Unwind - Neal Shusterman

The Bill of LifeThe Second Civil War also known as “The Heartland War,” was a long and bloody conflict fought over a single issue.To end the war, a set of constitutional amendments known as “The Bill of Life” was passed.It satisfied both the Pro-life and the Pro-choice armies.The Bill of Life states that human life may not be touchedfrom the moment of conception until a child reachesthe age of thirteen.However, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, a parent maychoose to retroactively “abort” a child . . .. . . on the condition that the child’s life doesn't “technically” end.The process by which a child is both terminated and yet kept aliveis called “unwinding.”Unwinding is now a common, and accepted practice in society.

Unwind is the first book in the Unwind dystology (there is also an ebook titled Unstrung which follows Lev on his adventures between books 1 and 2). The three main characters all find themselves heading to be unwound, all of them are being unwound for very different reasons: Connor gets into too many fights at school and his grades are appalling., his parents have signed the papers and he is going to be sent to be unwound. When he discovers the unwind order he decides he has to make a run for it, despite knowing the juvey-cops will do everything in their power to track him down. Connors life as an AWOL rewind takes a sharp turn when he collides with Levi and Risa on the side of a motorway. Levi, all dressed in white, is a tithe, the tenth child in his family, he has the honour and blessing of being created primarily for unwinding. Risa is a ward of the state, abandoned as a baby she has been raised in a state home, when she doesn't make the cut for top of her year she is sent to be rewound to prevent overcrowding. Their journey takes them to Happy Jack Harvest Camp and The Graveyard.

A fantastic book and great start to an intriguing series. The idea of doing away with abortion and introducing unwinding is terrifying. There is a chapter in the book which is chilling, it might have no affect on those unfamiliar with the characters and unwinding process. But for those with buy in, the scene and process of unwinding lingers in your mind, way past the finish of the book. Not many books haunt you before they have ended, I highly recommend this book, not just because it makes you question your own beliefs and morals but also because of the unique way it includes different perspectives and media.

For your ease and peace of mind, there are a variety of harvest camps to choose from. Each facility is privately owned, state licensed, and federally funded by your tax dollars. Regardless of the site you choose, you can feel confident that your Unwind will receive the finest possible care from our board-certified staff as they make their transition to a divided state. -From The Parents’ Unwinding Handbook

http://www.storyman.com/