Unwind

About “Unwind”

Unwind is a 2007 science fiction novel by Neal Shusterman. It is set in the near future in the United States, following a conflict known as the Second Civil War or the Heartland War, which was fought over abortion. A compromise was made allowing parents to sign an order for their children between the ages of 13 and 18 to be unwound. Unwinds are taken to "harvest camps," where their body parts are harvested. The system claims that unwinds do not technically die, as 99.44% of their body is used. Parents who cannot raise their children to age 13 may also choose to "stork" their child by leaving it on another family's porch. If not caught, the child becomes the other family's responsibility.