Cover of Unwind

Unwind

by Neal Shusterman · Grades 8–12 · Dystopian Fiction

Unwind by Neal Shusterman is on US reading lists at grades 8–12. It appears on 5 lists: 5 book-award lists, across 5 states. Every citation below links to the primary source.

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Before you buy: Ages 13–17 · Grades 8–12 · 335 pages. The button opens the hardcover edition (ISBN 9781847387349). If the class uses a set edition or translation, match its ISBN first.

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Among the most widely assigned — 5 curriculum lists · 5 states

Grade placement varies by school — the median assigned book spans 4 grade levels (83% span three or more, across 13,258 source-cited assignments).

On reading-award lists:Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's Book AwardNevada Young Readers' AwardConnecticut Nutmeg Book AwardMaryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award+1 more

This page shows where Unwind is assigned in US schools — curricula, states, grades, and the primary-source citations behind each placement. Not a summary or study guide.

Reading level at a glance

Grade range
Grades 8–12
Age range
Ages 13–17
Pages
335
Reading time
about 6h 10m (est.)
First published
2007
Genre
Dystopian Fiction
ISBN-13
9781847387349

Sources: grade range from the cited lists below, last checked 2026-09-24; pages and year from our catalog record (sources); reading time is an estimate at 250 words a minute.

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About this book

Book facts and sources (5)
On award reading lists

and 1 more in where it is taught

Catalog record
First published 2007 · 335 pages (edition lengths vary) (source: how we source book data)

Similar grade-level books

See all books like Unwind→ — matched on theme + reading level.

Why widely assigned

This dystopian fiction title is typically read at grades 8–12. Written in the 2000s; pairs with curriculum units on justice and survival; cited on 5 lists: 5 book-award lists.

Themes

justice · survival · identity · freedom · power

Where this book is recommended

Unwind by the numbers: pages, reading time and where it is listed, on Book Statistics.

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Common questions

What grade level is Unwind?
Unwind is listed for grades 8–12. It appears on 5 state book-award lists across 5 states. Exact placement varies by school and district.
How long does it take to read Unwind?
It takes about 6h 10m to read Unwind (335 pages) at an average adult reading pace of about 250 words per minute — roughly 370 minutes. Faster or slower readers will vary; the estimate is a planning guide for assigning the book.
What curricula assign Unwind?
Unwind appears on reading lists for Connecticut Nutmeg Book Award, Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Nevada Young Readers' Award, and 2 others. Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
Is Unwind banned in schools?
Unwind has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 2 states (FL, WI) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
What themes does Unwind explore?
Central themes in Unwind include justice, survival, identity, freedom, power.

Why this book is on this list

How we classify

Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.

Lexile measure
Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
Grade band
Grades 8–12 — drawn from the state book-award lists citing this book.
Curriculum alignment
Cited in 5 curricula on this site (see “Where recommended” above for primary-source links).
State-level evidence
On state book-award lists in 5 states (see citations above).
Removal / banning records
Documented as challenged or removed in 2 states per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans — see the full banned & challenged books list.
Seasonal / contextual tags
Tagged for: book-club.

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