Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Ayush | High Technology High School, Grade 9

Rating: *****

On its face, the world of Scythe seems like a perfect society. A supercomputer named the Thunderhead is an impartial ruler, one that has conquered hunger, disease—even death. But calling it a utopia would discredit the one aspect that makes Scythe such a memorable read. Because only death makes us kin.

To account for population control, the Thunderhead has created the job of “gleaning,” which is to say, killing people. Rather than do this itself, however, the supercomputer relegates the job to a group of elite humans known as Scythes. These supposedly wise men and women must periodically, systematically, and impartially glean people, the only allowed form of death in this society. The trouble is—human nature is inevitable, and no human, not even a Scythe, is perfect.

Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch are two competing apprentices to a famous Scythe. Only one will become a member of the elite group, the other forever cast back to normal life. As the two rise up the ranks, however, they begin confronting the ideas of the Scythedom and asking uncomfortable questions. How can an immortal society constantly fear death from its own? Who—or what—defines morality? And most importantly, how deep do our flaws truly run? In this riveting novel, Shusterman explores the boundaries of human nature and challenges our perception of a perfect world. Every facet of this book, from the character development to the plotline, is masterfully crafted. Scythe is a must-read for anyone interested in the sci-fi or dystopian genres.