Examining the Cover
How do you think this story will be written?
I think the story will be written with thrillers to make the readers feel interested.
Why do you think the story is entitled as it is?
I think the story is entitled as it is because the author wants people who see the title to read the book. Why it's called Unwind and what it's about?
Where do you think the story will take place?
I think the story will take place in a busy country crowded with people.
What time period do you think the story is set in?
I think the time period the story is set in the near future.
Exploring the Blurb
Unwind blurb
The process by which a child is both terminated and kept alive is called 'unwinding'. Unwinding is now common, and accepted practice in society.
In the not-too-distant future, teens Connor, Risa, and Lev are on the run for their lives. Following the Second Civil War, between pro-choice and pro-life forces, the United States now allows parents to unwind their unwanted and difficult kids between the ages of thirteen and eighteen: Their bodies are surgically taken apart and all the organs and tissue are used in other people. According to the law, the kids aren't considered dead, they're "living in a divided state." But Connor, Risa, and Lev, and thousands of other teens slated for "unwinding" , don't see it that way. They choose instead to "kick AWOL," or run away. Unwind follows these three across the country as they travel together, split up, and meet again when their destinies cross in a Harvest Camp where they are slated to be unwound.
1. What do you already know about pro-life and pro-choice groups? What do these terms mean? Is it an issue you have thought about?
Pro-life is a group of people against abortion and pro-choice is a group of people that think abortion should be allowed.
2. What do you know about organ donation?
Organ donation is about a person willing to donate their organ to a recipient that needs it.
3. Teenagers to be unwound are sent to Harvest Camps. Can you make a connection between the language used to describe this place, and other places people have been sent historically?
I think the connection between the language used to describe this place is that this place is where people are gathered to be unwound and take their organs.
4. What religious connotation does the word 'harvest' evoke?
Reaping what you sow.
5. The term "living in a divided state" here is really a euphemism for what? Can you think of other, common euphemisms? Why do people use euphemisms?
That they're alive but their body is separated from them; given to other people who require their body part. Other common euphemism people use are "I want to be alone" instead of saying "go away". People use euphemism to make the bad sound good.
6. What is the definition of legal?
Legal is something that is allowed to do according to the law.
7. What about ethical?
Ethical means things that are morally right. Which depends on a person's perspective.
8. Do you believe that because something is legal, it is also ethical, or morally right?
No, because some people in the government might decide to make something legal when it should be illegal.
9. Can things that are ethically sound ever be illegal? Provide examples.
Yes, for example, a poor woman stealing money to buy food to feed her baby.
10. Can you think of examples in history to support your ideas? Provide examples.
Part 1 - Triplicate
"I was never going to amount to much anyway, but now, statistically speaking, there's a better chance that some part of me will go on to greatness somewhere in the world. I'd rather be partly great than entirely useless." -Samson Ward
1. How much brainwashing do you think has happened for teenagers to make this sort of claim as they’re being led to their "death"?
A lot because the teenagers think that they're still alive and they are just living in a divided state.
2. Why, do you think, has Shusterman chosen to have three characters tell their story?
I think Neal Shusterman chose to have three characters tell their story to show different perspectives about unwinding.
3. Lev is a tithe. This means that he is the 10% that his family will give back to the church as an offering. What are your thoughts on this?
No, because they can just use money as a tithe instead of thier child.
4. Rita is a state home kid - she was unwanted at birth, and now the state have decided she is no longer useful. Do you think that the state should ever be able to determine if one life is more useful than another?
No, they shouldn't determine if one life is more useful than another because everyone is useful in different ways.
5. Connor's parents have chosen to unwind him due to his difficult behaviour. They have then booked a ticket to the Bahamas. In your opinion, how do parents view their children? Why do you think this?
I think that Connor's parent views him as an object because they just put him to be unwound; they just think that they can no longer use him and now he's being unwound so that his body can be used by others.
6. Pastor Dan presents as being conflicted. What reasons might he have to encourage Lev in his journey as a tithe? Why does he encourage him to run?
I think Pastor Dan encouraged Lev to run because he thinks that unwinding is wrong and that Lev's parents are wrong to unwind their child and that he doesn't want Lev to die; to live in a dived state.
7. What is the story based on a nursery rhyme that circulates among the youth?
Humphrey Dunfee is a story created to scare kids from being unwound.
