Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

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

bowlingforboots's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Abandonment

Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Sexual harassment

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.

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

milshollini's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective relaxing sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria

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

mpbookreviews's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abortion and Sexual harassment

oliverreeds's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

snazz07's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Chronic illness, Confinement, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Blood, Kidnapping, Abortion, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Racism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

_mims_'s review against another edition

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

3.5

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 >

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content and Medical trauma

Moderate: Confinement and Mass/school shootings

Minor: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Car accident, and Abortion