UnWholly (Unwind) [Hardcover]

Neal Shusterman (Author)

Book Description

Release date: August 28, 2012 | Series: Unwind (Book 2)

It’s finally here. The long-awaited sequel to the bestselling Unwind, which Publishers Weekly called a “gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller.”

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 simltaneously 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.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up -This sequel to Unwind (S & S, 2007) is well worth the wait. Connor is now the leader of the Graveyard, a place in Arizona that serves as a refuge for "troubled" teens who escaped unwinding, a process where individuals are "divided" for their body parts. Risa is confined to a wheelchair and works as the group's medical authority. She can only watch helplessly as Connor drifts further and further away from her. Lev lives under house arrest and ministers to jailed youths, trying to make his life mean something. Unwinding is still widely practiced, and the threat of government action hangs over all of the characters. Shusterman throws plenty of new conflicts and characters into the mix. Nelson, a "parts pirate," will stop at nothing to hunt down Connor, while new guy Starkey wants to usurp him and become the Graveyard leader. Cam is made completely from parts taken from dozens of unwinds and is being groomed by a shadowy organization as the future of humanity. Like the first book, this one requires a large suspension of disbelief, but the characters, action, and drama make it easy for readers to be drawn into the story and the weighty issues, such as what it means to be human and what it means to sacrifice for others. Several plot twists at the end not only make for a satisfying conclusion, but also expertly set the stage for the final installment of the trilogy.-Anthony C. Doyle, Livingston High School Library, CAα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Review

"A breathless, unsettling read."--Kirkus Reviews

"Shusterman continues to develop and expertly twist plotlines begun in the first book, picking up the pace with short chapters and a present tense narrative while interspersing for verisimilitude actual recent news items about real organ harvesting and abandoned and “feral” teens. Perfectly poised to catch the Hunger Games wave and based on an even more plausible dystopian scenario...Fans will want to get their hands on this the second it’s released." (Booklist)

"Smart, intense, and thought provoking, this series will stick with readers."--VOYA, 5Q

“Shusterman elegantly balances the strikingly different perspectives of the three main protagonists effectively, and these dissimilar approaches to life highlight the ways in which the larger world grapples with unwinding. …The high quality of UnWholly will inspire readers to go back to see what was missed as well as stoke anticipation for the final book.” (The Horn Book)

Thematically rich and packed with action, commentary, and consequences, this is a strong pick for dystopia fans that will also appeal to reluctant readers. (BCCB)

"This sequel to Unwind is well worth the wait...the characters, action, and drama make it easy for readers to be drawn into the story and the weighty issues, such as what it means to be human and what it means to sacrifice for others. Several plot twists at the end not only make for a satisfying conclusion, but also expertly set the stage for the final installment of the trilogy." (School Library Journal)

"Readers will come to think deeply about the question of survival, and to what extremes one would go to for survival of themselves and loved ones. This book is a welcome addition to a science fiction collection, with threads of romance, adventure, and alternate universes which are closer to becoming reality. Recommended." (Library Media Connection)

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (August 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1442423668
• ISBN-13: 978-1442423664
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (127 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,860 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #94 in Books > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Science Fiction

More About the Author

Neal Shusterman is the author of many novels for young adults, including Unwind, which was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and a Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers, Everlost, and Downsiders, which was nominated for twelve state reading awards. He also writes screenplays for motion pictures and television shows such as Animorphs and Goosebumps. The father of four children, Neal lives in southern California.

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

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#59 in Books > Teens

#59 in Books > Teens

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Well written with a fascinating new character, but otherwise not very surprising October 7, 2012

By Christina (Ensconced in YA) TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was a huge fan of the first book, Unwind. Shusterman came up with a world we hadn't seen before, and brought up countless ethical situations, which really made me think. It worked very well as a stand alone, so I was a little surprised and worried when this second installment came out. That said, there was no way I wasn't going to read it.

UnWholly by Neal Shusterman takes place a little after the end of Unwind. We are immediately introduced to a new character, Starkey, who is undoubtedly going to be the villain of the piece, who vies with Conner (our protagonist from the first book) for leadership of the Unwinds. We are then in short order introduced to new characters in the next few chapters-- all who have eerie resemblance to the ones we all know. Miracolina is the poster child for a tithe, a person who is raised to be unwound. She is our new Lev. And so on. The story revolves around these new characters, and the struggle of Connor, Risa, and Lev to keep their ragtag band of teenagers safe from being unwound. It's a thankless job. The most unique addition to this group is Cam, a composite created from many Unwinds, taking the best from them and putting them all together in one being-- a modern day Frankenstein. I believe that this introduction saves the book.

I don't know if Shusterman had the intention of doing a trilogy at the beginning. To me, it feels like he wasn't ready to leave this fascinating world of the Unwinds, and it was undoubtedly a runaway success. But this installment has the feel of being a bit tacked on, rather than its own story. I feel that for the first half, we see the first book retold from very similar characters, and from an evil character that is not very interesting. As I said before, the introduction of Cam saved the book from entirely repeating itself, because he was a fresher idea. Even then, what happened was pretty predictable. The book is well written and flows well. I was able to make it to the end and was interested enough to keep going. Since the first book was so good, I was a bit disappointed in this book, but not much, because I already had reservations going in.

Overall, a well written follow up to Unwind, but its content makes me wonder if Unwind should have remained a stand alone.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not the Thinking Book that Unwind Was September 1, 2012

By Monique Hodziewich

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was so excited about this book. I reread Unwind, a 5-star book for me, as quickly as I could so I could get right into UnWholly. Maybe my high expectations ruined it for me, but I was disappointed.

I think Unwind is a rare gem in the dystopian genre. I also loved that Unwind was a thinking book. It tackled a tough issue, and from the reviews I've read, no one can decide whether it is a pro-choice or pro-life book. Readers complained both ways. That is the mark of a great book.

UnWholly is an action book. Teens who are devouring these stories may love it because of that. I wanted more substance. The author tried. He gave more background about what happened to bring about unwinding. Those who complained that neither side of the debate would agree to unwinding will probably be happy with the new information. The author also asked a lot of deep questions, but it made me feel like he was trying too hard.

We got some new villains. I thought that one was just a cheap copy of Roland who was thrown in just to have a villain and some action. The story would have been better without him. The other was decent, and I look forward to learning more about her in book three.

Those who complained about the many POVs in Unwind will find UnWholly even worse. I didn't mind the shifting around in Unwind. The device still doesn't bother me, but UnWholly just had too many stories. The one mentioned in the synopsis seemed like a side note.

This book didn't keep me up late reading. It didn't make me think. The characters didn't excite me. I didn't like the additional world-building. This book brought the trilogy down to a pure YA series instead of one that is worthy of a wider audience.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "BONE-CHILLING, GRIPPING, BRILLIANT!" August 29, 2012

By Geraldine Ahearn TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Neal Shusterman delivers a thrilling Masterpiece in the companion to the mesmerizing 'UNWIND.' Society is trying to get rid of troubled teens, a sadistic bounty hunter changes Cam's fate, and Cam who is a futuristic Frankenstein struggles for identity as the author portrays the value of life itself. There are chilling twists-and-turns from beginning to end. The unforgettable characters come to life, the suspense is intense throughout, and the action is explosive. The riveting story will have you on the edge-of-your-seat as you crave for more. If you enjoyed THE HUNGER GAMES, you will love UNWHOLLY, a thrill ride you won't forget. Highly Recommended to all thriller lovers!