Unwholly (Unwind Dystology, #2)

by Neal Shusterman

"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"--

• ISBN10: 1442423684
• ISBN13: 9781442423688
• Publish Date: 28 August 2012
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Imprint: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Angie]

I liked UnWholly a bit more than Unwind. While the first book seemed to be more focused on the individual characters, this sequel looks at the bigger picture. It does this by alternating the POV much more often, and by inserting advertisements and public service announcements about unwinding. The laws regarding unwinding teens have been changing. Now 17 year olds are excluded, setting thousands of teenagers free. But it's also created a shortage of body parts and organs, increasing black market activity and kidnappings. Connor is now in charge of the resistance and he's trying his best to save as many kids as possible, while trying to stop unwinding for good. However, in UnWholly the world has seriously gone crazy.

Instead of being primarily from Connor, Risa, and Lev's POVs, we get the addition of Starkey, Miracolina, Cam, Nelson and a handful of chapters from other minor characters. This may seem like a lot of perspectives to keep track of, but it never gets confusing. It's actually quite necessary to get a feel for all of the havoc taking place, and since the characters spend a lot of time separated from each other. Just like in the first book, everyone is connected in UnWholly so it's not just a jumble of random characters.

I couldn't buy into the world that the author was selling in Unwind, but in UnWholly I can definitely see how something like this could stay in place once it arises. It actually made me feel quite uncomfortable when I noticed that some of the arguments for unwinding make sense. I certainly don't agree with the process as it is, but I also can't condemn it completely since it is helping people. This is a common theme throughout the books, and it's actually something that comes up near the end thanks to some sleuthing by Lev and Connor. I do hope that they find what they're looking for.

UnWholly was another thought provoking addition to this series. It's much more focused on human nature than the first book, but it's no less exciting or engaging. It was interesting to me how something good can end up being really bad, how something seen as bad can actually do good. The gray area is firmly where this book resides.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Amber]

THIS WAS SO WONDERFUL ;____; FANTASTIC JOB, SIR.



I'll be back with a review once I've pulled myself together.

Full review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2012/09/unwholly-by-neal-shusterman.html
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How do I even begin to review such an amazing book?

As well as Risa, Connor and Lev, there are some new characters that are introduced. There are new antagonists, as well as some old ones. Starkey is one of the new antagonists, and he is the absolute worst. I don't think I've ever hated (or loved to hate) a character as much as him. He is pure evil and he makes me so angry.

There was only one character in this book that I neither liked or loved to hate and that was Cam. I think he'll probably be in the third book, so I am kind of looking forward to what trouble he can cause for Roberta, and he was all right, but I didn't feel connected to him. I often wanted to punch him because he was a spoilt brat. I guess that's not totally his fault, though.

The ending is AMAZING. There was so much action and I was holding my breath. It was like an episode of Spartacus which, by the way, usually give me panic attacks. It was told from several points of view, and that meant that we got to see it from many different angles. It was honestly the most brilliant ending.

I'm so sad because my favourite new character didn't make it. I won't mention this character at all because I don't want to spoil anyone. Just know that someone dies and it made me cry because this someone was flawless.

How on earth is the third book going to bring everything together? I have no doubt that Neal Shusterman will pull it off flawlessly, but I just don't know how. Can I have the next book NOW, please?

Has anyone else read this? I NEEEEEED to find someone to talk about it with, so if you have then leave a comment. This is set to become one of my all time favourite trilogies!