A review by starrynews
Unwind by Neal Shusterman

4.0

Creepy in the manner of 1984 - Shusterman takes a look at where the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice debate could potentially go in the future. The scary part, like in 1984, is that the author clearly shows that, based on what is going on today, this is a possible and frightening "extreme" version of what could happen. Essentially, in the novel, the two sides have gone into complete civil war over the issue, and in a last-ditch effort to bring common sense back, the government tries to present them with an idea so ludicrous that they will realize that they are taking it too far. The idea? Life is defined as beginning with conception, and no harm can be committed against children through the age of 13. But from their 13th birthday until they reach the age of adulthood at 18, they can be "retroactively aborted" if the parents both sign an Unwinding Order. Retroactive abortion is legal because the children are not actually "killed" - they are just moved to live in a "divided state"... in other words, ALL of their body parts are removed to be used for organ donation, and as long as 99.444% of the organs are used (to allow for the fact that no one needs an appendix), they are still "alive," and thus in line with the law. The novel follows three teens who have been assigned to be "Unwound," one because his parents think his a troublemaker, one because she is in state care and they don't have enough room for all of the kids (since no abortions can be done, and Storking -- leaving your child anywhere as long as you don't get caught-- is legal), and one who is the 10th child in a religious family that takes the line in the Bible seriously where it says you must tithe 10% of all you have to better society. By far the most disturbing thing about it, to me, was that an actual unwinding was described. It was absolutely horrible - even though it was only a page or two long, I didn't think I could finish reading it. This is a gripping and disturbing novel that is deeply thought-provoking and compelling.