kbfrantom's review against another edition
5.0
The story is engrossing and hauntingly stays with you after you finish.
danidavar's review against another edition
3.0
Tu vida está protegida por la ley hasta los 13 años. Sin embargo, entre los 13 y los 18 años, si tus tutores legales ven que te portas muy mal, que no llegas a ser lo que se esperaba (o incluso más) de ti, entre otras infinitas razones, pueden desconectarte. "¿El término "desconexión" es un sinónimo de muerte?", os preguntaréis. Pues bien, esa es una de las numerosas preguntas que salen a flote a lo largo de toda la novela, y que iréis resolviendo (o no) con el paso de ésta.
El punto más fuerte que creo que tiene este libro es el mundo que ha sabido crear el autor. La desconexión es una práctica que se nos va introduciendo poco a poco durante la novela, la cual nos genera rechazo por lo que implica, y que no se acaba de entender bien hasta las últimas páginas del libro. Y no solo la práctica en sí, sino lo que supone sobre el resto de personas no desconectables e incluso sobre el mismo desconectado. Todo este mundo da lugar a múltiples preguntas acerca de la ética, la filosofía, la medicina, entre otros campos; las cuales me han hecho reflexionar acerca de los hechos que ocurren en la novela, por lo que ha sido un gran punto a favor.
La historia ha sido entretenida, sin duda, y el autor sabe mantener la intriga hasta el final de la novela. Los personajes, pese a que no he visto una gran evolución en algunos de ellos, me han parecido bastante bien construidos y, algunos, sorprendentes.
Por poner algún otro punto flaco, en algunas ocasiones me ha dado la impresión de que había un poco de relleno o que la trama se volvía muy lenta. A pesar de ello, he disfrutado mucho la novela y sin ninguna duda seguiré la tetralogía. ¡Recomendada!
El punto más fuerte que creo que tiene este libro es el mundo que ha sabido crear el autor. La desconexión es una práctica que se nos va introduciendo poco a poco durante la novela, la cual nos genera rechazo por lo que implica, y que no se acaba de entender bien hasta las últimas páginas del libro. Y no solo la práctica en sí, sino lo que supone sobre el resto de personas no desconectables e incluso sobre el mismo desconectado. Todo este mundo da lugar a múltiples preguntas acerca de la ética, la filosofía, la medicina, entre otros campos; las cuales me han hecho reflexionar acerca de los hechos que ocurren en la novela, por lo que ha sido un gran punto a favor.
La historia ha sido entretenida, sin duda, y el autor sabe mantener la intriga hasta el final de la novela. Los personajes, pese a que no he visto una gran evolución en algunos de ellos, me han parecido bastante bien construidos y, algunos, sorprendentes.
Por poner algún otro punto flaco, en algunas ocasiones me ha dado la impresión de que había un poco de relleno o que la trama se volvía muy lenta. A pesar de ello, he disfrutado mucho la novela y sin ninguna duda seguiré la tetralogía. ¡Recomendada!
bnross925's review against another edition
4.0
4/5. Definitely a creepy read and a different premise than I've ever read before in a post-apocalyptic novel. A society in which abortion is illegal and unwanted or misbehaving children for their parts. The actual unwinding scene made me sick to my stomach.and was both terrifying and tragically sad. I think the ending wrapped up nicely, so I don't think I'll be continuing with the sequel
booksandchicks's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting topic. I found that the storyline didn't move as fast as I wouldve liked.
roseanswers's review
5.0
Spectacular! Unlike anything I've ever read before. Impossible to put down once started.
Review to come
suey's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, I didn't expect this one to be as "deep" as it was. It made quite the statement, but I loved it and was riveted. The story is basically answering this question: What if we fight an actual war over the abortion issue and what would be the consequences of some unusual compromise that might be reached to end that war?
daredeviling's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/4 stars.
Although this book had a slow start and I wasn't really into it for the first half (hence the 3.5 rating), by the end of the book, it picked up and became much more exciting. Or maybe not picked up because it wasn't slow per se, but I actually started caring about the characters more, whereas I didn't so much at first. I did like that this was a very original idea and world, and in a world over saturated by YA dystopia, this was something I hadn't seen before even though it has the elements of every other YA dystopia out there.
This story also brought up really great talking and discussion morality points, which I always really like thinking about, and it didn't try and necessarily preach one side over the other. And the last scene with the Admiral was really bittersweet and I liked that a lot.
Originally I wasn't going to read the sequels because I just didn't care enough to, but now I think I'll come back to this series after I read a few other books.
Although this book had a slow start and I wasn't really into it for the first half (hence the 3.5 rating), by the end of the book, it picked up and became much more exciting. Or maybe not picked up because it wasn't slow per se, but I actually started caring about the characters more, whereas I didn't so much at first. I did like that this was a very original idea and world, and in a world over saturated by YA dystopia, this was something I hadn't seen before even though it has the elements of every other YA dystopia out there.
This story also brought up really great talking and discussion morality points, which I always really like thinking about, and it didn't try and necessarily preach one side over the other. And the last scene with the Admiral was really bittersweet and I liked that a lot.
Originally I wasn't going to read the sequels because I just didn't care enough to, but now I think I'll come back to this series after I read a few other books.
pisceanparagraphs's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit, at first I didn't really enjoy this book. It didn't hold my interest for probably the first half. But by the end, I was hooked, and now I can't wait to read the rest of the series!
cocoanut7's review against another edition
5.0
This book. This book, my friends, is something else. The science fiction aspect of this pales in comparison to the moral dilemmas, characters development, and overall plot of the novel.
Risa, Lev, and Connor all bring such unique personalities to the table that it's really quite unexpected. I thought Connor had such a great mix of charisma and anger. Rather than a lovable, quiet hero which YA seems to really focus on lately, Connor is passionate and no nonsense. He is grumpy and snarky and irritable, but he feels so genuine and he's got some really tender moments that make him quite human. He made me laugh out loud quite a few times as did many of the other characters because they were so sassy. Risa has a delightful level of clear-thinking and kindness while also having enough strength to not let herself be pushed around. I like the level of gentleness she exhibits while also being stubborn. Her blunt statements and clear insights make her a really great female character in a very male-heavy cast. Lev is such an enigma - as the book points out - and his development is both frustrating and entrancing. I hated to see him change throughout the story, but I also hated how naieve he was at the beginning. These characters manage to break some of the recent trends in YA heroes and heroines and I found it quite refreshing.
Characters aside, can we talk about this story? The basic premise is that the debate over abortion was finally resolved by this new law regarding "unwinding." Basically, between the ages of 13-18, parents can sign a form that sends their kid off to be unwound. When you're unwound, doctors literally take you apart bit by bit and use every single part of your body to help someone else. In this way, pro-life people "win" because supposedly no life is lost (as all the parts of someone are used and kept alive? Gross I know) and the pro-choice people "win" because you can choose to eventually unwind your child. Talk about grounds for some deep philosophical and moral thought. Questions begin to unfold (I won't say unwind) that are hard to address. Do we have souls? If so, where does the soul go if you're unwound? Are you still "you" and "alive" if you're split up into tiny pieces all over the world? Doesn't this highlight the importance of life? Or, perhaps more controversially, does it explore the idea that sometimes it's better to allow mothers to choose abortion before forcing their child into an unlucky and unfair circumstance?
Shusterman seems to have a lot of faith in adolescents: this book condemns adults for assuming 13-18 year olds cannot change and that once a delinquent, always a delinquent. Kids with lots of potential get shut down and unwound for mostly selfish reasons. This novel almost argues that kids can make educated decisions as well and that, perhaps, their decisions are a little more pure and untainted. Not only that, but he fights the stereotype of delinquent kids as those who are a burden to their parents - Shusterman seems to say that you cannot give up on these kids because they have just as much potential as the next kid.
Honestly, I think this book is quite fascinating. It has great characters, believable character development, fascinating ethical and moral questions, and a really unique view of what the future can hold. I would recommend it to almost anyone.
Risa, Lev, and Connor all bring such unique personalities to the table that it's really quite unexpected. I thought Connor had such a great mix of charisma and anger. Rather than a lovable, quiet hero which YA seems to really focus on lately, Connor is passionate and no nonsense. He is grumpy and snarky and irritable, but he feels so genuine and he's got some really tender moments that make him quite human. He made me laugh out loud quite a few times as did many of the other characters because they were so sassy. Risa has a delightful level of clear-thinking and kindness while also having enough strength to not let herself be pushed around. I like the level of gentleness she exhibits while also being stubborn. Her blunt statements and clear insights make her a really great female character in a very male-heavy cast. Lev is such an enigma - as the book points out - and his development is both frustrating and entrancing. I hated to see him change throughout the story, but I also hated how naieve he was at the beginning. These characters manage to break some of the recent trends in YA heroes and heroines and I found it quite refreshing.
Characters aside, can we talk about this story? The basic premise is that the debate over abortion was finally resolved by this new law regarding "unwinding." Basically, between the ages of 13-18, parents can sign a form that sends their kid off to be unwound. When you're unwound, doctors literally take you apart bit by bit and use every single part of your body to help someone else. In this way, pro-life people "win" because supposedly no life is lost (as all the parts of someone are used and kept alive? Gross I know) and the pro-choice people "win" because you can choose to eventually unwind your child. Talk about grounds for some deep philosophical and moral thought. Questions begin to unfold (I won't say unwind) that are hard to address. Do we have souls? If so, where does the soul go if you're unwound? Are you still "you" and "alive" if you're split up into tiny pieces all over the world? Doesn't this highlight the importance of life? Or, perhaps more controversially, does it explore the idea that sometimes it's better to allow mothers to choose abortion before forcing their child into an unlucky and unfair circumstance?
Shusterman seems to have a lot of faith in adolescents: this book condemns adults for assuming 13-18 year olds cannot change and that once a delinquent, always a delinquent. Kids with lots of potential get shut down and unwound for mostly selfish reasons. This novel almost argues that kids can make educated decisions as well and that, perhaps, their decisions are a little more pure and untainted. Not only that, but he fights the stereotype of delinquent kids as those who are a burden to their parents - Shusterman seems to say that you cannot give up on these kids because they have just as much potential as the next kid.
Honestly, I think this book is quite fascinating. It has great characters, believable character development, fascinating ethical and moral questions, and a really unique view of what the future can hold. I would recommend it to almost anyone.