Sunday, March 16, 2014

Unsouled | Neal Shusterman


Connor and Lev are on the run after the destruction of the Graveyard, the last safe haven for AWOL Unwinds. But for the first time, they're not just running away from something. This time they're running toward answers, in the form of a woman whom Proactive Citizenry has tried to erase from history itself. If they can find her and learn why the shadowy figures behind unwinding are so afraid of her, they may discover the key to bringing down unwinding forever. 
Cam, the rewound boy, is plotting to take down the organization that created him. Because he knows that is he can bring Proactive Citizenry to its knees, it will show Risa how he truly feels about her. And without Risa, Cam is having trouble remembering what it feels like to be human.
With the Juvenile Authority and vindictive parts pirates hunting them, their paths will converge explosively- and everyone will be changed. 

Non-Spoiler Review

Continuing the plot development from the previous two book, Unsouled continues to uphold my high standards. As the book continues, we begin to get more of a backstory of how unwinding came to be, and we learn that it's much deeper and darker than what's on the surface. There's no way for me to review this book without spoiling it. If you haven't picked this book up yet I completely and utterly recommend it. Go read it!!


Spoiler- Filled Discussion

Now on forth with the spoiler filled review. This book is beautiful; it diverges away from the traditional dystopian worlds we're used to and provides something that's just as dark and much more parallel to our own.

There were so many perspectives given in this book, it really made me think about the clear definitions of "good" and "bad". What determines what side someone is on? Is it determine by intention, method or outcome? Both Starkey and Connor are two different sides of the same coin. Both of them are so similar yet so different, it's mind boggling. Starkey focused his goal on saving only storks, through means of major destruction, in order to make his name known through out the world. Connor, on the other hand, was focused on saving as many lives as possible. He wanted none of the fame, he just wanted to save lives and make a difference in the world.

We also got to see more of the opposing side, Argent and Nelson, both, in their hearts think that they're doing the right thing by hunting down Unwinds, which fuels their motivation to hunt down Connor. Everyone in this book thinks they're right in some way, and this difference in morals is causing such a controversy in the world.

The politics of this Unwinding is so much parallel to our own, especially if we compare the act of unwinding to slavery. Proactive Citizenry has kept quiet any solution to unwinding because of the prime factor of fear. Fear has propagated war for years in the past, and that same theme is present in this book. Fear of change and fear of the unknown continues to prevent a change into a better and more moralistic world.

Stepping away from the dark depths of the world a bit, I'm going to indulge myself in talking about the love triangle between Risa, Connor and Cam. As much as it frustrates me that Connor refuses to admit what he's thinking to Risa, I can't help but love the awkward tension between the three of them. Cam is completely infatuated with Risa, and its kind of heartbreaking to learn that he ends up right back to where he started. But in the next book I'm hoping for a nice wrap up between Connor and Risa.

I actually went into this book thinking that it was the final one in the series, however I found out that there's a fourth one. And I don't appreciate this cliffhanger that Neal Shusterman left for us. Now I will be awaiting October.
What did you guys think? Did you love it? Hate it? Let me know in the comments. 

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