Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

40 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

spencellio's review

2.75

I will probably not be reading the next one. I would have rated it a flat 3 stars but points were docked for

the sickeningly uncomfortable full chapter of just a teenage boy being unwound piece by piece.

call me squeamish if you will but I had to put the book down several times just to get through the chapter

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death and Abandonment

Moderate: Trafficking and Medical trauma

Minor: Racism

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

slowreader9999's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

Extremely enjoyable read! The whole concept of the book is extremely unique and, though I will admit there are a couple flaws with the worldbuilding, it was smoothly written enough not to interfere with the plot itself. Speaking of the writing, it is very entertainingly and skillfully written. I am in love with Neal Shusterman's writing style and the way he portrays characters' inner thoughts.

Many storylines in this book come full-circle,

which makes for a very emotional and satisfying ending. I wish I could read this book again for the first time!

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Body horror, Rape, Abortion, Abandonment, and War

Minor: Injury/Injury detail

aruktai's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad medium-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

It's almost frightening that I'm reading this at a time where it isn't impossible for a future in the far off to happen along these lines. Like The Handmaid's Tale, it expands from a long time persisting issue, pushing human morals and creating a solution for the issue, which is ridding the world of abortion but also of unruly, unwanted children.

Schusterman has this way of writing which makes it difficult to put down. The chapters and done bite size, leaving you reading more and more before you finally discover you're at the end. These kids are people you could have, will have and may well know in the future - if society took a wrong turn then it could become a horror reality like what Schusterman has created.

The one scene of unwinding has definitely made me think. It's always been a tiny thought that comes out now and then, what makes a human alive, but the scene will stick with me.

The ending wasn't too great, but it has opened the story up for the sequels, which I'll have to read.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Medical content

Minor: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

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.

loreful's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Medical content, Murder, and Abandonment

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Kidnapping, and Abortion

Minor: War

treblemakeranna's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective tense fast-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content

Moderate: Child death, Violence, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Police brutality, Abortion, Abandonment, and War

nclausel25's review against another edition

adventurous dark sad medium-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? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Death, and Abandonment

Moderate: Confinement, Suicide, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, and Abortion

thesunthesunthesunthesun's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Police brutality, Grief, Car accident, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, War, and Deportation