Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

16 reviews

queencleo's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This novel contains the single most horrifying sequence I have read in a decade. All of the stars are for that scene alone.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, and Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

acayton14's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Car accident and Pregnancy

Minor: Sexual harassment and War

emily_am's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

beware of chaper 61 and the bathroom scene.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Abortion, Murder, Gaslighting, War, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Cursing, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Trafficking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and War

I strongly advise to NOT read this book if you feel strongly like the content warnings will disturb you. If the disturbing feeling is what you're looking for, this is an amazing, eye opening book.

heybrimarie's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child death, Death, Violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Domestic abuse, Car accident, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and War

kissfist's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Unwind is a dynamic and fantastic novel that reminds us that dystopia is not about hypothetical future horrors, but funhouse mirrors that eerily resemble our lived realities.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Abortion, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

secretofmusing's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional fast-paced

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

4.5

I have thoughts but like I don’t know how to word them. I’ll maybe be back to update, maybe not.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Gaslighting

This book takes the debate of life to the extreme. Read with caution.

greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Self harm, Suicide, Violence, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

racheldonna14's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I read this book in 2010 and decided to reread and see if it was as good as I remember. It was better, and the themes ring loudly post Roe.
The characters start as 2D characters of a troubled teen, ward of the state, and religious tithe which allows the world to be the main character for a while. The world of this book feels familiar (because its mostly Ohio and Arizona) but the rules are different and it takes the reader on a journey to see what the USA has become post Second World War. Once the world is concretely established, the characters, and their relationships between one other, begin to blossom and become complex and whole. Each of their motivations and desires are unique leaving no room for confusion as to why they make the choices that they make even if the choice is wrong. The story is gut-wrenching and visceral from beginning to end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Pregnancy

bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War, and Injury/Injury detail

dark_marble_eyes's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

2.5

I've seen this book as recommended reading for young adults/teens quite a lot, and I can see some merit in it. The main problem with this book is that it doesn't overtly take a stance, yet is promoted as a "conversation starter" on the subject/concept of abortion, the could-be alternatives, and the people on "either side" of the argument. It is purposefully written in such a way that somehow both anti-legal abortion and pro-legal abortion people regularly point to this book as a "see here! this is arguing my point!"
However, it comes across to me as a work written by someone who is either not invested in the issue or only invested in the way that it's a profitably inflammatory subject.

I cannot speak to the original intentions for the book and its sequels, but the opinion I personally have formed after reading the book, some interviews of the author, and the reactions of others, is that it lacks integrity of belief. I do believe that books written with intentional ambiguity can be helpful and valuable -just not this one.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Medical content, and Medical trauma

Moderate: Ableism, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Police brutality, Medical content, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Murder, and Pregnancy

Minor: War

in relation to my tag on mass/school shootings- I do not remember there being specific mention of school shootings themselves, but there are people called "clappers" who are essentially suicide bombers in this universe who will go to schools or public areas and clap, activating [nitroglycerin?] in their bloodstream causing combustion and explosion.