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.

This was another fascinating Schusterman. It reminded me a lot of Haddix’s Shadow Children series. And while this book was sometimes slightly disturbing and very sad, it really provoked some interesting thought. What the summary doesn’t mention, is that the reason people decided to make the “unwind” law, is because it was a compromise between the people who believed in pro-life, and the people who believed in pro-choice. I know that sounds really strange, but give it a try, it’s good.

~Enna Isilee