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dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great dystopian fiction is great because the reader can see the literary dystopias reflected in our current society. This is certainly not the case with Unwind. The premise was absurd. A civil war over abortion? It felt a little too silly. I picked up the book, fully prepared to hate it. And I did- at first. However, Shusterman managed to turn his absurd premise into something surprisingly readable. It certainly isn’t Nobel prize worthy, but it was easy entertainment. Would have liked to see more focus on the characters rather than just plot progression. I thought the concept of the tithe was very interesting and would have loved to see more of Lev in the book. Overall, if you just want to turn your brain off for a few hours and enjoy some interesting plot twists, this is a good choice. Felt a little preachy at some points.
Romance was not fleshed out at all. Shusterman should either have developed it more thoroughly or left it out entirely. However, it wasn’t just the romance that felt hollow. All of the relationships lacked depth. The dynamic between Lev and the other main characters felt particularly nonsensical. </spoiler >
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Medical trauma
Moderate: Confinement, Mass/school shootings
Minor: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Car accident, Abortion