Unwind - Neal Shusterman Questions Part 1

 Questions Part 1

I was never going to amount to much anyway, but now, statistically speaking, there's a better chance that some part of me will go on to greatness somewhere in the world. I'd rather be partly great than entirely useless." -Samson Ward 

1. How much brainwashing do you think has happened for teenagers to make this sort of claim as they’re being led to their "death"?  

It makes sense that this is what all teenagers would think, you are being “unwound’ but you will not die. What happens after being unwound? What would your life even be? What would be the meaning of being “alive”.

2. Why, do you think, has Shusterman chosen to have three characters tell their story?  

I think he wanted to show more than one point of view and give examples and background of reasons why children in this world would have been unwound.

3. Lev is a tithe. This means that he is the 10% that his family will give back to the church as an offering. What are your thoughts on this?  

I don’t think that this type of thing should happen to your child if you love them that much. And why would you deserve a child if you have given the child life just to take it back.

4. Rita is a state home kid - she was unwanted at birth, and now the state has decided she is no longer useful. Do you think that the state should ever be able to determine if one life is more useful than another? 

I think the state should try finding replacement homes for their children until they are of age before ever thinking that their life isn’t worthy because they cost too much.

5. Connor's parents have chosen to unwind him due to his difficult behaviour. They have then booked a ticket to the Bahamas. In your opinion, how do parents view their children? Why do you think this? 

In my opinion parents view their children as unworthy as themselves or as an object that when it turns bad or expires they can just throw it out without remorse.

6. Pastor Dan presents as being conflicted. What reasons might he have to encourage Lev in his journey as a tithe? Why does he encourage him to run?  

In Pastor Dan’s eyes, I see him as looking at Lev as his own son. Though I think he gave the advice to be unwound because he at the time thought it was the best for Lev and that he was doing the right thing. But after seeing everything later he knew we wanted Lev to stay, he had made a mistake and I think he wanted Lev to run to have a full life.

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