Early Review - The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Title: The Unwanteds

Author: Lisa McMann

Publisher: Aladdin

Publication Date: August 30, 2011

Genre: Middle Grades Dystopian, Middle Grades Fantasy

How I Got It: from NetGalley for review

Goodreads Summary:

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

Review:

There were some things that I liked and did not like about McMann's The Unwanteds.  The premise is a good one, in order to create a stronger society you must get rid of the weak.  Over the course of fifty years, the weak, or Unwanteds, began to include those who didn't conform with society.  Quill was filled with emotionless people who directed all of their energy towards the greater good.  People who were creative or emotional weren't giving all of their time and energy to the the country, and could eventually become troublemakers.  So every year they are purged from society, and sent to the Death Farm to be tossed into the Great Lake of Boiling Oil.  (Yes, it's a very melodramatic name.)

In reality, the Unwanteds are never killed, but secretly saved, hidden, and taught in the magical land of Artime.  Artime is a physics defying country hidden behind illusions and the gates of the Death Farm.  It's filled with rescued Unwanteds, magical animal hybrids, living statues, and a really cool mansion.  For the past fifty years, the caretaker Mr. Today, has helped the rescued children build their creative talents as well as train them as magical warriors.

Alex loves Artime and makes new friends, but he desperately misses his twin brother Aaron.  He has vivid dreams of his brother, and it's this connection that causes Mr. Today to hold off on Alex's magical warrior training.  Of course none of this is explained to Alex, and once again he's left feeling Unwanted, a failure in the new home he loves so much.  He's embarrassed and ashamed so he withdraws from his friends.  Events continue at a pretty quick pace and while Alex finds his way back to his friends, he still remains angry about some things, is truthfully a little prone to pouting, and still desperately misses his brother.  He knew Aaron was creative too, he belonged in Artime, and Alex wants to "rescue" him from the lifeless land of Quill.

Story-wise, McMann has created a neat concept and her story moves at a rapid pace.  The first three chapters were great and really took you into the stark world of Quill.  Chapter four introduced Artime, and it was a bit overwhelming but luckily it was the only part of The Unwanteds that was like this.  While the story focuses mainly on Alex, we do get to see things from his friends' POV and that really helps flesh at the characters as well as Quill and Artime.  I loved that McMann's kids were allowed to be angry.  They were labeled Unwanted and sent to die and they were terrified.  Some abandoned their anger, some worked through it, and others were twisted by it.  But none of the adults poo-poo'd their feelings.  Nobody told them it would get better right away.  In fact Mr. Today said it would take some a long time, if ever, to come to terms with what happened to them.  In real life, many times kids' anger, confusion, or fear is discounted.  They're told to "get over it" or "it will be better."  Yes, it will get better, but don't imply that their feelings don't count.  McMann gives her characters the chance to own their emotions and I appreciate that.

Unfortunately the difference between the two countries were so black and white and made to be so obvious that I felt McMann was trying to hold her readers' hand and point out the differences for us.    I disliked her equally black and white take on creativity.  In The Unwanteds it's all about the arts, be it music, acting, pinging, or writing.  It leaves no room for those who are scientifically minded.  It takes a really creative person to invent or discover things.  Engineers and scientists have to think outside the box in order to create something new.  Also, there was a bit too much melodrama at times and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.  I don't think many Middle Grade readers are going to appreciate that.  However, I do think this would make a great elementary book.  While my fourth and fifth graders would recognize that McMann is doing some hand holding, I think they'll be a bit more patient with it and some of them might need it.  I can also see reading The Unwanteds to second or third graders.  I think they would enjoy it, the pace is great, and you could have some interesting discussions with the younger kids.  Especially if you bring up the point that you can be scientific and creative.

Verdict:

McMann was a bit over dramatic at times and it seemed that she didn't think her readers would understand the differences between Quill and Artime so she made things really obvious.  Her view of creativity was a limited and a bit unfair.  Those were problems.  But on the other hand it's a fast-paced and neat story - a good introduction to the dystopian genre for younger readers.  I really think this book would be best appreciated by 3rd-5th graders and I will be buying for the elementary school library.  If this sounds like something you or your child would be interested in I'd say get it from a library.  I'm going to give The Unwanteds 3 stars because I think it's an entertaining read for the right audience, but it's not for everybody.

Related Reviews:

The Book Smugglers review

Toronto Teacher Mom Blog review
Caris O'Malley's review