UnBound: Stories from the Unwind World

Gr 7 Up—UnDivided (S. & S., 2014), the last book in the "Unwind" dystology, ended on a hopeful note but with plenty of loose ends. This short story collection ties together a few threads, but instead of continuing the plot in a straightforward way, these shorter tales fill in answers about the past as well as the future. One entry focuses on Risa's past in the state home. Another work shows Roland's childhood, where his insecurity and temper began to take root. The most touching is the tale that describes Lev's first time on the Arápache Reservation, when he befriended the Tashi'ne family and Wil particularly, only to have Wil sacrifice himself to save Lev and the reservation's youngsters from parts pirates. Shusterman has skillfully woven these and other stories together to provide a clear picture of the current situation in the Unwind world. While the stories are interesting on their own, this book will mainly appeal to those who have read the previous volumes and can fully appreciate the references, people, and situations mentioned. For fans of the series, this one will be hard to put down.