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Review of SCYTHE

scythe
Cover art taken from http://www.simonandschuster.com/series/Arc-of-a-Scythe.
In a supposedly Utopian future, death and old age have been vanquished, and humans can live forever. In order to control population levels, however, a certain number of people must be “gleaned” each year, and Scythes are the ones who must carry out this gruesome task. When the Honorable Scythe Faraday breaks with tradition and chooses not one but two new apprentices, the Scythedom is thrown into turmoil. The young apprentices, Rowan and Citra, are pitted against each other as they study and perfect their “killcraft”, and lines are drawn that threaten to change the Scythedom forever. Only one apprentice may prevail, but which one will it be?
“Without the threat of suffering, we can’t experience true joy. The best we get is pleasantness.” (p. 244)
This incredibly thought-provoking and engaging book raises many interesting questions, and savvy teens who aren’t afraid to ponder heavy philosophical and ethical questions will find it hard to put down and even harder to stop thinking about. Would we really be better off if we could live forever, with all sorrows and troubles from our current existence nothing but distant memories? Could we be happy with nothing to contrast our happiness against? Is it possible to do things most would consider unforgiveable yet still be a good person? Is the greater good more important than individual lives? Since philosophy is not widely studied in American high schools (unlike in European schools where it is often a core subject), it is important that we give our students opportunities to think critically about questions like these. Scythe is an ideal springboard for launching critical thought and discussion among young adults. A reading group guide created by Dr. Rose Brock can be accessed on the publisher’s website at http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Scythe/Neal-Shusterman/Arc-of-a-Scythe/9781442472433/reading_group_guide.
Readers will undoubtedly want to continue Rowan and Citra’s story in Thunderhead, the recently released sequel to Scythe.
thunderhead
Cover art taken from http://www.simonandschuster.com/series/Arc-of-a-Scythe.
Shusterman, N. (2016). Scythe. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. [Kindle edition].

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