The Unwanteds (Unwanteds, The)
A riveting middlegrade dystopian novel from New York Times bestselling Wake author Lisa McMann that Kirkus Reviews calls “The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter.”
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.
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.
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Community Reviews
Twins Alex and Aaron are identical twins. They both grew up in Quill. Alex knew 3 years ago, he will be marked as an Unwanted. Aaron isn't so sure where he will be placed. The day of the purge, the town gets together as the High Pristess Justine has the names be called out to who are the Wanteds (the highest honors where they will be the Elites of Quill), the necessarys (those are the laborers who can offer service of some sort to Quill), and finally the Unwanteds (the artistic ones who uses their imagination). Alex is declared an Unwanted. He wasn't shocked. Aaron was called as a Wanted! Aaron and Alex share a brief eye exchange as they say goodbye to each other.
Alex mets Lani, Meghan and Samheed (an angry boy who's father was one of the Generals (Mr. Burkesh). They become fast friends (except for Samheed - who resents Alex for some reason). They find out when you are a Unwanted, they are sent to the Death Farm (Great Lake of Boiling Oil). When they get there, they are met by Mr. Today who is a mage. He has developed Artime. That place never runs out of rooms or food. There are tubes that can take you anywhere in the island and house. The place is to encourage your artistic side and when you have art, you can use it as a weapon and use it to fight and defend yourself once you have mastered your artistic craft.
Alex's is with painting and drawing. He can capture things and make them look so realistic (important later). Lani and Samheed are theater and Meghan is singing. Lani's the youngest of all the Unwanteds who have entered the Death Farm. Her father, Senior Governor Haluki sent her there when he found out she was influencing people to act out.
All three learn magic. Alex is the only one who's teacher (who lavishes him with praise) does not recommend him for Warrior Art lessons. Alex starts to become a loner and feels ostracized by everyone and everything. He then starts to miss a class with his teacher, Ms. Octavia ( a cross btwn an alligator and an octopus). Finally he is told by Marcus Today, himself, that it was Mr. Today's decision not to have Alex do magic for hte fear of Alex trying to rescue his brother and thusly putting Artime in peril.
At the end, it turns out twins do not think alike and while Alex figured out how to draw a magic door that looks so realistic that he can actually use to get to Aaron, Alex finds out the hard way that it was Aaron who was responisble for Alex and his friends to be declared as Unwanteds, while Aaron climbed up the ranks of The High Priestess Justine and if he could overthrow Sr. Gov. Haluki, then Aaron would be the High Priest of Quill. Gotta admit, even when he was little, he had his eye on the prize. Alex later reveals, Aaron also drew in the mud but their dad mixed them up and thought since Alex was a bit of a trouble maker, that was who drew. Aaron squealed to the higher ups that it was Alex but in reality, it was Aaron. Yes, the boy lied even then.
Alex and Aaron actually do battle it out during the war. One wins, the other will bid his time til he can take over. Meantime, it turns out Sr. Gov. Haluki is on Mr. Today's side and knew all about the island. He takes over the High Priest job when his own daughter Lani deflates Justine through a spell "evermore and nevermore".
The end.... for now... Aaron swears he will get back at Alex for all that Alex "took away" from him.
Alex mets Lani, Meghan and Samheed (an angry boy who's father was one of the Generals (Mr. Burkesh). They become fast friends (except for Samheed - who resents Alex for some reason). They find out when you are a Unwanted, they are sent to the Death Farm (Great Lake of Boiling Oil). When they get there, they are met by Mr. Today who is a mage. He has developed Artime. That place never runs out of rooms or food. There are tubes that can take you anywhere in the island and house. The place is to encourage your artistic side and when you have art, you can use it as a weapon and use it to fight and defend yourself once you have mastered your artistic craft.
Alex's is with painting and drawing. He can capture things and make them look so realistic (important later). Lani and Samheed are theater and Meghan is singing. Lani's the youngest of all the Unwanteds who have entered the Death Farm. Her father, Senior Governor Haluki sent her there when he found out she was influencing people to act out.
All three learn magic. Alex is the only one who's teacher (who lavishes him with praise) does not recommend him for Warrior Art lessons. Alex starts to become a loner and feels ostracized by everyone and everything. He then starts to miss a class with his teacher, Ms. Octavia ( a cross btwn an alligator and an octopus). Finally he is told by Marcus Today, himself, that it was Mr. Today's decision not to have Alex do magic for hte fear of Alex trying to rescue his brother and thusly putting Artime in peril.
At the end, it turns out twins do not think alike and while Alex figured out how to draw a magic door that looks so realistic that he can actually use to get to Aaron, Alex finds out the hard way that it was Aaron who was responisble for Alex and his friends to be declared as Unwanteds, while Aaron climbed up the ranks of The High Priestess Justine and if he could overthrow Sr. Gov. Haluki, then Aaron would be the High Priest of Quill. Gotta admit, even when he was little, he had his eye on the prize. Alex later reveals, Aaron also drew in the mud but their dad mixed them up and thought since Alex was a bit of a trouble maker, that was who drew. Aaron squealed to the higher ups that it was Alex but in reality, it was Aaron. Yes, the boy lied even then.
Alex and Aaron actually do battle it out during the war. One wins, the other will bid his time til he can take over. Meantime, it turns out Sr. Gov. Haluki is on Mr. Today's side and knew all about the island. He takes over the High Priest job when his own daughter Lani deflates Justine through a spell "evermore and nevermore".
The end.... for now... Aaron swears he will get back at Alex for all that Alex "took away" from him.
There was very little characterization and development of the characters, even of the protagonist, Alex. Alex is quite bland; he has practically no personality.
He is optimistic that his brother (who hates him and becomes his enemy) can be redeemed; he's initially stunned upon reaching Artimé, (like everyone else) he doesn't want to be caught when he's working on his project, and he has a bunch of friends who are all invited to take magic classes he wants to be a part of.
He's frustrated that he doesn't receive the invitation to attend magic classes. Lani (whom he apparently has an inexplicable crush on; it has no bearing on the plot and little mention in the book) plays tricks on him using magic, which he doesn't do anything about. He shuns his friends and this later puts him in a position of blame.
There's a little 'school-story'-like angst here, though with little consequence and development.
There wasn't as much magic or even whimsical charm as I expected. The reviews were wrong: this is not akin to the Harry Potter series.
The one thing I can make a compliment on is the cover. It's beautiful enough, and similar enough to, say, the covers of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven books (which I enjoyed) to lure me into reading it.
He is optimistic that his brother (who hates him and becomes his enemy) can be redeemed; he's initially stunned upon reaching Artimé, (like everyone else) he doesn't want to be caught when he's working on his project, and he has a bunch of friends who are all invited to take magic classes he wants to be a part of.
He's frustrated that he doesn't receive the invitation to attend magic classes. Lani (whom he apparently has an inexplicable crush on; it has no bearing on the plot and little mention in the book) plays tricks on him using magic, which he doesn't do anything about. He shuns his friends and this later puts him in a position of blame.
There's a little 'school-story'-like angst here, though with little consequence and development.
There wasn't as much magic or even whimsical charm as I expected. The reviews were wrong: this is not akin to the Harry Potter series.
The one thing I can make a compliment on is the cover. It's beautiful enough, and similar enough to, say, the covers of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven books (which I enjoyed) to lure me into reading it.
I liked this book, and my favorite part was when they find Artime. My favorite character was Lani, and I also liked Simber the cheetah statue. The thing that surprised me most about this book was when Aaron didn’t join Alex in Artime, and when The Unwanteds were sent to Artime.
I didn’t like the third-person writing style very much, since it jumped around from person to person instead of having one chapter for each person’s perspectives, which I would have preferred and would’ve made the story more enjoyable to read.
I didn’t like the third-person writing style very much, since it jumped around from person to person instead of having one chapter for each person’s perspectives, which I would have preferred and would’ve made the story more enjoyable to read.
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