Exploring The Blurb II Dystopian Literature II English

Unwind Blurb
The process by which a child is both Terminated and kept alive is called 'unwinding'  Unwinding is now common, and accepted practice in society.

In the not-too-distant future, teens Connor, Risa and Lev are on the run for their lives. Following the second Civil war, between pro-choice and pro-life forces, the United States now allows parents to unwind their unwanted and difficult kids between the ages of thirteen and eighteen: Their bodies are surgically taken apart and all the organs and tissues are used in other people. According to the law, the kids aren't considered dead, they're "Living in a divided state." But Connor, Risa and Lev, and thousands of other teens slated for "Unwinding", don't see it that way. They choose instead to "Kick AWOL," or run away. Unwind follows these three across the country as they travel together, split up, and meet again when their destinies cross in a Harvest Camp where they are slated to be unwound.


1. What do you already know about pro-life and pro-choice groups? What do these terms mean? is it an issue you have thought about.
Pro-Life's side is where they believe life is too important and that the unborn child cannot be killed and Pro-Choice is the side where they believe that they get a choice to if they want to keep or get rid of the child before it's born.

2. What do you know about organ donation?It's where a person allows an organ of theirs to be removed from their body and given to another person, this legal either by consent while the donor is alive. And if dead with the assent of the next of the kin.

3. Teenagers to be unwound are sent to harvest camps. Can you make a connection between the language used to describe this place, and other places people have been sent historically?
In the story, the camp makes a connection with the concentration camps that existed in world war 2 when Hitler had reigned in Germany, concentration camps are sort of like the harvest camp in the story. But instead of being automatically killed when you reach harvest camp. The people in Concentration camp are either, starved to death or worked to death. because it was a concentration camp then they had little to rest and were all malnourished.

4. What religious connotation does the word 'harvest' evoke?
It envokes a free will to give up a part of yourself to a god. without feeling as though you have no choice or say.

5. The term "living in a divided state" here is really a euphemism for what? Can you think of other, common euphemisms? Why do people use euphemisms?

Passed away Instead of Died.
Dearly Departed Instead of Died.
Ethnic Cleansing Instead of Genocide.
Negative Patient Outcome Instead of Died.
Collateral Damage Instead of Accidental Deaths.
Put To Sleep Instead of Euthanize.

Pregnancy Termination Instead of Abortion.
Bite The Big One Instead of Died.

People use Euphemisms to tell other people about the death of someone or something in a nice way. so it doesn't affect them that bad and they don't have a breakdown but instead just cry in shock, like any other person would do when they lost someone close to them.

6. What is the definition of Legal?

Something is approved of by the Law/Minister meaning that is appropriate to do and if you do it, it won't get you put in jail or fined.

7. What about Ethical?

Ethical, based on your morals and how you view a certain topic and how you react to it. Like for example, if you were a Pro-Life then you believe that life is too important to get rid of therefore their Anti-Abortion and if you were Pro-Choice, then you believe that you yourself have a right to pick whether the child dies or lives.

8. Do you believe that because something is legal, it is ethical, or morally right?

Honestly, it's really based on what it is, in my opinion, if Unwind was Legal right now, I wouldn't put it as Morally right because your basically just killing a helpless child whose trying their best in life and trying to achieve something. But you're taking away that chance, and if they didn't want the child they could of just put it up for adoption. There are families out there who can't have children and would love one.

9. Can things that are ethically sound ever be illegal? Provide examples. 
Yes they can, such examples include - Avoiding/Cheating Taxes and Speeding

10. Can you think of examples in history to support your idea's? Provide Example
Not really sure on this one?