In the not-too-distant future, the U.S. went through a second civil war, involving Pro-life and Pro-choice armies. It became known as the Heartland War, and it ended with the Bill of Life, which states that human life may not be touched from the moment of concept until a child reaches the age of 13. Between the ages of 13 and 18, a parent may choose to “unwind” a child, where their life does not technically end, but goes into a divided state. This Bill satisfied both sides and unwinding has now become an accepted and common practice in society.

That takes us to three teens, all on the verge of being sent to their unwinding. Connor is a troubled kid who gets into fights and tends to think long after he’s acted. When he discovers that his parents have signed the orders to have him unwound (as well as their vacation tickets for the day after the event), Connor takes off. Risa is a ward of the state and a concert pianist. However, competition is fierce and, when Risa makes a few mistakes at a recital, she’s soon on her way to unwinding. Lev is the tenth child in his family and that makes him a tithe. His parents strongly believe in their religion and that means tithing 10% of their belongings, including children. These three meet by chance – if they can survive until their 18th birthday, they’ll be safe.

This story is terrifying and thought-provoking. It takes the issue of abortion and turns it on its head. The country Shusterman depicts is filled with unwanted babies who become wards of the state or can be “storked,” dropped off on a house’s porch and, as long as the mother is not immediately discovered, the baby is legally that family’s responsibility. Troubled teens who are too much of a problem or don’t fit a family’s budget can be unwound. Medical research has come to a halt because there’s no reason to try and cure cancer or a heart defect when you can just get fresh body parts and graft them in. Even the belief in souls gets called in to play – every part of an unwound teen must be used, and since they don’t technically die, what happens to their soul, their consciousness, when they are divided up amongst other people as bits and pieces?

I really enjoyed this book. Shusterman writes from multiple perspectives, so we get in every characters’ head. Each is well-developed, and you gain a new appreciation for them once you hear their thoughts (Roland’s chapter was probably the most heart-breaking). If there was anything that bugged me about the writing, it was the change in tenses. I appreciated this being science fiction for people who aren’t sci-fi fans – the world is recognizable and follows its own rules, without being “out there.” More than anything, I loved how this book made me think about issues of life, the soul, and how important it is to take an interest in other human beings, no matter their age. There’s a running thought throughout by many of the adults that, once this kid is out my door, they’re someone else’s problem. Connor, Risa, and Lev only continue their journey when someone takes the time to help them along the way.