UnWholly by Neal Shusterman Summary

UnWholly is a dystopian young adult novel that continues the story of Connor, Risa, and Lev as they fight against unwinding—a process where troubled teens are harvested for their body parts. Set in an airplane graveyard sanctuary for runaway unwinds, the book introduces Cam, a "rewound" being constructed from 99 different unwind parts who struggles with questions of identity and humanity. The story explores corporate interests in unwinding, rebellion, and what it means to be human in a morally complex future.

UnWholly is ideal for young adult readers aged 14 and up who enjoy dystopian fiction with complex ethical questions. Fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and thought-provoking science fiction will appreciate the book's exploration of bodily autonomy, identity, and rebellion. Readers who enjoyed Unwind and want to continue Connor, Risa, and Lev's journey should read this sequel. The book suits those comfortable with mature themes including violence, moral ambiguity, and discussions about what constitutes human life and consciousness.

UnWholly is worth reading for fans of the Unwind series, though some readers found it less impactful than the original. The book excels at character development, introducing compelling new perspectives like Cam's struggle with identity and Starkey's manipulative motivations. Neal Shusterman expands the ethical questions around unwinding by exploring when life begins and whether artificially created beings have souls. While it serves as a strong sequel with action and suspense, the cliffhanger ending may frustrate readers seeking resolution.

Yes, reading Unwind before UnWholly is essential for understanding the story. UnWholly picks up one year after the events of Unwind, directly continuing Connor, Risa, and Lev's storylines from the Happy Jack Harvest Camp revolt. The book references key events, relationships, and character developments from the first novel throughout. Without reading Unwind first, readers will miss crucial context about why the characters are in hiding, their relationships, Connor's transplanted arm, and the entire unwinding system that drives the plot.

Unwinding is the process of harvesting organs and body parts from troubled or unwanted teenagers between ages 13-18. In the world of UnWholly, society justifies unwinding by claiming the teen doesn't technically "die" since every part continues living in different recipients. The practice has become big business, with powerful corporate and political interests like Proactive Citizenry pushing to expand unwinding to prisoners and the impoverished. Connor, Risa, and Lev fight against this system by rescuing AWOLs—teens running from unwind orders.

Cam is a "rewound" being—a teenager artificially created entirely from the parts of 99 different unwinds, making him a futuristic Frankenstein. Created by Proactive Citizenry to demonstrate the "possibilities" of unwinding, Cam struggles with questions of identity, wondering if he has a soul and what makes him human. He develops feelings for Risa and ultimately rebels against his creators by helping her escape after she speaks out against unwinding on live television. Cam's existence raises profound ethical questions about consciousness and personhood.

Connor manages the Graveyard sanctuary, struggling with leadership challenges and mixed feelings about his relationship with Risa because his transplanted arm came from someone who tried to rape her. Risa, now wheelchair-bound from events in Unwind, is blackmailed by Proactive Citizenry to publicly support unwinding. She's taken to meet Cam and develops unexpected feelings for him. During a climactic raid, Connor nearly martyrs himself but is saved by Lev, while Risa courageously exposes the blackmail on live television and escapes with Cam's help.

The Graveyard is an abandoned airplane graveyard in Arizona that serves as a sanctuary for hundreds of AWOL unwinds—teenagers running from harvest orders. Connor runs the operation with help from Risa, Trace, and other lieutenants, rescuing teens and hiding them among the derelict aircraft. The Graveyard faces constant threats from Juvey-cops and internal conflicts, particularly from new arrival Starkey who resents Connor's leadership. The sanctuary ultimately falls when betrayed and raided by authorities, forcing mass evacuations and resulting in numerous casualties.

UnWholly explores profound questions about when life begins and what constitutes humanity through Cam's existence as a being made from unwound parts. The book examines identity, asking whether consciousness and emotions make someone human regardless of their creation. Themes of corporate greed versus morality emerge through Proactive Citizenry's exploitation of unwinding for profit. Rebellion and sacrifice drive the narrative as teens risk everything to fight an unjust system. The story also addresses forgiveness, leadership responsibility, and how ordinary people can create change through small acts of courage.

UnWholly expands the world-building and ethical questions from Unwind but some readers found it less impactful as a standalone work. While Unwind had a self-contained narrative with powerful ambiguity, UnWholly serves more as a bridge sequel with a cliffhanger ending. The second book introduces compelling new characters like Cam and Starkey, adding fresh perspectives to the original trio. UnWholly deepens character development and explores new ethical territory regarding artificial life and corporate manipulation, though it lacks Unwind's groundbreaking shock value and tighter pacing.

Mason Starkey is a "stork"—a legally abandoned baby—who becomes a major antagonist after arriving at the Graveyard. Driven by resentment over his abandonment and Connor's leadership, Starkey orchestrates a coup to gain power among other storks. His motivations are well-developed but his character is intentionally unlikable from the beginning. During the Graveyard raid, Starkey hijacks the escape plane with only storks aboard, leaving others behind and forcing pilot Trace to take off prematurely. His selfish actions result in 41 deaths when the plane crashes.

UnWholly ends with multiple dramatic resolutions and a cliffhanger setup for the next book. The escape plane crashes into a lake, killing 41 people including heroic pilot Trace who Starkey abandons to drown. Lev saves Connor from bounty hunter Nelson and they discover that Janson Rheinschild—husband of Sonia from the first book—pioneered the regeneration technology that enabled unwinding, though he never intended it for harvesting teens. Hayden declares a new Teen Uprising after nearly sacrificing everyone in a standoff. Connor and Lev set off to find Sonia to learn more about ending unwinding.