DECEMBER 2011 - AudioFile
Narrator Simon Jones expertly takes on the world of Quill, in which teenagers are classified as “Wanted” or “Unwanted” and expected to refrain from showing any emotion or creativity. Jones’s deliberate pacing builds tension as twin brothers Alex (Unwanted) and Aaron (Wanted) await the yearly “elimination” of the Unwanteds. Jones’s characterizations—from the scared, conflicted Alex and the cold, confident Aaron to the various members of this secret magical world—are a big part of the mesmerizing effect of this story. His skilled storytelling ability makes each twist and turn compelling as the brothers find themselves in a battle—in which they must fight each other. E.A.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
In her foray into middle-grade fiction, McMann (Cryer's Cross) delivers a fun mix of magic and science with a retro SF novel whose setting echoes classic artificial dystopias of the 1960s like Logan's Run and Make Room! Make Room! In the city of Quill, all signs of creativity are shunned, and any children who so much as sing or draw are declared "Unwanted" when they turn 13 and sent off to be killed. When Alex is culled from his family and sent to die, he is surprised to discover that the Unwanteds are actually taken to a hidden city called Artimé, where they are not only trained in the traditional arts, but also in the magic that these arts unlock. McMann juggles a handful of point-of-view characters nicely (focusing largely on Alex), showing their fear and wonder as they learn more about their world. The subplots—including young romance and murderous conspiracies—are skillfully interwoven, and if some of Quill's harshness borders on caricature (the city makes Sparta seem decadent), it serves the story well. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)
From the Publisher
The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter in this middle-grade departure from McMann’s string of paranormal mysteries with romance for young adults.
On the day of Purge in totalitarian Quill, which is run by the High Priest Justine, 13-year-olds learn if they are deemed Wanted to attend the university, Necessary to tend the land or Unwanted and purged by execution. Without a good-bye from his Wanted identical brother Aaron, Alex Stowe and the other Unwanteds travel to the Death Farm. Instead of death, they meet the lush and magical world of Artimè, kept secret from Justine by mage Marcus Today. In a third-person narration characterized by even pacing and whimsical inventions, Alex and his peers learn that their creativity threatened Justine’s power. Surrounded by talking blackboards, transporting tubes and such fantastical creatures as an octagator (with the head of an alligator and body of an octopus) for instructors, the teens hone their drawing, music and acting skills while also wielding paintbrushes for invisibility spells and iambic pentameter to stun attackers during Magical Warrior Training, in preparation for battle against the Quillitary. As the youths explore fear, responsibility and free thinking, their spells may be used sooner than they think when Alex’s twin bond is tested and rivals vie for Aaron’s new position in Justine’s government.
Blending elements from two popular genres, this is sure to be a double hit. - KIRKUS, April 15, 2011
"Imagination runs wild in this creative adventure."
#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Mull
"Reading Lisa McMann's THE UNWANTEDS was like discovering a brilliant,
lost children's classic—except it's never going to be lost, because
readers will never, ever forget the magic they'll experience in
its pages."
James A. Owen, author and Illustrator of HERE, THERE BE DRAGONS
School Library Journal - Audio
Gr 5–8—In the land of Quill, those who are "Wanted" blindly accept conformity and edicts that forbid creative activities. Other Quillans are consigned to be "Necessaries," individuals relegated to a lifetime of manual labor. The artistic, imaginative "Unwanteds" are slated for elimination during the annual purge of 13-year-olds, including Alex, whose twin brother Aaron is elevated to Wanted status during the same event. The Unwanteds are shackled and delivered to the Death Farm. Although their fate initially appears exceedingly grim, an amazing transformation occurs after the Quillan officials depart. The Death Farm is magically converted into a fantastical land called Artimé, complete with hybrid talking animals, animated objects, and a benevolent mage. In this exotic land, the Unwanteds discover that creative talents are highly valued and nurtured to become a source of special powers. The only problem is that Artimé will be destroyed if its existence is discovered, and there are those who can't resist attempting contact with Quill. Slow-paced initially, the action accelerates as the story unfolds. Alex and his Unwanted friends are sympathetic characters and the fanciful creatures of Artimé add whimsy. Simon Jones's masterful narration of Lisa McMann's novel (Aladdin, 2011) enhances the visualization of the tale, and his variety of distinctive British voices brings alive the personality of each character. For libraries needing additional light dystopian fantasies for the middle grades.—Rebecca James, Currey Ingram Academy, Brentwood, TN
School Library Journal
Gr 4–7—A young teen leaves his mundane world for a school where he will learn magic under the direction of a kindly head master. A precocious girl reads extensively and thus discovers spells unknown to her friends. McMann takes these familiar elements and makes them her own through the creation of two realms. In the dystopian land of Quill, 13-year-old Alex is judged by society to be an Unwanted and is sentenced to be cast into the Lake of Burning Oil, which is hidden behind a gate that is unlocked but once a year. He is stunned when the Death Farmer reveals himself to be, in reality, a benign mage and, rather than face a painful death, Alex and the other Unwanteds are welcomed to the magical world of Artimé. There they are instructed in the arts, which are forbidden in Quill, and eventually learn magical skills. Alex can't stop thinking about his twin brother, who is living as a Wanted in Quill. Aaron is rising quickly at Wanted University and becomes a protégé of High Priest Justine. In Artimé, McMann has created a world of magical whimsy full of talking blackboards; intelligent statues; and spells that are sung, painted, and recited. There's never really a sense of menace as the Quillians are more mean-spirited than frightening, and their technology is pitiful. This is a good starter fantasy or dystopia without the darkness in titles for older readers.—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Library, Wisconsin Rapids, WI
DECEMBER 2011 - AudioFile
Narrator Simon Jones expertly takes on the world of Quill, in which teenagers are classified as “Wanted” or “Unwanted” and expected to refrain from showing any emotion or creativity. Jones’s deliberate pacing builds tension as twin brothers Alex (Unwanted) and Aaron (Wanted) await the yearly “elimination” of the Unwanteds. Jones’s characterizations—from the scared, conflicted Alex and the cold, confident Aaron to the various members of this secret magical world—are a big part of the mesmerizing effect of this story. His skilled storytelling ability makes each twist and turn compelling as the brothers find themselves in a battle—in which they must fight each other. E.A.B. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
The Hunger Games meets Harry Potter in this middle-grade departure from McMann's string of paranormal mysteries with romance for young adults.
On the day of Purge in totalitarian Quill, which is run by the High Priest Justine, 13-year-olds learn if they are deemed Wanted to attend the university, Necessary to tend the land or Unwanted and purged by execution. Without a good-bye from his Wanted identical brother Aaron, Alex Stowe and the other Unwanteds travel to the Death Farm. Instead of death, they meet the lush and magical world of Artimè, kept secret from Justine by mage Marcus Today. In a third-person narration characterized by even pacing and whimsical inventions, Alex and his peers learn that their creativity threatened Justine's power. Surrounded by talking blackboards, transporting tubes and such fantastical creatures as an octagator (with the head of an alligator and body of an octopus) for instructors, the teens hone their drawing, music and acting skills while also wielding paintbrushes for invisibility spells and iambic pentameter to stun attackers during Magical Warrior Training, in preparation for battle against the Quillitary. As the youths explore fear, responsibility and free thinking, their spells may be used sooner than they think when Alex's twin bond is tested and rivals vie for Aaron's new position in Justine's government.
Blending elements from two popular genres, this is sure to be a double hit. (Dystopian fantasy. 10-14)