UNWIND Transit

T R A N S I T

In the course of the book, Connor and Risa get separated from Lev, who travels for a time with another character.

Why do you think Shusterman chose to split the narrative into two distinct threads? Because it's an opportunity to introduce new characters and new perspectives. For example, Cyrus (or Cy-Fi) and his story are different from the three main characters, as he has a part of another unwound child inside of him, which is causing him to do things that are out of character for him, and pick up behaviours that were normal for the other child.

What do you think this achieves?

It shows you how other people who aren't necessarily being unwound are affected. Yes, he got to live because this other boy was unwound, but he also paid a price for it.

How does this affect the evolution of the characters?

Cyrus is quite a street smart and intelligent boy, with different morals from Lev. During the time that Lev is with Cyrus, he learns how to defend himself and keep out of the spotlight a lot more. As for Risa and Connor, they assume he's dead, which even if not a lot, still affects them too. Connor holds himself responsible for not being able to persuade Lev that being tithed/unwound isn't okay, and kind of beats himself up about it throughout the book, until they run into him again at the Graveyard.

On p125 & 129  the novel touches on same-sex relationships. Has the attitude toward same-sex couples changed (for better or worse) in this futuristic society? Explain your response. It's hard to say. But from the small amount that was described about interactions between people and Cyrus's Dads, people seem at the very least a little more accepting. Lev was surprised when he found out, but he didn't seem to be against it.

P130 begins our journey into understanding a little more about Cy-Fi. Through his character, what do you learn about the effects of unwinding on both the donor and receiver?  That for a donor, being unwound is like dreaming. You never seem to notice that something isn't right and that you're actually dreaming until you wake up. You never seem to pick up on how unrealistic, and usually ridiculous, things are, until you wake up. The difference is of course, you wake up from a dream. You don't wake up from death. The boy who donated part of his brain to Cy still thinks he's alive. As for receivers of organs or body parts, if it's an important organ like your brain, it would seem the person who donated it comes with it. Cyrus explains that the boy who gave him part of his brain (I think his name is Taylor... We'll go with that) didn't speak to him, but instead made him feel the same things that he feels, and make him do things that Taylor would do in certain situations. Like for example, stealing jewellery and other shiny things.

What is the real reason Cy-Fi need to get to Joplin, Mo? Pg 131

Well at the time, Cyrus didn't know. He just knew that for some reason the boy in his head had to get there (Assuming this is where he lived), and he wouldn't be able to go back to his normal life until he had done whatever Taylor needed to do. He later finds out that Taylor went back to his home town so he could return everything he had stolen over the years, and apologise to his parents. Taylor also begs his parents not to Unwind him, which is when you find out he doesn't know he's already dead.

Joplin, MO, USA

What is the significance of Connor holding in his anger around Roland? Pg 147

Because Connor losing his temper around Roland and lashing out or doing something stupid is exactly what Roland wants him to do, and that when he did, Roland would try and kill him.

Connor's anger and lack of impulse control is often a problem for him, until he learns to control and channel his emotions. Do you ever feel like your impulses are stronger than your will? What strategies do you use to control your feelings? Do they work? I'd like to think I'm a pretty calm person most of the time. I do however get extremely annoyed -to say the least- when I'm drawing or doing something along those lines (even school work), and someone tries to tell me to 'stop trying to make it perfect' or that 'it looks fine'. I don't know why. Probably cause I'm a slight perfectionist when it comes to certain things. Sometimes small things really get to me too, which is rather annoying. I like listening to music a lot, and that usually helps when I'm nervous or angry or upset or anything like that. But I never have any real problems controlling impulses.