Parents' Guide to

Unwind: Unwind Dystology, Book 1

By Matt Berman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Shocking sci-fi gives teens plenty to get wound up about.

Book Neal Shusterman Science Fiction 2007
Unwind: Unwind Dystology, Book 1 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 13+

Based on 32 parent reviews

Amanda T.
Amanda T. Parent
January 11, 2023
age 16+

Too violent and heavy for children under 16

The abortion debate, attempted rape, and body dismemberment (while they are still alive) to abort older children is not something that I would like my 12 year old to read. This book seems more appropriate for older children.

This title has:

Too much violence
ERiggin
ERiggin Adult
February 13, 2021
age 12+

Makes you uncomfortable...? Good!

As an English teacher who has taught this for four years, I have had one parent tell me that her child was uncomfortable with this book. As the person in the classroom, I would say I have had many students, literally aghast and horrified as we read, what is obviously, a horrific experience of a child being taken apart (consciously but not in any pain) by a team of doctors and nurses. The point to consider is that, it is not MEANT to be pleasant. The author manifests this FICTIONAL world to have us process the possibility of a reality in which pro-life and pro-choice extremists have finally come to "agreement." Sounds great, right? Well, not exactly.... To me, the novel is no more disturbing the story of Solomon and the baby from 1 Kings in the Bible. The "violence" in this story only reveals the idiosyncrasies of adults wanting to "save" babies and the much-later and therefore far more convoluted reality that not all teenagers are wanted. It's a great book for students to read because it causes them to think, to feel, and to analyze the potential effect of unintended consequences.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
See all 32 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In the future, a war has been fought between the pro-life and pro-choice armies. Their final settlement: the Bill of Life, which ends abortion but allows parents to choose to have their children "unwound" between ages 13 and 18. "Unwinding" is the transplanting of every part of the teens' bodies; since every bit of their bodies is still "alive," they haven't technically been killed, right? WhenConnor discovers that his parents have signed an order for his unwinding, he tries to escape. Eventually meeting up with Risa, another escaping Unwind, and Lev, whose life has been tithed to the church, Connor tries to keep them all one step ahead of the police. But Lev may have other ideas.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (32):
Kids say (137):

Once readers have managed the huge suspension of disbelief that UNWIND's premise requires, they'll find the story exciting and thought-provoking. Raising issues that range from abortion, organ transplant, and euthanasia to the rights of parents, children, and society, Shusterman does what he's done many times before -- takes an idea and runs with it far beyond where most authors are willing to go.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the future world presented in Unwind. How does it compare to other books, movies, or other media set in the future?

  • Why is it important to read books set in imagined futures? What do we have to gain from this story?

  • What is the point of science fiction? Why do you enjoy reading these books? Do you choose them only for entertainment -- or do they improve your critical thinking?

Book Details

  • Author: Neal Shusterman
  • Genre: Science Fiction
  • Book type: Fiction
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster
  • Publication date: November 1, 2007
  • Publisher's recommended age(s): 13 - 13
  • Number of pages: 335
  • Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
  • Last updated: August 22, 2019

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