Scythe by Neal Shusterman, is a novel which explores a futuristically advanced world. In this world, death has been cured like any other disease. No one perishes because they fall ill and cannot be cured. People do die, however. The more insidious side of this futuristic paradise of fun is the job of the scythes, individuals specifically selected to choose people to die every year. They have complete control over who they pick to “glean”, and thus are treated with immense respect by society because of fear. The story of Scythe follows two main protagonists, Rowan and Citra, as they become apprentice understudies to Scythe Faraday. Over time, they grow close with the respectable and thoughtful scythe, and come to understand the vast disparity between scythes with wise restraint and those without. This thrilling and entertaining novel brings alongside its fantastic story a slew of thought-provoking questions and mind experiments regarding mortality and power balances. If you are someone who enjoys the setting of a twisted future utopia or simply finds the concept of death and righteousness interesting, then this book is a must-read.
Review by Brett, Teen Reviewer