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UNWHOLLY by Neal Shusterman



copyright date: August 2012
primarily marketed for: young adults (12 and up)

Although there are still a few days until UnWholly by Neal Shusterman is released on August 28th, I managed to get my hands on an Advanced Readers’ Copy, thanks to Mrs. Foreman (formerly Miss England). 

This book confirms what I have believed for years: Neal Shusterman is brilliant.  Why he isn’t winning awards left and right is beyond me. 

If you haven’t read the first book in this series, Unwind, you have to start there.  The basis of the story is that it takes place in the near future, after the fictional Third World War, which was fought over the issue of abortion.  In an effort to end the fighting and reach an agreement, both sides compromised, banning abortion as we know it, and sanctioning the retroactive abortion (through a process called unwinding) of teenagers whose parents okay it. 

But that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of the brilliance and complexity of Shusterman’s stories. 

UnWholly is told through multiple viewpoints, the same way Unwind was.  In this sequel, Shusterman has found a way to include all of the beloved characters from the first book, and even reveals further depth in their personalities and the new roles they’ve taken on.  Each of our favorite characters becomes an important player in the fight against unwinding and helps uncover the grand plan behind it all.

Shusterman manages to deliver a fast-paced plot, filled with twists and turns at the same time as he causes readers to grapple with big issues, such as our own beliefs about life and what makes us human.  It takes skill to craft a story so beautifully that provides a suspenseful action-filled plot AND has a soul. 

Go read.  Now!  You will be blown away. 

Reading Threads:
Unwind by Neal Shusterman

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  1. Ms. YinglingAugust 19, 2012 at 5:38 PM

    Unwind definitely should have won awards. I can't wait to read the sequel!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Linda BAugust 19, 2012 at 7:52 PM

    Okay, now the list is definitely longer, Christy. I like hearing about those graphic novels a lot, & this final post, about these two by Schusterman, makes them look so good. You've been busy! Hope you have a great start to the year!

    ReplyDelete

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