It's been a long time since the Heartland War and the decree of The Bill of Life that states that the parent of children between the ages of 13 and 18 can choose to have their child unwound. They wouldn't be ending their lives so much as they would be living their lives in a "divided state" and their parts would be going to more worthy recipients. This is usually reserved for wayward children, "storked" children living in state homes or religious fanatics known as tithes who believe that they are serving a higher purpose.
Connor Lassiter wasn't supposed to know he was being unwound. He was looking for something else and stumbled upon his papers. He assumed his parents were sick of him getting into trouble, but he never thought they would actually go through with having him unwound. The night before he's meant to be taken in, he decides it's better just to become AWOL. Connor makes a run for it only to wake up the next morning traced by his cell phone to the truck he's sleeping been sleeping in. Instead of cooperating, he grabs his things and tears across the highway in another attempt to preserve his life. He creates chaos, causes a bus to flip and stops a white Cadillac as he takes a hostage.
Risa Ward was always gifted with music. It was the one thing that she could be proud of living in a state home. At least it was until she messed up here and there during a concert. Soon after, she is being told that there simply isn't enough room at StaHo anymore and since she was less than excellent with her music, it was decided that she would be on the next bus to the nearest harvest camp to be unwound. On the bus, Risa realizes just how badly she doesn't want her life to end. When a commotion starts on the highway and the bus flips, Risa takes the opportunity and makes a run for it.
Levi Calder has been tithed since birth. The youngest of many siblings, both storked and biological, Lev's parents believed that he would be their gift back to the world. He firmly believed that it was his duty to help those that are in need and was willing to live in a divided state. The night after his farewell party, he dresses in his tithing whites and gets into the car with his parents and his pastor to head towards the harvest camp. Only there's a boy racing across the highway straight towards their car. Before he realizes what's happening, Lev is being pulled from the car by this lunatic. When he tries to break free, his pastor screams at Lev to run. He's pulled in front of the other boy, is hit with a tranq dart and everything goes black.
In the woods, the three of them come together and form a somewhat shaky alliance. They are now three AWOL unwinds. Their only options are to lay low and hope to find safety or do everything possible not to get caught by the juvy cops who are surely on the lookout for them now. As long as they stick together, they should be okay. But situations like these are never okay. Something always goes wrong. For these three unlucky teenagers, the desire to stay alive as they are instead of in a divided state will keep them going. Even if running kills them. Because what's worse: living in a divided state or dying?
I absolutely loved this book. I'm not really one for science fiction either, but this is just some of the most compelling writing I've ever come across. Yes, of course it's creepy, but I think that that is one of the things that keeps you so entranced by the story. I found myself getting mad that I had to put it down because I just wanted to know what happened next. Then once I had finished, I felt a deep sadness knowing that the sequel was well beyond my reach. It was just absolutely amazing and I can't vouch for this book enough. However, a word of caution: there is a very intense chapter towards the end that can really catch some people up.
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