, and plot points were a bit more developed. Overall, this is an entertaining read: the characters are likeable, the good guys win, and the message is a positive one.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about dystopian novels and fantasy books. What makes these books so intriguing? Do dark fantasy worlds help us talk about fears and terrors we might have?
This book grew out of the author's concern that the art and music classes were being cut from her children's school. She said that seemed like a punishment for the creative kids. Have you seen this happen at your school? Should schools offer more art and music, or stick to more practical subjects?
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Kid, 12 years old
November 21, 2011
AGE
An interesting blend of Margaret Peterson Haddix and J.K. Rowling
The Unwanteds is an enjoyable dystopian fantasy. The story starts out with a sinister threat: the "unwanteds" (or creative kids, in a society that fears creativity and values strength and smarts) are going to get taken to the "death farm" and killed. However, sensitive readers should know that this is quickly proven to NOT be the case. My biggest problem with the book is the plot-point that the creative kids are more "special" than the non-creative ones. The characters are personality mirrors of many from the Harry Potter series, and, unlike Harry and his friends, do not change very much. The incorporated magic that creative kids can perform is more original and fun to read about. Imbedded in the story, and becoming clearer as the story continues is the overused point that one sibling is "good", and the other is "bad." There is a small amount of violence beyond the opening until you approach the end of the story where there is a giant battle between the "good" city and the "bad" city, in which secrets are revealed and characters are injured or even killed.
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| Author: | Lisa McMann |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Aladdin |
| Publication date: | August 30, 2011 |
| Number of pages: | 400 |
| Hardcover price: | $16.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 8 - 12 |
| Read aloud: | 12 |
| Read alone: | 14 |
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