Book review info

Theme

Power

Questions

Dystopian

Feedback

Quotes

Characters

Mrs. Williams' Book Presentation

Summary

Author

Conflicts

Major Events

Theme

Symbols

Power

“This isn't right,” Citra said. “This isn't how it's supposed to be. Scythes aren’t supposed to enjoy killing. And they’re not supposed to make others do it for them" (Shusterman, 233). "Today Citra vowed, to be an advocate for the dead. She would deliver justice for her fallen mentor" (Shusterman, 366).

"Do you ever wonder if it's right?" Citra asked. "The whole gleaning thing?"" (Shusterman, 46).

"We are not the same beings we once were. So then, if we are no longer human, what are we" (Shusterman, 109).

Fights against Unfair Rules

Questions Society

Main Character

Question #4: What deciscion will both Citra and Rowan make? Will they kill each other?

Question #2: Why did Scythe Goddard not kill Esme? Why is she so important to him?

Question #3: Do we truly need death? Is overcoming death going to make for a better society?

Question #1: Was Scythe Faraday murdered? If so, who is responsible?

Critical Questions

Citra sacrafices her life to save her family. She also looks into the death of Faraday, risking her life for justice.

"Her apprenticeship had taught her to be self-sufficent and resourceful" (Shusterman, 358).

"In a large percentage of possible futures, you play a vital role" (Shusterman, 335).

Citra: Hero

Rowan time and time again is throwing competitions to allow Citra to be an ordained scythe. He consistently helping Citra to become a scythe over himself to seek justice.

"He must have been crazy thinking Citra would allow him to willingly throw the match" (Shusterman, 290).

"Rowan could warn him what was coming" (Shusterman, 259).

Rowan: Sidekick

Goddard does not follow the laws of the Scythedome. He is the individual who pinned Citra and Rowan against one another to force killing one another. He is also blackmailing the High Blade to make decisions that benefit his purpose as a scythe. He wants to kill as many people as he would like and as many people as he wants.

"He's a visionary. That puts him on a level above every other scythe in Mid-Merica" (Shusterman, 251).

Scythe Goddard: Villain

Volta is and has been a part of Scythe Goddards gang of killers who adamnatly go against the rules of the Scythedome. However, readers find out that Volta does not believe in the ways of Goddard. While Goddard goes on his killing sprees, he helps to save people along the way. He also helps Rowan to survive under Goddard's care.

"Scythe Volta was there, sitting on his bed, head in hands. His body heaved with sobs that he tried to stifle, but could not" (Shusterman, 267).

Scythe Volta: Anti-Hero

Faraday is the mentor because he took on both Citra and Rowan as scythe apprenctices. He taught them how to properly take a human life as well as how to suvive a scythe conclave. He faked his own death to allow both Citra and Rowan to live.

"During your year with me you will learn the proper ways to yeild blades..." (Shusterman, 77).

Scythe Faraday: Mentor

Curie saved Citra from the hospital by taking her home and regaining her back to life with comfort and food. She took on a motherly role by detering the scythedome away from Citra, so she could have time to escape.

"Comfort food, thought Citra, because somehow it made her feel safe from the inside out" (Shusterman, 344).

Scythe Curie: Mother Figure

I really enjoyed the characters in this book and the number of twists and turns it had! - Esme being the High Blade's daughter - Volta being the Anti-Hero - Scythe Faraday being alive and well and Citra shooting him

I LOVED this book! I would give this book 5/5 stars

Feedback

Setting: My story takes place in Mid-Merica in 2041 in an overpopulated dystopia. Control: People in my society are controled through the Thunderhead. This is an ai government; they have the ability to see everything everywhere through surviellance. Also, in my society, the Scythdome is in control of how someone dies and when someone dies. Everyone in my society has everything that they need and could want. This is not the best because it does not produce motivated citizens.

Dystopian Setting & Elements

Theme

Ideas: Death, Love, Violence, Purpose, Compassion, Justice

Theme: Neal Schusterman is trying to teach his readers that compassion is necessary when dealing with the loss of others. He is also trying to teach his readers that justice is always the right answer regardless of how difficult it may be. Warning: Society is standing by watching as we ruin ourselves. We do not learn from our mistakes, which will be our downfall. "The world has a talent for rewarding bad behavior with stardom" (Shusterman, 273).

"That chubby little girl is the key to the future" (Shusterman, 229). At this point in the book, readers understand that Goddard is using Esme as a chess piece to control the Scythedome. By doing so, he has control over everything. "It will be the 2nd most painful thing you will ever do" (Shusterman, 378). At this moment, Citra is making the decision to take the life of her brother in order to change the future of the scythedome.

Quotes

Author

Neal Schusterman

He won the 2015 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for his book Challenger Deep and his novel, Scythe, was a 2017 Michael L. Printz Honor book.

#7 Final test day and Citra or Rowan find out who wins

#6 Citra is sent to jail, escapes and is on the run

#5 Citra finds out that Faraday is still alive

#4 The High Blade has a child (Esme) and is being blackmailed by Goddard

#3 Scythe "Faraday" gleans himself and Citra and Rowan are broken up

#2 Citra and Rowan fall in love

#1 Citra and Rowan and summoned by Scythe Faraday to become apprentices

Major Events

Summary

Citra and Rowan are two typical high school students just living their every day life. That is--until Scythe Faraday suddenly enters their life and turns it upside down. For Rowan, this is the perfect opportunity to transform his boring life, but for Citra this is anything but happiness for her. While under the apprenticeship of Faraday, both Rowan and Citra learn more about life and death and the truth behind the meaning of life, especially when killing is now their sole purpose in life.

Rowan is constantly going back and forth on whether he should throw his competeitions against Citra and let her win to become a scythe. He knows Goddard is an evil man, but he doesn't want to go against his rule to risk his life.

Rowan

Citra loves Rowan but also feels the need to become the ordained scythe. Citra feels the need to investigate Faraday's death and risks her life doing so.

Citra

Conflict-Problem

Robe= Individuality Each scythe gets to choose what color robe they want to represent their personality. You can tell a lot about each scythe by the color of their robe.

Scythe= Death Only scythes are allowed to kill citizens. Thus, scythes are treated like royalty because they control life and death

Symbols

Scythe Curie: Mother Figure

Scythe Volta: Anti-Hero

Characters

Citra: Hero

Rowan: Sidekick

Scythe Faraday: Mentor

Scythe Goddard: Villain