Book review info

Mrs. Williams' Book Presentation

Conflicts

Dystopian

Characters

Author

Summary

Theme

Quotes

Questions

Major Events

Power

Symbols

Feedback

Theme

Power

Main Character

Questions Society

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

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

Fights against Unfair Rules

“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).

Critical Questions

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

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

Citra: Hero

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

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

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

Rowan: Sidekick

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

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

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.

Scythe Goddard: Villain

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

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.

Scythe Volta: Anti-Hero

"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).

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 Faraday: Mentor

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

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.

Scythe Curie: Mother Figure

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

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.

Feedback

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

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

Dystopian Setting & Elements

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.

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).

Quotes

"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.

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.

Major Events

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

#2 Citra and Rowan fall in love

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

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

#5 Citra finds out that Faraday is still alive

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

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

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.

Conflict-Problem

Citra

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.

Rowan

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.

Symbols

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

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.

Characters

Rowan: Sidekick

Scythe Volta: Anti-Hero

Citra: Hero

Scythe Curie: Mother Figure

Scythe Goddard: Villain

Scythe Faraday: Mentor