Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Aladdin (Simon & Schuster)
Pages
390
Description
In a society that purges thirteen-year-olds who are creative, identical twins Aaron and Alex are separated, one to attend University while the other, supposedly Eliminated, finds himself in a wondrous place where youths hone their abilities and learn magic.
Description
When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more schooling and train to join the Quillitary. Necessaries keep the farms running. Unwanteds are set for elimination.
It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called Artimé. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.
But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artim that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate magical battle.
It’s hard for Alex to leave behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted, but he makes peace with his fate—until he discovers that instead of a “death farm,” what awaits him is a magical place called Artimé. There, Alex and his fellow Unwanteds are encouraged to cultivate their creative abilities and use them magically. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it’s a wondrous transformation.
But it’s a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be divided between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artim that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate magical battle.
Series
Collection
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2011-08-30
Physical description
390 p.; 7.6 inches
ISBN
1442407697 / 9781442407695
Similar in this library
Lexile
880L
User reviews
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
Personally, it's not my genre and I didn't connect with any of the characters. The audiobook narration was fine (although I guess I don't really understand why it was read by a British actor... unless it's to make people compare it to Jim Dale's reading of the Harry Potter audiobooks) and I
BUT for kids who can't get enough Harry Potter, for kids who live for that fantasy/adventure stuff, and especially for those kids who are creative types, this book might be just the ticket.
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particularly liked Simon Jones's deep, scratchy voice for the stone cheetah. I just wasn't buying what Lisa McMann was selling, I'm afraid. BUT for kids who can't get enough Harry Potter, for kids who live for that fantasy/adventure stuff, and especially for those kids who are creative types, this book might be just the ticket.
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LibraryThing member amusingmother
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,
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.
Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin,
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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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LibraryThing member BookAddictDiary
I think I'm going to start this review with a confession: I didn't like Lisa McMann's Wake series. I know, I'm such a horrible person, but I just couldn't get into it. It was pain to pull myself through the first book, which was really short. After that, I haven't touched any of her other novels,
I think that I just wasn't the right age group for this book. The writing was incredibly simple, as was the plot. The good thing is that this made the book go really fast, but it also just felt like it never really got under the surface here and lacked depth. To my understanding The Unwanteds is meant for middle grade readers, which can sometimes be difficult for me to get into because of the significant difference in the genre's target audience and my reading level. This was the issue with the book for me, not to mention there was some things in here that I thought were just too simple and didn't make sense when placed in the real world.
For example, the society here divides children into two groups: the Wanteds, who are supposedly more practical, intelligent and scientific in their thinking, and the Unwanteds, who are the "useless" creatives. Now, while the book's concept is to battle the perception that these people aren't "useless," I felt like making such a distinction as McMann did doesn't make sense. Usually, the creatives are the smart ones and, in certain ways scientific thinkers such as engineers need to be really creative in their thinking in order to solve problems. So, wouldn't getting rid of the "creatives" be more harmful to the society than anything else?
Then there's the fact that, at the end, it felt like some of the main conflicts in the story weren't really resolved. The Unwanteds never seem to really gain acceptance from their Wanted counterparts, and their worth doesn't feel like it's fully realized. And besides, why don't the Unwanteds just go off and build their own society?
While The Unwanteds might work for the younger crowd, it just doesn't work past that, which hurts the book's appeal. Also, unfortunately, I just wasn't won over by McMann here. Her writing is just too simple and her concepts felt somewhat underdeveloped to me. In the flood of YA dystopian, I'd give this a pass.
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like Cryer's Cross. But since I had the chance to check out The Unwanteds on Galley Grab, and I'm a huge sucker for all things dystopian, so I thought it was worthwhile.I think that I just wasn't the right age group for this book. The writing was incredibly simple, as was the plot. The good thing is that this made the book go really fast, but it also just felt like it never really got under the surface here and lacked depth. To my understanding The Unwanteds is meant for middle grade readers, which can sometimes be difficult for me to get into because of the significant difference in the genre's target audience and my reading level. This was the issue with the book for me, not to mention there was some things in here that I thought were just too simple and didn't make sense when placed in the real world.
For example, the society here divides children into two groups: the Wanteds, who are supposedly more practical, intelligent and scientific in their thinking, and the Unwanteds, who are the "useless" creatives. Now, while the book's concept is to battle the perception that these people aren't "useless," I felt like making such a distinction as McMann did doesn't make sense. Usually, the creatives are the smart ones and, in certain ways scientific thinkers such as engineers need to be really creative in their thinking in order to solve problems. So, wouldn't getting rid of the "creatives" be more harmful to the society than anything else?
Then there's the fact that, at the end, it felt like some of the main conflicts in the story weren't really resolved. The Unwanteds never seem to really gain acceptance from their Wanted counterparts, and their worth doesn't feel like it's fully realized. And besides, why don't the Unwanteds just go off and build their own society?
While The Unwanteds might work for the younger crowd, it just doesn't work past that, which hurts the book's appeal. Also, unfortunately, I just wasn't won over by McMann here. Her writing is just too simple and her concepts felt somewhat underdeveloped to me. In the flood of YA dystopian, I'd give this a pass.
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LibraryThing member nlsobon
There has been much hype surrounding “The Unwanteds”, so when I saw that Simon & Schuster had it available on Galley Grab, I downloaded it instantly…and I’m glad that I did. “The Unwanteds” was a fantastic read. Imagination as a powerful weapon? Yes, please!
The High Priest, Justine,
Alex and Aaron, thirteen year old twin boys from Quill, are separated during the Purge. Aaron is dubbed Wanted while Alex is dubbed Unwanted. When a child is deemed Unwanted, the family is supposed to forget about them, they are supposed to accept the fact that they will die. Aaron accepted it easily; he was above them all – his parents, his brother – for he was Wanted. He sees himself taking over for Justine when she passes and he’ll do whatever is needed to assure he’s next in line.
The story fast forwards, as it is told over a year, but it doesn’t feel rushed what-so-ever. We see the training that leads to the battle at the end and how the residents of Artime grow and develop their talents. There are plenty of secrets that reveal themselves through out the story, although most seem to hit you at the end. While the ending leaves you with plenty of questions, for the most part the story does wrap up quite nicely.
The High Priest, Justine,
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rules Quill. Every year, she has the thirteen year olds sorted into categories: Wanted or Unwanted. Those that are Wanted are sent to the Wanted University and those that are Unwanted are sent to their death. Or so it’s believed. The Unwanteds are in for a surprise upon meeting, Mr. Today, the man behind Artime.Alex and Aaron, thirteen year old twin boys from Quill, are separated during the Purge. Aaron is dubbed Wanted while Alex is dubbed Unwanted. When a child is deemed Unwanted, the family is supposed to forget about them, they are supposed to accept the fact that they will die. Aaron accepted it easily; he was above them all – his parents, his brother – for he was Wanted. He sees himself taking over for Justine when she passes and he’ll do whatever is needed to assure he’s next in line.
The story fast forwards, as it is told over a year, but it doesn’t feel rushed what-so-ever. We see the training that leads to the battle at the end and how the residents of Artime grow and develop their talents. There are plenty of secrets that reveal themselves through out the story, although most seem to hit you at the end. While the ending leaves you with plenty of questions, for the most part the story does wrap up quite nicely.
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LibraryThing member psteinke1122
The Unwanteds are the young people of Quill that show any signs of creativity…singing, drawing, acting, sculpting, writing, if you are caught doing any of it you will be unwanted!
At thirteen everyone goes to the purging ceremony. All thirteen year olds are put into one of three categories,
Without revealing too much, let me suffice it to say that the “Death Farm” is not what it seems!
This book is completely different from Lisa McMann’s other works. This is more of a middle grade adventure and it was a very fun, fast, and easy read for an adult. The galley I read had a preface from Ms. McMann that explained where the story came from. That alone was worth the price of admission for me. That glimpse into how an author’s mind works was fascinating because I have always wondered where author’s do come up with their ideas. I’m truly hoping that couple of pages she shares ends up in the finished product!!!
The story teaches some very important and timely lessons about the arts and their importance, as well as other life lessons like teamwork, honesty, and bullying…but does it without preaching. My son is anxious to read this one and I’m very happy to oblige! I’m sure he and many other boys and girls his age will enjoy this book as much as I did.
At thirteen everyone goes to the purging ceremony. All thirteen year olds are put into one of three categories,
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“Wanted”, “Necessary”, and “Unwanted”. All the unwanted go to the death farm where they are to be dropped into a lake of boiling oil. Lovely, huh?Without revealing too much, let me suffice it to say that the “Death Farm” is not what it seems!
This book is completely different from Lisa McMann’s other works. This is more of a middle grade adventure and it was a very fun, fast, and easy read for an adult. The galley I read had a preface from Ms. McMann that explained where the story came from. That alone was worth the price of admission for me. That glimpse into how an author’s mind works was fascinating because I have always wondered where author’s do come up with their ideas. I’m truly hoping that couple of pages she shares ends up in the finished product!!!
The story teaches some very important and timely lessons about the arts and their importance, as well as other life lessons like teamwork, honesty, and bullying…but does it without preaching. My son is anxious to read this one and I’m very happy to oblige! I’m sure he and many other boys and girls his age will enjoy this book as much as I did.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I got an advanced reading copy of this book through Amazon Vine. I enjoyed McMann's Wake Trilogy and was very excited to read some middle grade fantasy from her as well. This was a great book. It was a great fantasy full of wonder mixed with dytopian elements. Think The Giver by Lois Lowry mixed
Alex and Aaron are twin brothers living in the drab city of Quill. But while Aaron is a Wanted, Alex is an Unwanted. Alex has had many infractions for being creative in a world where creativity is illegal, as a result he is labeled as an Unwanted and sent to his death. Alex is surprised to find that instead of being put to death in the Lake of Boiling Oil he is actually transported to the land of Artime where creativity is encouraged and respected.
This was a fantastic book, it is very well written and creative. The beginning of the book reminded me a lot of The Giver; you have a dystopian society where people are encouraged to only follow orders and not express emotion. People who are too old are put to sleep, people who are too creative are sent to death. It's a pretty radical extreme, I found it hard to believe something like this could actually happen, but if you just accept that's how that world works then you should be good to go.
Things really start getting interesting when Alex is sent to Artime. Artime is a magical world that is only limited by your imagination. This was a fun world to read about and I seriously want to go and live in Artime for a while after reading about it. The methods of instruction, fighting, and creating that McMann comes up with are creative, fun, and very entertaining to read about. This is the part of the book that reminded me of the first Harry Potter book where Harry first goes to Hogwarts and is introduced to all of the wondrous and magical things.
As things come to a head between Artime and Quill an epic battle scene ensues. This battle scene was very well done and I loved all the creative magics that the Artime kids came up with during the fight.
The characters throughout are wonderful. There are a number of animalistic teachers in Artime that are lots of fun to learn about. Mr. Today, who runs Arttime, will remind of Dumbledore from Harry Potter.
Not everything is fun and magic though. Many other things are dealt with in this book; friendship, sibiling relationships, the whole idea of a dystopian society, and what is right and wrong. This is also Alex's coming of age story as he learns to accept who he is as a person and, even more importantly, to accept who the people around him are too.
Overall I really enjoyed this book; it was a wonderful middle grade dystopian fantasy adventure. Excellently written and paced, with fun characters, and a magical world to explore. A great novel to introduce the middle grade age set to the concept of a dystopian society, yet still a very fun read full of creative magic. Highly recommend this to any middle grade fantasy fans out there.
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with the first Harry Potter book.Alex and Aaron are twin brothers living in the drab city of Quill. But while Aaron is a Wanted, Alex is an Unwanted. Alex has had many infractions for being creative in a world where creativity is illegal, as a result he is labeled as an Unwanted and sent to his death. Alex is surprised to find that instead of being put to death in the Lake of Boiling Oil he is actually transported to the land of Artime where creativity is encouraged and respected.
This was a fantastic book, it is very well written and creative. The beginning of the book reminded me a lot of The Giver; you have a dystopian society where people are encouraged to only follow orders and not express emotion. People who are too old are put to sleep, people who are too creative are sent to death. It's a pretty radical extreme, I found it hard to believe something like this could actually happen, but if you just accept that's how that world works then you should be good to go.
Things really start getting interesting when Alex is sent to Artime. Artime is a magical world that is only limited by your imagination. This was a fun world to read about and I seriously want to go and live in Artime for a while after reading about it. The methods of instruction, fighting, and creating that McMann comes up with are creative, fun, and very entertaining to read about. This is the part of the book that reminded me of the first Harry Potter book where Harry first goes to Hogwarts and is introduced to all of the wondrous and magical things.
As things come to a head between Artime and Quill an epic battle scene ensues. This battle scene was very well done and I loved all the creative magics that the Artime kids came up with during the fight.
The characters throughout are wonderful. There are a number of animalistic teachers in Artime that are lots of fun to learn about. Mr. Today, who runs Arttime, will remind of Dumbledore from Harry Potter.
Not everything is fun and magic though. Many other things are dealt with in this book; friendship, sibiling relationships, the whole idea of a dystopian society, and what is right and wrong. This is also Alex's coming of age story as he learns to accept who he is as a person and, even more importantly, to accept who the people around him are too.
Overall I really enjoyed this book; it was a wonderful middle grade dystopian fantasy adventure. Excellently written and paced, with fun characters, and a magical world to explore. A great novel to introduce the middle grade age set to the concept of a dystopian society, yet still a very fun read full of creative magic. Highly recommend this to any middle grade fantasy fans out there.
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LibraryThing member amusingmother
This is a little bit of Hunger Games and a little bit of Harry Potter, both series I liked more than just a little bit. I thought the warfare was creative and appropriate for the target audience and particularly enjoyed the pitting of twins against each other.
Good vs. Evil, Justine is the high
Marcus Today is not what he seems, however. Eventually, the history of Quill is told to Alex, the Unwanted twin. Marcus has been hiding the fact that he hasn't been eliminating the Unwanteds for thirty years. He's been training them in their arts and developing lethal arts as well. Marcus knows that eventually Quill will find out about the Unwanteds. I don't think it will come as a big surprise that the first battle will be fought in this book.
This is the first book in a trilogy. As with many trilogies, settings are developed and characters are introduced. Some character development is provided but more will be given in the following books. I'm looking forward with anticipation for the next books.
Very well written. Fun to read. Excellent conflict.
Good vs. Evil, Justine is the high
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priestess who gets to decide who will be a good little soldier and who will at least follow the rules and not cause problems. Those who might be too free thinking, however, are the ones that are sent to their deaths at the Death Farm. Don't cry about it. Don't talk about it. They're gone. Sent to the Death Farmer, Marcus Today.Marcus Today is not what he seems, however. Eventually, the history of Quill is told to Alex, the Unwanted twin. Marcus has been hiding the fact that he hasn't been eliminating the Unwanteds for thirty years. He's been training them in their arts and developing lethal arts as well. Marcus knows that eventually Quill will find out about the Unwanteds. I don't think it will come as a big surprise that the first battle will be fought in this book.
This is the first book in a trilogy. As with many trilogies, settings are developed and characters are introduced. Some character development is provided but more will be given in the following books. I'm looking forward with anticipation for the next books.
Very well written. Fun to read. Excellent conflict.
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LibraryThing member Candacemom2two
The Unwanteds is a middle grade dystopian fantasy. It takes place in a dystopian world but there is magic as well. It was a fantastic and fun ride with witty and charismatic characters.
Alex is the character we see the most of, and he's certainly like-able, but we get to see his less like-able side
None of this book was horribly intense (which I was actually happy about) but plays out in a somewhat lighter manner and tone. I actually quite liked the whole style and tone of the book and while it felt middle grade it was still engaging for me, an adult. I also enjoyed the twists that Lisa was able to throw in. We know that Alex has a twin but is his twin evil? Or is he good and should be in Artime?
Artime is full of magical creatures. From the amazing stone flying cheetah and the other living statues, to the octogator (octopus/alligator), to the squirrelicorn. They were all crazy and unique and definitely added the fantasy tone to the story.
I enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up until the second I set it down. It was a fast and engaging read and I highly recommend it to readers of middle grade fantasy.
Alex is the character we see the most of, and he's certainly like-able, but we get to see his less like-able side
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as well and see that he as faults just like anybody else. We see the mistakes he makes and the consequences for his actions. None of this book was horribly intense (which I was actually happy about) but plays out in a somewhat lighter manner and tone. I actually quite liked the whole style and tone of the book and while it felt middle grade it was still engaging for me, an adult. I also enjoyed the twists that Lisa was able to throw in. We know that Alex has a twin but is his twin evil? Or is he good and should be in Artime?
Artime is full of magical creatures. From the amazing stone flying cheetah and the other living statues, to the octogator (octopus/alligator), to the squirrelicorn. They were all crazy and unique and definitely added the fantasy tone to the story.
I enjoyed this book from the moment I picked it up until the second I set it down. It was a fast and engaging read and I highly recommend it to readers of middle grade fantasy.
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LibraryThing member lms8esmith
Artime is a land that doesn't exist...at least not to some of the members of Quill. McMann introdueces us to Alex and other unwanteds in this new middle grades book. We see them at the Purge where the Unwanteds are sentenced to death becuase they are creative and have shown their creativity in
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Quill. This is definitely something one does not want to be reported for. Alex and the other Unwanteds quickly realize that death is not their fate. Please read The Unwanteds to see how creativity can be one's greatest weapon! :O) Show Less
LibraryThing member booktwirps
In the land of Quill, any child who shows any type of artistic talent is considered a threat to the government. To be artistic shows a tendency to be a free-thinker, which, in turn, could cause a problem for the government. At the age of thirteen all children are categorized as wanted, necessary or
Though Alex is ecstatic to have found a place where he can be himself, he can’t help but miss his twin brother, and wonders if somehow he can bring Aaron to join him in Artime. What Alex doesn’t realize is that Aaron is happy with his new position and strives to one day become the ruler of Quill. When the existence of Artime is threatened, the members must fight to keep their beloved freedom, and much to Alex’s disappointment, this fight will pit him against his twin brother.
This book is marketed as a cross between Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. While I’m sure this is great for marketing, and will entice curious readers, I’m afraid these readers may be disappointed. While Ms. McCann’s book is enjoyable and certainly has its merits, it is neither of the before mentioned books. The only similarity it has to The Hunger Games is the dystopian setting of Quill. While the magical land of Artime, and the magic the children learn in school could be compared to the magic of the Harry Potter series, McCann’s world is not nearly as immersive. I read this book expecting something more because of the blurb on the cover. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to be enjoyed within the pages of The Unwanteds. McCann’s Artime is rife with potential. The talking blackboards, the transportation tubes and the “artsy” magic the children learn are all enjoyable. I think I may have enjoyed it more had I not had such high expectations. I also felt the book was rushed. There is a lot happening in the book, and I would have liked more in the way of the magic lessons, and I would have liked the mystery to have been a little deeper. I felt a lot of this was glazed over to reach the battle at the end. All in all the book is enjoyable, and it will definitely appeal to the targeted audience provided they are not die-hard Harry Potter fans.
(Review based on an advanced reviewer’s copy courtesy of the publisher via Simon & Schuster’s GalleyGrab)
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unwanted. Thirteen-year-old Alex has known for months that when the time comes, he will be listed as unwanted and be sentenced to death. His twin brother, Aaron, however, is selected as a wanted and will be sent to university to study and eventually serve on the cities government. When Alex and the other unwanteds are shipped off to the death farm, they are surprised to find that something special awaits them. A secret, magical land called Artime is hidden behind the gates of Quill, hidden by magic. No one in the land of Quill knows about Artime, and the government assumes the children have all been put to death when in fact they are being trained in the arts, allowed to think freely and learning to use magic.Though Alex is ecstatic to have found a place where he can be himself, he can’t help but miss his twin brother, and wonders if somehow he can bring Aaron to join him in Artime. What Alex doesn’t realize is that Aaron is happy with his new position and strives to one day become the ruler of Quill. When the existence of Artime is threatened, the members must fight to keep their beloved freedom, and much to Alex’s disappointment, this fight will pit him against his twin brother.
This book is marketed as a cross between Harry Potter and The Hunger Games. While I’m sure this is great for marketing, and will entice curious readers, I’m afraid these readers may be disappointed. While Ms. McCann’s book is enjoyable and certainly has its merits, it is neither of the before mentioned books. The only similarity it has to The Hunger Games is the dystopian setting of Quill. While the magical land of Artime, and the magic the children learn in school could be compared to the magic of the Harry Potter series, McCann’s world is not nearly as immersive. I read this book expecting something more because of the blurb on the cover. Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to be enjoyed within the pages of The Unwanteds. McCann’s Artime is rife with potential. The talking blackboards, the transportation tubes and the “artsy” magic the children learn are all enjoyable. I think I may have enjoyed it more had I not had such high expectations. I also felt the book was rushed. There is a lot happening in the book, and I would have liked more in the way of the magic lessons, and I would have liked the mystery to have been a little deeper. I felt a lot of this was glazed over to reach the battle at the end. All in all the book is enjoyable, and it will definitely appeal to the targeted audience provided they are not die-hard Harry Potter fans.
(Review based on an advanced reviewer’s copy courtesy of the publisher via Simon & Schuster’s GalleyGrab)
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LibraryThing member Jellyn
A dystopia crossed with Harry Potter means I tagged this book 'dystopia' and 'fantasy'. That's a change, since dystopias are so often science fiction. Anyway, it wasn't bad. It's a middle-grade book, which I don't tend to like as much as YA ones. It has a good ending, in that it feels like it can
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stand alone as a book just fine, you don't need to keep reading the series. I don't know if I will or not. Show Less
LibraryThing member deslivres5
I picked up this book because of the review displayed on its cover: "The Hunger Games Meets Harry Potter".
I was prepared to be transported again into a totally unique, fully formed fantasy world, as with those two series.
While "The Unwanteds" succeeds in some respects, I felt a bit cheated.
The
I did enjoy how the various creative outlets (art, music, acting, writing) are used as weapons. Interesting characters.
But problems seem to resolve too quickly. I would have liked more build-up to resolutions.
My public library has this book categorized as YA, but I really felt that it was more of a juvenile fiction book in both language and themes.
I was prepared to be transported again into a totally unique, fully formed fantasy world, as with those two series.
While "The Unwanteds" succeeds in some respects, I felt a bit cheated.
The
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story started off promising for me, with children showing any spark of creativity being sorted into a portion of society called the Unwanteds.I did enjoy how the various creative outlets (art, music, acting, writing) are used as weapons. Interesting characters.
But problems seem to resolve too quickly. I would have liked more build-up to resolutions.
My public library has this book categorized as YA, but I really felt that it was more of a juvenile fiction book in both language and themes.
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LibraryThing member jedisakora
Hmm... Usually when i finish a book in one day it ends up in my absolute favorites section, but this one didn't quite make it. Perhaps it's the fact that i'm a twenty five year old reading a book made for those half my age. Perhaps i set my hopes too high. I don't know. That is not to say the book
The book is basically the story of Alex stowe who on his thirteenth birthday was deemed "unwanted". See in the world of Quill a person is either Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Those who are deemed "unwanted" are sent to their death. Basically to possess a creative mind is to be unwanted. It would seem that Alex's fate was set except it wasn't really. Marcus Today aka The Death Farmer aka the great mage of Artime saves every being deemed unwanted by transporting him to his made up world of Artime. There all kinds of magically creatures live and the residents learn "Art" based magic. The thing is that Quill doesn't know about Artime and it must stay that way. Otherwise Quill's army would attack. And it does. Take in some evil twins, sometimes eye rolling names, and a kiddier friendly version of Harry Potter and you get this book.
In a way i think in some area the author was trying to hard. The cover reads "The Hunger Games met Harry Potter" and it really isn't. It may have some similar features, but it isn't comparable. It's miss-leading and perhaps raised my expectations way! too high. Some of the names are just plain dumb "Claire Morning" and i find myself rolling my eyes a bit. I think take ten years off my age and i would find this book fabulous. It's completely kids friendly and has no "black magic" per say. That is not to say it's Winnie the Pooh magic. More of Classic Disney magic. People die, things happen, but completely kid friendly.
Final rating. 3 stars. I was a bit bored with it at some times, but i'll come back for the next book.
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is bad per say. It's a pretty solid four. Just not good enough to be a five and absolute favorite.The book is basically the story of Alex stowe who on his thirteenth birthday was deemed "unwanted". See in the world of Quill a person is either Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Those who are deemed "unwanted" are sent to their death. Basically to possess a creative mind is to be unwanted. It would seem that Alex's fate was set except it wasn't really. Marcus Today aka The Death Farmer aka the great mage of Artime saves every being deemed unwanted by transporting him to his made up world of Artime. There all kinds of magically creatures live and the residents learn "Art" based magic. The thing is that Quill doesn't know about Artime and it must stay that way. Otherwise Quill's army would attack. And it does. Take in some evil twins, sometimes eye rolling names, and a kiddier friendly version of Harry Potter and you get this book.
In a way i think in some area the author was trying to hard. The cover reads "The Hunger Games met Harry Potter" and it really isn't. It may have some similar features, but it isn't comparable. It's miss-leading and perhaps raised my expectations way! too high. Some of the names are just plain dumb "Claire Morning" and i find myself rolling my eyes a bit. I think take ten years off my age and i would find this book fabulous. It's completely kids friendly and has no "black magic" per say. That is not to say it's Winnie the Pooh magic. More of Classic Disney magic. People die, things happen, but completely kid friendly.
Final rating. 3 stars. I was a bit bored with it at some times, but i'll come back for the next book.
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LibraryThing member lloydj
This was a good book, but it did suffer from an overly hyped tag line. It was described as being a combination of Harry Potter and the Hunger Games but any resemblance to these titles it is purely superficial. At first I was very disappointed as I was expecting a much "heavier" story, but I did
I would still recommend this book but would definitely downplay the resemblance to other great series it has been compared to.
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grow to like the characters and the clever way "creativity" was used to control magic. I would still recommend this book but would definitely downplay the resemblance to other great series it has been compared to.
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LibraryThing member mt256
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann is narrated by Simon Jones. Simon Jones has a very full resume that spans from t.v to stage to the big screen. After reading that he starred in films such as The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and Monty Python's The Meaning of Life I had high hopes of being
One of the reasons why I wanted to read this novel is because it's described as 'The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter'. I'm a fan of both series so it definitely peaked my interest. After reading the book I can see why The Unwanteds was compared to those books.
The Unwanteds begins in the town of Quill. Think of the most boring, most bland, most beige place you can think of and you've mostly pictured Quill. The town of Quill discourages any form of originality. There's no art, no music, no being creative in any way. The citizens of Quill are split into three categories when they turn 13 years old: The Wanteds, the Necessaries and The Unwanteds. The Unwanteds are sent to their death. However what the people of Quill don't know is that The Unwanteds don't actually die. Instead they enter the hidden world of Artime. Artime is completely different from the world that the children have known. In this new world their creative talents are celebrated and cultivated. It's full of color, magic and mystery.
Alex and Arron Stowe are twins. Alex is an Unwanted and sent to his 'death' while Arron is a Wanted and sent to the University. Alex can't really relax in his new life without his twin. He would do anything to see Arron again and try to convince him to come to Artime. However this is a great risk. If anyone were to find out about Artime, it could be disastrous.
I really like Alex's character. He has a devotion to his brother that's heartwarming. I also like his curious nature. His journey through this book is not an easy one and he has to overcome many obstacles.
The story line to this book was good. It has mystery, intrigue and action. Was it as good as Harry Potter or The Hunger Games? For me, it's not. However it does possess some of the magical and dystopian elements of those books. It is a good story especially for the recommended ages 8-12. I think Lisa McMann did a wonderful job creating the magical world of Artime. There are a few action/battle scenes that are violent but it's not over top.
The Unwanteds is a magical adventure that kids of all ages will enjoy.
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entertained. I was not disappointed. Simon Jones did a great job. He really made this book come to life. His reading was flawless and he really gave each character their own voice. I was highly entertained by this audio book. One of the reasons why I wanted to read this novel is because it's described as 'The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter'. I'm a fan of both series so it definitely peaked my interest. After reading the book I can see why The Unwanteds was compared to those books.
The Unwanteds begins in the town of Quill. Think of the most boring, most bland, most beige place you can think of and you've mostly pictured Quill. The town of Quill discourages any form of originality. There's no art, no music, no being creative in any way. The citizens of Quill are split into three categories when they turn 13 years old: The Wanteds, the Necessaries and The Unwanteds. The Unwanteds are sent to their death. However what the people of Quill don't know is that The Unwanteds don't actually die. Instead they enter the hidden world of Artime. Artime is completely different from the world that the children have known. In this new world their creative talents are celebrated and cultivated. It's full of color, magic and mystery.
Alex and Arron Stowe are twins. Alex is an Unwanted and sent to his 'death' while Arron is a Wanted and sent to the University. Alex can't really relax in his new life without his twin. He would do anything to see Arron again and try to convince him to come to Artime. However this is a great risk. If anyone were to find out about Artime, it could be disastrous.
I really like Alex's character. He has a devotion to his brother that's heartwarming. I also like his curious nature. His journey through this book is not an easy one and he has to overcome many obstacles.
The story line to this book was good. It has mystery, intrigue and action. Was it as good as Harry Potter or The Hunger Games? For me, it's not. However it does possess some of the magical and dystopian elements of those books. It is a good story especially for the recommended ages 8-12. I think Lisa McMann did a wonderful job creating the magical world of Artime. There are a few action/battle scenes that are violent but it's not over top.
The Unwanteds is a magical adventure that kids of all ages will enjoy.
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LibraryThing member SebastianHagelstein
The Unwanteds is a very creative and entertaining fantasy story that involves magic and an epic battle between the forces of magic and the rulers of Quill that fear the creative people of the Quill.
LibraryThing member StarrK
I wasn’t really sure what to expect from The Unwanteds. I had read one of McMann’s older YA novels (part of a series that I need to get back to) and I liked the cover. To be honest, this probably would have stayed on my TBR list if I hadn’t gotten #2 to review. (Nothing against this book, but
This was a pretty quick read for me. I loved that this wasn’t necessarily a light and fluffly read. Alex and Aaron’s story had some meat to it, and I am sure that there is stuff that the first book didn’t go into. The characters didn’t seem like they were completely alive, I mean there was enough to picture them but they were missing a little bit of something. Depth! That’s the word I’m looking for. Now I loved the story, and it’s one that I will recommend to people looking for children’s books with substance and fun. I’ll even have this in my library when I start teaching. But it felt like it was an introduction to the characters, it really felt like the beginning. There’s a very good reason for that – it is the first book. I only mention that because the story reads as if it could be a stand –alone and I don’t want readers to expect that whole character arc where the characters have gone from point a to point b and have grown in the process. Don’t get me wrong, all of the characters grow, especially Alex and Aaron. Even though this could be a stand-alone, it leaves you wanting more. You want to know what happens next in their life and you want to know more about the characters (good and bad) because you start caring about them. But all of that is not necessary to enjoy the story –to stay in the here and now.
(Sorry for the tangent) There’s an assortment of characters – both good and bad. Alex and Aaron share the magic of being twins. When they end up on opposing sides they discover that they don’t really know each other as well as they thought that they did. This is such a new experience for Samheed, Lani, Meghan and the rest of the newly Unwanteds. But we get to experience it with them and that makes it even more magical.
Recommendation: This was a quick and fun read. I think it was an excellent pick for older elementary students, especially those who don’t particularly enjoy reading.
What’s Next? Island of Silence
4 STARS ****
Always Shine,
Starr K
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trying to focus on reviews more than “fun” reading.) But I really enjoyed this one. I can’t say that I was sitting on the edge of my seat with excitement. But, I was definitely into the story and it was a world that I was able to slide into easily. This is mean for children and I can see how they would be drawn to Artime. This was a pretty quick read for me. I loved that this wasn’t necessarily a light and fluffly read. Alex and Aaron’s story had some meat to it, and I am sure that there is stuff that the first book didn’t go into. The characters didn’t seem like they were completely alive, I mean there was enough to picture them but they were missing a little bit of something. Depth! That’s the word I’m looking for. Now I loved the story, and it’s one that I will recommend to people looking for children’s books with substance and fun. I’ll even have this in my library when I start teaching. But it felt like it was an introduction to the characters, it really felt like the beginning. There’s a very good reason for that – it is the first book. I only mention that because the story reads as if it could be a stand –alone and I don’t want readers to expect that whole character arc where the characters have gone from point a to point b and have grown in the process. Don’t get me wrong, all of the characters grow, especially Alex and Aaron. Even though this could be a stand-alone, it leaves you wanting more. You want to know what happens next in their life and you want to know more about the characters (good and bad) because you start caring about them. But all of that is not necessary to enjoy the story –to stay in the here and now.
(Sorry for the tangent) There’s an assortment of characters – both good and bad. Alex and Aaron share the magic of being twins. When they end up on opposing sides they discover that they don’t really know each other as well as they thought that they did. This is such a new experience for Samheed, Lani, Meghan and the rest of the newly Unwanteds. But we get to experience it with them and that makes it even more magical.
Recommendation: This was a quick and fun read. I think it was an excellent pick for older elementary students, especially those who don’t particularly enjoy reading.
What’s Next? Island of Silence
4 STARS ****
Always Shine,
Starr K
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LibraryThing member agrudzien
When Alex turns 13, he knows that he will be deemed "Unwanted" by his parents and doomed to execution shortly there after. His twin Aaron, however, is a perfect "Wanted." As Alex travels through the gate of the death farm, instead of dying he is welcomed into the hidden community of unwanteds
Clever idea - definitely a good recommendation for someone who liked both Harry Potter and the Hunger Games. It has the magical quality of Hogwarts with the "fight for your right to live" of Hunger Games...only less violent, but also a bit less captivating.
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sheltered by magic. All too soon, Alex misses his brother and the connection between the two threatens the secret existence of his new home. Clever idea - definitely a good recommendation for someone who liked both Harry Potter and the Hunger Games. It has the magical quality of Hogwarts with the "fight for your right to live" of Hunger Games...only less violent, but also a bit less captivating.
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LibraryThing member rapikk
This was a fun book, perfect for young fans of "Harry Potter" style stories. It's a blend of dystopia survival with magical elements and intrigue. While it's action packed and suspenseful, it's not frightening or gruesome, and would be an excellent read-aloud or independent read for grades 4-7.
LibraryThing member storiesandsweeties
Positively enchanting, and every bit the wonderful work that I have come to expect when I pick up a book by this author. I loved Lisa McMann's Dreamcatcher series and Cryer's Cross, so I was excited to see what she would do for a middle grade audience. I was certainly not disappointed. I love the
The Unwanteds certainly has a dark and hopeless feeling at the beginning. You first meet the main character and his twin brother as they are basically sent to a sort of "judgement" ceremony to decide who will be a useful addition to the society of Quill...and who will be disposed of. Literally. Those who are rejected are sent the Death Farm to be thrown into a lake of boiling oil. Yikes. Needless to say, one twin is excepted and the other is not. As soon as the rejected children are sent away, the rest of Quill, including their families are ordered to forget all about them. Harsh. Especially harsh is the fact that the reason these children are disposed of is because they showed some sign of creativity and imagination.
Thankfully, the kids are all shocked when they find themselves, not boiling in a lake of oil, but secretly transported to a hidden land called Artimè, where creativity and imagination are encouraged. The kid are taught to enhance whatever their individual strengths are, and are ultimately taught to use their gifts along with magic to both create and defend themselves in the event that their world is ever discovered.
The whole story was such great world-building: the wonderful layered characters that you never quite knew where their loyalties would lie in the end, the many quirky and mysterious teachers, the cold, unfeeling conditioning of the people of Quill, and the many surprises that popped up throughout. It was heartbreaking at moments, especially where the two brothers were concerned, and I loved the little hints of young love thrown into the mix. While I don't like to make the comparison---I would definitely say that this as close to the feel of Harry Potter as I've read yet. A similar feeling of wonderment is there: the magic of finding this whole new world that was right out outside your door, the intense, unpredictable relationships and wonderful characters that are learning to be themselves and appreciate their different gifts. Yet the Unwanteds is, without a doubt, an amazing and unique tale that deserves to be appreciated in it's own right. This is definitely a great start to a series that I'm excited to continue!
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premise of this, and I especially love how this story was conceived---it came about when the author found out that several art programs were going to be cut out of her kids' school. I hate how often I hear about this kind of thing happening everywhere, but love that it became a story sparker for McMann!The Unwanteds certainly has a dark and hopeless feeling at the beginning. You first meet the main character and his twin brother as they are basically sent to a sort of "judgement" ceremony to decide who will be a useful addition to the society of Quill...and who will be disposed of. Literally. Those who are rejected are sent the Death Farm to be thrown into a lake of boiling oil. Yikes. Needless to say, one twin is excepted and the other is not. As soon as the rejected children are sent away, the rest of Quill, including their families are ordered to forget all about them. Harsh. Especially harsh is the fact that the reason these children are disposed of is because they showed some sign of creativity and imagination.
Thankfully, the kids are all shocked when they find themselves, not boiling in a lake of oil, but secretly transported to a hidden land called Artimè, where creativity and imagination are encouraged. The kid are taught to enhance whatever their individual strengths are, and are ultimately taught to use their gifts along with magic to both create and defend themselves in the event that their world is ever discovered.
The whole story was such great world-building: the wonderful layered characters that you never quite knew where their loyalties would lie in the end, the many quirky and mysterious teachers, the cold, unfeeling conditioning of the people of Quill, and the many surprises that popped up throughout. It was heartbreaking at moments, especially where the two brothers were concerned, and I loved the little hints of young love thrown into the mix. While I don't like to make the comparison---I would definitely say that this as close to the feel of Harry Potter as I've read yet. A similar feeling of wonderment is there: the magic of finding this whole new world that was right out outside your door, the intense, unpredictable relationships and wonderful characters that are learning to be themselves and appreciate their different gifts. Yet the Unwanteds is, without a doubt, an amazing and unique tale that deserves to be appreciated in it's own right. This is definitely a great start to a series that I'm excited to continue!
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LibraryThing member scote23
This one didn't quite hook me. Maybe it was the audio reader, or maybe it's this reading slump I'm in where very little is keeping my attention.
LibraryThing member stephxsu
In the land of Quill, all thirteen-year-olds are sorted into one of three categories: Wanteds, Necessaries, and Unwanteds. Wanteds and Necessaries remain in Quill to keep the land running, and the Unwanteds are disposed to their deaths for their violations of creative expression.
Twins Aaron and
A book being touted as the next Harry Potter certainly has a lot to live up to, and while Lisa McMann’s first middle-grade fantasy THE UNWANTEDS doesn’t quite have the immortal boy with the lightning bolt scar’s charm and uniqueness, it nevertheless will be an enjoyable read for the younger reader.
Reading THE UNWANTEDS felt as if I were carrying out my childhood dreams. When you were little, did you ever daydream of living away from home in a magical mansion where every one of your whimsies was right at the tip of your thoughts? Yeah, that was probably the number one thing I thought about during my free time. In that sense, then, reading THE UNWANTEDS was almost a literal return to my childhood. The youthful delight of having near-complete control over your own life; of having magic at your command; of attending an eternal summer camp…that’s part of what you get, reading THE UNWANTEDS.
But not all of it. THE UNWANTEDS contains distinctly dark themes of creativity versus logic, imagination versus asceticism, that make it darker than your usual magical children’s tale. This is part dystopia, after all. More sophisticated readers might find the literal impending war between creativity and pragmatism in the book a little too literal in terms of the book’s themes, but younger readers will probably get a kick out of the minimalization of gray areas.
My biggest problem with THE UNWANTEDS, the one that made me unable to finish the book, was that I simply didn’t connect with or care for any of the characters. Alex and his Unwanted friends tended to blend indistinguishably into one another, and were being pretty snippy and immature pre-teens for the most part. That’s not the problem—after all, Harry Potter was pretty unbearable for many of his adventures; it was more the fact that I couldn’t bring myself to feel bad for the characters or to care about how they ended up.
It is unfortunate that the power of such a magical premise was diminished by bland and unsympathetic characters. This won’t deter all people from reading and enjoying THE UNWANTEDS, but as far as I’m concerned, my lack of connection to the characters draws me away from this adventure and towards more character-driven fantasies.
Twins Aaron and
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Alex get separated when Aaron is chosen as a Wanted and Alex is Unwanted. But “Death” is not at all what Alex and the other Unwanteds expected. Instead, they are transported to the magical world of Artime, run by Mr. Today, who teaches the Unwanteds how to use their creativity in magical battle. For Artime is in danger of being exposed, and the Unwanteds will need all of their creativity and magic to overcome Quill’s armies.A book being touted as the next Harry Potter certainly has a lot to live up to, and while Lisa McMann’s first middle-grade fantasy THE UNWANTEDS doesn’t quite have the immortal boy with the lightning bolt scar’s charm and uniqueness, it nevertheless will be an enjoyable read for the younger reader.
Reading THE UNWANTEDS felt as if I were carrying out my childhood dreams. When you were little, did you ever daydream of living away from home in a magical mansion where every one of your whimsies was right at the tip of your thoughts? Yeah, that was probably the number one thing I thought about during my free time. In that sense, then, reading THE UNWANTEDS was almost a literal return to my childhood. The youthful delight of having near-complete control over your own life; of having magic at your command; of attending an eternal summer camp…that’s part of what you get, reading THE UNWANTEDS.
But not all of it. THE UNWANTEDS contains distinctly dark themes of creativity versus logic, imagination versus asceticism, that make it darker than your usual magical children’s tale. This is part dystopia, after all. More sophisticated readers might find the literal impending war between creativity and pragmatism in the book a little too literal in terms of the book’s themes, but younger readers will probably get a kick out of the minimalization of gray areas.
My biggest problem with THE UNWANTEDS, the one that made me unable to finish the book, was that I simply didn’t connect with or care for any of the characters. Alex and his Unwanted friends tended to blend indistinguishably into one another, and were being pretty snippy and immature pre-teens for the most part. That’s not the problem—after all, Harry Potter was pretty unbearable for many of his adventures; it was more the fact that I couldn’t bring myself to feel bad for the characters or to care about how they ended up.
It is unfortunate that the power of such a magical premise was diminished by bland and unsympathetic characters. This won’t deter all people from reading and enjoying THE UNWANTEDS, but as far as I’m concerned, my lack of connection to the characters draws me away from this adventure and towards more character-driven fantasies.
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LibraryThing member Jadedog13
This is a stupendous fantasy, dystopian story that young people will love. Lisa McMann does a first-class job of world building and character development. Alex and his twin brother (Aaron) live in Quill. Every year Quill goes through a "Purge" where all 13-year olds are divided into three
I was captivated by this story and as soon as I finished book one, I immediately ordered book two and started reading. The cover claims this is, "the Hunger Games meets Harry Potter." I believe this story is amazing in its own right and deserves a chance to fascinate you...
Highly recommended!
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categories: Wanted, Necessary, and UnWanted. Any kids that show creative tendencies are labeled UnWanted and destined to be put to death. The Wanteds go to the military academy and the Necessaries move on to menial jobs that keep the city going. But, the UnWanteds are traveling towards a different destination....I was captivated by this story and as soon as I finished book one, I immediately ordered book two and started reading. The cover claims this is, "the Hunger Games meets Harry Potter." I believe this story is amazing in its own right and deserves a chance to fascinate you...
Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member bookappeal
1st in series. In Quill, the annual Purge sends the Wanted children who obey rules and show intelligence to a military university and the Unwanteds who break the rules and show artistic abilities to their deaths. As soon as the Unwanteds are taken away, their families are expected to forget about
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them completely and immediately. Unbeknownst to the High Priestess of Quill, the man who is supposed to ensure the demise of the Unwanteds has instead built a magical place where art and imagination are not only valued but turned into weapons for a fight with the Quillary that will inevitably come some day. When twins Aaron and Alex are separated in the purge, they can't stop thinking about each other and Alex becomes determined to "save" Aaron, an action that could have disastrous consequences for the Unwanteds. A solid fantasy for middle school readers with an underlying message that the unusual kids of the world are of great value. Both male and female characters are given equal power and influence. Some parents may feel that kids using art, language, music, and drama as potentially fatal weapons goes too far but there is little actual death in the book, though some parts are quite scary. Show Less
LibraryThing member Tina_Ervin
In the land of Quill "outside the box" thinkers are "unwanted" and are taken to the "death farm". When Alex finds out his is unwanted, he finds it hart to leave his brother Aaron. When he discovers that the death farm is not a place to die, but rather the hidden land of Artime, where his creative
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thoughts and skills are encouraged, he wants to share it with Aaron, but Aaron, who is wanted, has never understood his brother Alex and why he wants to draw pictures and feel emotions. Show Less
Awards
Nebraska Golden Sower Award (Honor — 2014)
Massachusetts Children's Book Award (Honor — 2014)
Great Stone Face Book Award (Nominee — 2013)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Children's Fiction — 2013)
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2014)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2015)
Mark Twain Readers Award (Winner — 1st Place — 2014)
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Nominee — 2015)
California Young Reader Medal (Nominee — 2014)
Iowa Children's Choice Award (Nominee — 2014)
Volunteer State Book Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2016)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2012)
Idaho Battle of the Books (2018)
Call number
J4A.McM