Book Descriptions
for Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Citra and Rowan, now full scythes named Anastasia and Lucifer, respectively, have similar beliefs about the roll scythes play in society, gleaning lives to keep the population in check, but vastly different approaches to bringing about change within the scythedom. Lucifer has gone off the grid, gleaning corrupt scythes at his own discretion, and is wanted by the scythedom. Anastasia controversially allows her innocent victims a month to prepare for their gleaning and to choose how they will die. As the division within the scythedom between the bloodthirsty “new order” and the seemingly moral old guard continues to grow, the all-seeing, self-aware, artificially intelligent Thunderhead questions its purpose. In striving to be fair and minimally involved in the decisions made by humans, the Thunderhead—created to protect humanity from certain dangers—may find itself standing by as society falls. This compelling, finely plotted sequel to Scythe ends on a cliffhanger, but not before skillfully building on the first book’s foundation, or before inviting thoughtful consideration of ethical questions not easily answered. (Age 14 and older)
CCBC Choices 2019. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2019. Used with permission.
From the Publisher
“Intelligent and entertaining.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Even better than the first book.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.
Humans learn from their mistakes. I cannot. I make no mistakes.
The Thunderhead is the perfect ruler of a perfect world, but it has no control over the scythedom. A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent.
As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the “new order.” But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change.
Old foes and new enemies converge, and as corruption within the Scythedom spreads, Rowan and Citra begin to lose hope. Will the Thunderhead intervene?
Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?
“Even better than the first book.” —School Library Journal (starred review)
Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the chilling sequel to the Printz Honor Book Scythe from New York Times bestseller Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology.
Humans learn from their mistakes. I cannot. I make no mistakes.
The Thunderhead is the perfect ruler of a perfect world, but it has no control over the scythedom. A year has passed since Rowan had gone off grid. Since then, he has become an urban legend, a vigilante snuffing out corrupt scythes in a trial by fire. His story is told in whispers across the continent.
As Scythe Anastasia, Citra gleans with compassion and openly challenges the ideals of the “new order.” But when her life is threatened and her methods questioned, it becomes clear that not everyone is open to the change.
Old foes and new enemies converge, and as corruption within the Scythedom spreads, Rowan and Citra begin to lose hope. Will the Thunderhead intervene?
Or will it simply watch as this perfect world begins to unravel?
Publisher description retrieved from Google Books.
