Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dystopian sequel focuses heavily on romance.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
In UNRAVEL ME: SHATTER ME, BOOK 2, Juliette is having trouble adjusting to her new life at Omega Point, an underground bunker for the resistance. She's expected to train with her superpowers, but wants no part of them because of the harm she could cause. And she's sure everyone at the base stares at her, afraid because her touch can kill -- everyone except for Adam, who steals every moment he can to be with her. But something is wrong with moody, always-tired Adam, she's sure of it. When he won't confess, she barges in on him in pain, strapped to a table -- a crude way to figure out more about his powers. Juliette loses it so completely that she pounds a hole in the floor with her fist, creating a small earthquake. And his powers aren't even the secret Adam is keeping that will hurt Juliette the most.
Is It Any Good?
This sequel amps up the melodramatic love-triangle tension for romance fans but misses the mark as an absorbing dystopian read. Most of the romantic tension at the beginning involves Adam keeping secrets, and each big reveal is worse news to Juliette. There are some "we can't go on this way, our love can never be" moments that are the opening for Warner, the sexy enemy, to weasel his way back into Juliette's life. It's hard to imagine anyone being on "team Warner" except Juliette in a moment of weakness, but it definitely adds some delicious complications that romance fans will enjoy.
Complications are many above-ground as well, as civilians are targeted and Warner's bigwig terrible father comes to town/sector. While we really get a sense of how Warner's father messed him up, the skirmishes and other missions away from base aren't fleshed out in the story well. Battle plans are spotty and barely discussed and there's the worry that there's no hope for this group against a whole world of baddies that make up the Reestablishment. More attention to detail for this dystopian world would have rounded out Unravel Me well.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Juliette's empathy for Warner in Unravel Me. She sees their similarities more clearly, sure, but is she seeing him truly? Do you see Warner as a misunderstood heartthrob or a power-hungry murderer?
Juliette is learning to wield her own literal power in this story, and be comfortable with all sides of herself. How is that a form of courage? Are you courageous when it comes to showing your true self to others?
What do you think is next for the resistance? For the love triangle? Will this dystopian world ever heal?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Perseverance , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : HarperCollins Publishers
- Publication date : February 5, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 480
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : February 1, 2026
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