Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Synopsis:
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

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I don't even know where to begin with this book.  It evokes so many emotions and questions throughout that are never really answered.  The thought that any parent would be able to have their child "unwound" is unthinkable.  How could you spend 13 or more years with a child and be okay with having them taken apart?  How can the state take a child apart just because they need more room in their orphanages?  How can you conceive a child just to sacrifice him/her on their 13th birthday?  Every chapter of this book was engaging and though provoking.  I couldn't imagine living in a society such as this one.  However, the way that society is at this moment, I feel that a war over reproductive rights is certainly possible.  The thought that a woman is expected to have a child, and if she doesn't want it then "stork" it to another family is just wrong.  Whether this family wants a child or not they are now the legal guardians.  


No matter how much I try, I can't stop thinking about this book.  I feel as though we need to make sure that society never turns to a drastic measure such as this that devalues human life.  We need to stand up for our rights and protect the children who can't protect themselves.  I am happy that our society hasn't come to this extreme, and I feel as though right now we are on track to stay away from this type of society.  However, the line between right and wrong is often misconstrued.


I recommend reading this book to find out how it affects your own emotions.  I don't think a single person could read this without having questions of their own concerning morals and the difference between what's right and what's wrong.