The Unwanteds

Book 34 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from April 18 - May 3

The Unwanteds

by Lisa McMann

Book 1 of The Unwanted series

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2011

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 graves.

On the day of the Purge, identical twins Alex and Aaron Stowe await their fate. While Aaron is hopeful of becoming a Wanted, Alex knows his chances are slim. He's been caught drawing with a stick in the dirt - and in the stark gray land of Quill, being creative is a death sentence.

But when Alex and the other Unwanteds face the Eliminators, they discover an eccentric magician names Mr. Today and his hidden world that exists to save the condemned children. Artime is a colorful place of talking statues, uncommon creatures, and artistic magic, where creativity is considered a gift...and a weapon.

My Opinion

Re-read 2020: 
I decided to read it again since it had been so long and I want to continue the series. I'm letting my original review stand as is and am only adding this as a placeholder for accuracy in my yearly total.

Original review 2015: 
My daughter loves this series. She recommended it to me as soon as she finished the first one, and it's always among the first she mentions when asked the inevitable, "You're a reader, what should my kids read?" Which she loves being asked by the way, unlike me - giving recommendations gives me sweaty anxiety! Anyway, back to the book...

I absolutely loved it. This could be a movie with an Oz like shift to color when the Unwanteds meet Mr. Today for the first time. 

The author did a great job of keeping it at a J level but also making it intriguing for adults. Something else that was unusual and kid-friendly - there was enough action at the end that this could stand alone satisfactorily if they didn't love it or want to continue the series. 

Definitely recommended for someone looking for a read with their kids but be forewarned...I read it myself and this is one that I would've wanted to read ahead if I had been reading to the kids and they had to go to bed.

I'm looking forward to continuing the series.