The Paw Print

book review

by Kayla

If you’re looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend Unwind by Neal Shusterman. This science fiction thriller is set in the future. The story is about unwinding kids between the ages of 13 and 18. It is legal and perfectly common for parents to unwind their kids, some as a part of their religion, others just for space and costs. Unwinding isn't seen as killing because the teenagers live—but in a divided state.

The story is centered around three potential unwinds who escape and race to survive until their 18th birthday. They are brought together by chance and held together by desperation. These three kids accomplish tasks unimaginable in their journey to evade humanity. They hide in schools, disguise themselves as bombers and  even grab a baby along the way! The world is in chaos—the Storking Law allows you to give your baby away as long as you aren’t caught and unwinding your kid.
The unwinding of children happens at housing places called harvest camps. The kids are sent there, given an orientation and then disturbingly kept conscious throughout the process! Their blood is extracted from their body and replaced with air—then they are spoken to while their body parts are cut off and taken away, until the very last moment when they can see no more.
Unwind is full of suspense, romance and action. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys science fiction and likes reading action-packed novels. It is a futuristic book, so who knows what might happen if a sequel is written.  I think almost anyone will enjoy it. Unwind is also on the Lone Star Book List, so grab a copy in the library!

WARNING: SOME MATERIAL IN THIS BOOK MAY BE DISTURBING TO SOME READERS. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.