UnWholly by Neal Shusterman

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman
Unwind #2
Release Date: September 27, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books 
Source: Publisher
Rating: All Time Favourite

Thanks to Connor, Lev, and Risa — and their high-profile revolt at Happy Jack Harvest Camp — people can no longer turn a blind eye to unwinding. Ridding society of troublesome teens while simultaneously providing much-needed tissues for transplant might be convenient, but its morality has finally been brought into question. However, unwinding has become big business, and there are powerful political and corporate interests that want to see it not only continue, but also expand to the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished.

Cam is a product of unwinding; made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds, he is a teen who does not technically exist. A futuristic Frankenstein, Cam struggles with a search for identity and meaning and wonders if a rewound being can have a soul. And when the actions of a sadistic bounty hunter cause Cam’s fate to become inextricably bound with the fates of Connor, Risa, and Lev, he’ll have to question humanity itself.

Rife with action and suspense, this riveting companion to the perennially popular Unwind challenges assumptions about where life begins and ends—and what it means to live. - Goodreads

How do I even begin to review such an amazing book?

As well as Risa, Connor and Lev, there are some new characters that are introduced. There are new antagonists, as well as some old ones. Starkey is one of the new antagonists, and he is the absolute worst. I don't think I've ever hated (or loved to hate) a character as much as him. He is pure evil and he makes me so angry.

There was only one character in this book that I neither liked or loved to hate and that was Cam. I think he'll probably be in the third book, so I am kind of looking forward to what trouble he can cause for Roberta, and he was all right, but I didn't feel connected to him. I often wanted to punch him because he was a spoilt brat. I guess that's not totally his fault, though.

The ending is AMAZING. There was so much action and I was holding my breath. It was like an episode of Spartacus which, by the way, usually give me panic attacks. It was told from several points of view, and that meant that we got to see it from many different angles. It was honestly the most brilliant ending.

I'm so sad because my favourite new character didn't make it. I won't mention this character at all because I don't want to spoil anyone. Just know that someone dies and it made me cry because this someone was flawless.

How on earth is the third book going to bring everything together? I have no doubt that Neal Shusterman will pull it off flawlessly, but I just don't know how. Can I have the next book NOW, please?

Has anyone else read this? I NEEEEEED to find someone to talk about it with, so if you have then leave a comment. This is set to become one of my all time favourite trilogies!

The Unwind trilogy: 

1. Unwind

1.5 UnStrung

2. UnWholly

3. UnSouled

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Unwind #1
Release Date: June 2, 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Books
Source: Bought
Rating: All Time Favourite

In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them.

Connor's parents want to be rid of him because he's a troublemaker. Risa has no parents and is being unwound to cut orphanage costs. Lev's unwinding has been planned since his birth, as part of his family's strict religion. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.

In Unwind, Boston Globe/Horn Book Award winner Neal Shusterman challenges readers' ideas about life -- not just where life begins, and where it ends, but what it truly means to be alive. - Goodreads

I. Adore. This. Book.

Things I Loved:

- The characters. Each of the main characters is flawlessly (expect to see the word 'flawless' used several times in this review) developed and thought out. Connor, Risa and Lev are all characters I fell in love with, and I love that we got to spend lots of time with each of them.

- The writing style. Honestly, Neal Shusterman's writing is unlike any I've ever read. He's definitely one of the best, and after reading this book I'm definitely compelled to read everything else he's ever written or will ever write. The man is supremely gifted, pure and simple.

- The action. This book was INSANE. There was so much going on, and there isn't any point in which you could put the book down to take a break. Whenever it seems like there isn't going to be anything happening, something explodes.

- The way Shusterman connected everything at the end. It's not often that I read a book in which there are clues and references thrown around form the very beginning. At least, not unless it's in a totally obvious way which doesn't leave me surprised at all. In Unwind, the author puts things in and you don't even realise they are important until later on in the book.

- The dystopian society. Guys. GUYS. This could totally happen in real life if we had the resources to do it! It was creepily realistic in some ways, and like I said I could totally see the government banning abortion. I don't see them allowing kids to be unwound (i.e. pulled apart and donated to needy people), but who knows what people could be pushed into doing?

Things I Hated:

- NOTHING AT ALL BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS FLAWLESS.

What You Should Do:

- BUY THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW. FLAWLESS.

The Unwind trilogy: 

1. Unwind

1.5 UnStrung

2. UnWholly

3. UnSouled

*Note: They've changed the covers because they enjoy causing me pain. I've chosen to feature the old cover because that's what copy I own, but the new ones are awesome and you can see the new cover for Unwind in the Amazon link above!