Reviews

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

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logan08's review against another edition

3.0

I thought that it was a good book and I really liked it in the beginning, but I wasn't sure about Lev and whether I'd like him. About three- quarters into the book, all of the characters started to get to me with, to me, complete idiocy. Even though I knew things that they didn't, it still bothered me that they could be that stupid and oblivious. It was hard when Roland was unwound, even if he wasn't the best of people. He had really started to grow on me. I also wish that there was more info on the town and the people who convinced Lev, Mai, and Blaine. It was a good book over all, but there were still things that got to me.

horkruks_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

mdenney5's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring fast-paced

4.0

haialiel's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nellocrayola's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

halthemonarch's review against another edition

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5.0

Unwind was a powerful (thankfully) fiction dystopia novel that immediately jumps into thought provoking, stomach-churning subject matter and is easily un-put-down-able. The concepts introduced to the abortion issue and it’s solution, plus “Storking” and “Tithing” are chilling to even think about let alone try to relate to the mindset of those faced with these issues. In the future, abortion is illegalized. The capacity of human compassion is limited as well, as evidence by parents sending their children off to be unwound simply because they don’t want the responsibility of handling them anymore. Shusterman even pulls religion into the mix, smoothly and believably so.I won't give away how these horrifying abortion alternatives come about, because that's explained in length in book two of the trilogy, but trust me when I tell you: it will definitely make you think. It's downright eerie how much sense it makes.
There’s no shortage of messed up, heartbreaking back stories in this novel which makes me both ache and sympathize for even the most unlikely of characters. All of them are so fleshed out and well thought of, this author’s organization and feeling is inspiring. Lev was my personal favorite, though I very much liked all three of our protagonists, plus CyFi and Hayden. Even Roland, whose fate nearly coaxed tears out of my eyes during his few narrations.
All in all, this was a good book that has my mind racing, my hands shaking, and my hearth thumping every time I think of how it was resolved. For fear of spoiling things, I will simply say: It has a refreshing ending; bittersweet but mostly sweet in accordance with our heroes—which is nice because reading stories where everyone’s doomed to an irrevocably horrid fate at the end is tiring at times (coughhungergamescough)
The only complaint I have with the book is plot twists were sometimes much too predictable. I was tied between a 4 and a 5 for this book, but since I'm likely to read it again and again, I'll go on ahead and give it a 5/5. I feel it is worth mentioning though that the only criticism I see online of this book is people saying that it should not be categorized as a kids book at all. Some people find some bits horrifying, and parents give it one star because of how graphic one of the future chapters are. Indeed, a few chapters in it are absolutely NOT suited for children or preteens, in my opinion. They wouldn’t be scarred for life or anything, but I doubt they’d understand the gravity of what was going on.