Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Title: Unwind
Author: Neal Shusterman
Series: Stand alone 
Source: Personal Copy
Format: Paperback
Genre: Science Fiction

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

What if you live in a period where your parents own the right to “terminate” your life? Period where someone else has a say on what is going to happen to you, your future more than your own self? Period where your life means absolutely nothing just because you’re incompetent, an excess or a tithe chosen at birth? These are the facts that bring three names – Conner, Risa and Lev – together. Their paths cross each others’ because they are “The Unwinds” and they have to fight really hard to remain alive, to remain whole as themselves and not just as “the remaining” of themselves as a part of somebody else. During this time, when humans themselves have become the monsters, how can all these youngsters fight for their own survival?

I rarely read a book that truly horrifies me but it seems like Unwind managed to do just that. Concisely and vividly written, Shusterman creates a world close to our own, completes with realistic, complicated and well-developed characters. It doesn’t take long for one to start feeling for these young kids, understand their suffering, thinking about how those they love and trust can betray them in such unthinkable way. This book definitely horrifies me in a very different aspect since it doesn’t really filled with any gory details about some of these chilling events stated in it. Though the parts that have been left unsaid by the author are the portions that frighten me most since they make my mind wanders, imagining the most daunting things that could possibly be happening to these kids. There is not many books that can give such effect to me and this signify how excellent this book really is.

Unwind is a book that touches numerous critical issues - from abortion to organ transplantation, legal issues to religion aspects – but Shusterman fiddles with these issues with such implicit manners till one might not notice how heavy this book really is until they take time to think deeply about it. Saying that this book is an “enjoyable” read would definitely be a lie but the messages and knowledge that was cramped into these 352 pages really make everything worthwhile. Written by an author with such a deviant imagination, Unwind is definitely a phenomenal, thought-provoking book that should not be missed.

Memorable Quote: I was never going to amount to much anyway... but now, statistically speaking, there's a better chance that some part of me will go on to greatness somewhere in the world. I'd rather be partly great than entirely useless - Samson (One of the Unwinds)

A book about humanity, about morale and about survival when your own life is at stake. Such an incredible, powerful read that will stay with you for a very long time. And definitely a book that will trigger a question in your head and keep you thinking for a long, long time.