I don't know what happens to our consciousness when we're unwound," says Connor. "I don't even know when that consciousness starts. But I do know this." He pauses to make sure all of them are listening. "We have a right to our lives!" The kids go wild. "We have a right to choose what happens to our bodies!" The cheers reach fever pitch. "We deserve a world where both those things are possibleโ and it's our job to help make that world.
Neal ShustermanMilestone! This is a momentous occasion," he tells her cheerily. "It should be witnessed by a friend." She throws him an icy gaze, and he does a verbal back pedal. "Aaaand since no friends are present, I'll have to do.
Neal ShustermanMental illness is by far the most misunderstood, and stigmatized, of all afflictions. Statistically, one in three families in the U.S. deals with mental illness, and yet it's rarely discussed in the open. It's time for that to change.
Neal ShustermanIt's funny how a flame can only burn your hand if you move too slow, you can tease it all you want and it never gets you, if your quick enough.
Neal ShustermanI was asking if unwinding kills you, or if it leaves you alive somehow. C'monโit's not like we haven't thought about it." (...) What do you think, Connor?" asks Hayden. "What hapยญpens to your soul when you get unwound?" Who says I even got one?" For the sake of argument, let's say you do." Who says I want an argument?
Neal Shusterman