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Cover of Unwholly

Unwholly

Neal Shusterman (2012-08-28)

Subgenre
Age groupYA 12-17
Content ratingR
Pages416 (Chunky (400-600))
Setting
CSM age15

Content levels

ViolenceStrong
Sexual contentNone
LanguageMild

Heroine archetypes

Rebel / Revolutionary

Synopsis

"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 and, in the same stroke, 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 expand, allowing the unwinding of prisoners and the impoverished. Cam is a teen who does not exist. He is made entirely out of the parts of other unwinds. Cam, a 21st century Frankenstein, struggles with a search for identity and meaning, as well as the concept of his own soul, if indeed a rewound being can have one. When a sadistic bounty hunter who takes "trophies" from the unwinds he captures starts to pursue Connor, Risa and Lev, Cam finds his fate inextricably bound with theirs"--

Tags

Dystopian ThrillerBioethical HorrorSocial CommentaryYoung Adult Science Fiction

Is Unwholly appropriate for my child?

Suitable for most readers 15 and up.

This dystopian sequel contains disturbing themes of teens being harvested for body parts, with a protagonist literally constructed from others' remains. Strong violence includes a sadistic bounty hunter taking trophies from victims, though explicit gore is mostly off-page.

What to know going in

This book has strong violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include human trafficking, captivity, and death (see the full list above).

Who'll love this

Teens will be gripped by the high-stakes cat-and-mouse chase and the profound questions about identity, humanity, and what it means to have a soul when you're made of other people's parts.