Unravel

Gr 9 Up—Elissa reunites with her sister Lin, a victim of the Sekoian government's experiments on identical twins (called "Spares"), after both escaped and exposed the planet's nefarious and abusive treatment of these superpowered siblings, and the sisters return to help in the chaotic aftermath. The InterPlanetary League (IPL) has given all Spares full human status, but most of Sekoia still sees and treats them as non-human. Forced into hiding and hunted by vigilantes, they are transported off planet for their own safety. Lin and Elissa are further disheartened when Spares start to snap and kill their siblings. Does Elissa need to fear her own twin? This sci-fi adventure starts off right where Linked (S. & S., 2013) ended, and it continues to raise questions about prejudice, human nature, acceptance, and consequences. Narrator Elissa was sheltered growing up, so she's blindsided by the complicated nature of what should, to her, be a very simple concept: Lin is human. Her confusion, pain, and anger at those who don't agree or understand are very palpable. In turn, her sister expects the worst from people even as she hopes for acceptance. Lin sees her telekinesis and ability to manipulate electrical systems as a beneficial power that can help the world, and doesn't understand why it creates fear instead. Cadan, Elissa's love interest, is a steadying influence and voice of reason, and helps create a balance between the twins' polar opposite personalities. For fans of the previous installment.—Heather Miller Cover, Homewood Public Library, AL