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  • Emmi W.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman(5/5)




Anyone who has ever lost a loved one has probably wished for a world without death. Scythe would make them second guess this wish. The book Scythe is set in the future where humans have immortality. They look at modern-day society as brutal because people can die in unpredictable ways.  This can’t happen to people in this novel. Instead,  if a person gets hit by a car they will be brought to the revival center where they will be healed completely. The population is balanced by Scythes who are the only people able to end another person's life.  A Scythe's job is to pick a random human from a list and glean them.  Gleaning is used in the novel to refer to people who are killed but in a more respectful way because it is not considered murder. These scythes have to glean 5 people a week and are checked to make sure they are never being biased towards age, race, religion, or gender. When a scythe gleans a person their family can kiss the Scythe’s ring which takes their DNA and claims them all safe from being gleaned for a year. 

     The novel’s suspense comes from the friendship between Citra and Rowan who are forced to be competitors throughout the story while they complete a year-long apprenticeship under Scythe Faraday.  Citra and Rowan do not want to become a Scythe because they question who they might become. Throughout the book, there are twists and turns with Rowan and Citra as they learn about Scythes abusing their power. It forces them to understand how fragile life is. 

Scythe makes the reader want to never set the book down. It forces the reader to rethink complex questions such as what happens when power is in the wrong hands, and the importance of life. The reader will never be bored, as it is wonderful through and through.

    I recommend everyone to read this book and as they read make sure they read every detail because in this book every page plays a huge part in the storyline. I also recommend they pick up the sequel because you're going to want to know what happens next.


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