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Parents' Guide to

The Toll: Arc of a Scythe, Book 3

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Violent sci-fi thriller finale plays masterful endgame.

Book Neal Shusterman Science Fiction 2019
The Toll: Arc of a Scythe, Book 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

Chris L.
Chris L. Adult
April 17, 2020
age 12+

A complex end to a thrilling series

This fantastic series developed in complexity and avoided many of the pitfalls of other dystopian sci-fi for younger readers. Shusterman continues to build a collection of diverse and complicated characters who find themselves in the Thunderhead's complicated series of plans to save humanity from its worse characteristics. Shusterman looks further into how religion shapes history, and how apocryphal stories find their way into shaping present understandings of confusing past events. So, this book moves quite far away from the shocking fun of learning about this new 'perfect world' and its Scythes, but it is entirely coherent and clever and provocative as all good sci-fi . Scythes Anastasia and Lucifer are much more fringe to the story with so many working parts. Some will find this disappointing, but the new characters, political intrigue, and seeing how everything comes together make this big read worth your time.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Opening in the aftermath of the sinking on an entire island, THE TOLL finds in Greyson Tolliver in a unique position, able to converse with the god-like AI (artificial intelligence) known as Thunderhead when the rest of humanity is cut off from it. Having been captured by a cult-like religious group calling itself "the Tonists," he is reluctantly elevated as "The Toll," one of the two most powerful positions on the planet. Opposed to him is the megalomaniacal Goddard, who has his own agenda for humanity. Other characters from the earlier books take sides in the epic struggle, until the fate of humankind rests in one desperate gambit for freedom.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (12 ):

Super-sized science fiction sagas can sometimes test the patience of readers, but this epically convoluted trilogy rewards readers who persevere until the breathtaking ending. In The Toll, favorite characters appear in new roles, and each chapter brings fresh complications. Author Neal Shusterman orchestrates the narrative's endgame with high levels of suspense and humor, bringing to a conclusion a saga whose captivating premise has been explored from every interesting angle. The Arc of a Scythe books will appeal to readers who relish moral conundrums but want plenty of action to accompany the mind-bending philosophy.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Toll deals with the subject of death. Would life have any meaning if there was no such thing as death?

  • In The Toll, humanity made aborted attempts to establish outposts on Mars and the Moon. Should humankind assume that there are reachable planets that offer a second chance at not destroying themselves? How might society change its mind about climate change, for example, if people could live for centuries?

  • Is it possible to become desensitized to violence? Do violent games or movies have addictive qualities?

Book Details

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