Dear Mr. Shusterman,

When I was in eighth grade, I read The Schwa was Here. I was so engrossed in the book, the characters, the amazing journey that you were able to take me, and I’m sure many others, on. I even went as far as drawing the schwa symbol on my papers at school, on the back of my friends’ hands, with sticks in the dirt at the park; anywhere I could find.
Now, years later and looking back, I can’t say that I remember a lot of the actual plot, or even the specific names of the characters. But as I think about it, tears come to my eyes. I remember the feeling, the essence of this book, and the messages that stay with me to this day about friendship, death, and the challenges we all must face.
Ninth grade was the year I discovered Unwind. I had asked the librarian for something that would scare me. After spending some time reading The Shining and Pet Semetary by Stephen King and not being frightened out of my socks, I was utterly disappointed. So I took a look at Unwind, opened it, and knew I had found the one.
I was at the point that I was crying as I read your book, and I couldn’t put it down for even a moment. I read all the way through the night, and the day; simply trapped in the universe you wove. Risa, Connor, and Lev were some of the most vividly written characters I have ever read. You feel their pain, their conflict, and you try in your mind to figure out the life their living. This distopian world they’re stuck in is beautifully horrifying. The logic behind it all is perhaps the scariest part; the government approval, the Happy Jack camps… I’m shivering just thinking about it.
When I was done reading it, I raced to my mom and told her that she MUST, MUST read it. She read maybe ten pages, and asked me about the plot. I eagerly told her about it, hoping that she’d be more apt to reading it. However, it resulted instead in something a bit crueler. When I was bad the next day, she yelled “EMILY ROSE I AM GOING TO HAVE YOU UNWOUND!”
I cried. It scared me so much.
That’s the impact of your books.
I’m in eleventh grade now, or at least, I will be after this summer. Unwind continues to be the ONLY book that has ever scared me. You inspire me. I aspire to be an author now, as well as when I get older (because an amateur is just a professional who didn’t quit, and an amatuer is someone who does what they love too often for it to be just a habit!). I will definitely be exploring your other books, and just discovering your site has filled me with excitement.

Thank you so much for doing what you do.
Emily L

Dear Mr. Shusterman,

I have read several of your books and have enjoyed them immensely. As a Literature major in college and a teacher, I find your characters and stories to be fascinating and I see students becoming more interested in reading when they pick up one of your books and get hooked by the story.

However, that is not what interests me most about your books. What I find especially compelling is that your stories address topics most books avoid. Many books talk about death, but avoid the subject of God, prayer, and an afterlife. Similarly many books will discuss embarrassment, shame, disappointment, and relationships, but your books examine these topics in great detail and include the internal debate about the decisions instead of taking the easy way out (e.g. “Suddenly, Jason knew exactly what he should do…”).

Thank you for making me and my students think about the themes in your books. Your stories are a great jumping off point for deeper discussion and I find myself I look forward to reading more of your books (Unwind is next on my list).

C.J.

Mr. Shusterman,

I’m a 10th grader in my high school’s honors english class, and a young writer. In class we are working on author reports that not only include biographies, but reflections on how authors’ books mirror American values or themes. As I read Unwind, I realized just how perfect the book is for this assignment. Not only does the plot pose many questions that cannot be answered in a single sentence, but the time and setting show many moral issues that America seems to be struggling with at this point in time. I know you want your books to make people think about the possibilities in our world, and , at least for me, Unwind serves that purpose.

I feel like writing is a tool, but one that is powerful. It seems that with what seems like just a few pages, a writer can either lull a reader to sleep, or keep them up at night, pondering things that most people don’t want to think about. You handle this tool with mastery, and I look forward to reading more of your books.
Thank you for your time,
E

Dear Mr. Shusterman,
I am a reading specialist at a small rural school in upstate New York. My job is to administer remedial services to struggling readers in grades seven through ten. Many of these students have been unsuccessful in reading from an early age and have also become reluctant readers. Often they “brag” about never completing a novel to cover up their inadequaces. This year I used your novel, The Schwa Was Here , with my groups of seventh grade students. I had a group of girls who were kept on edge and loved the love triangle aspect. My group of boys, however, were enthralled with the whole book. When they would come into my room they headed directly for the books and sat down ready to read. Even though it was set in Brooklyn and far removed from their own setting they were able to relate to the book on several levels. They loved the humor, characters and the blowing up of Manny Bullpucky. We finished the book today and they were asking about other books. I know that I look forward to reading your other books as well.

I have never written to an author before but I wanted to thank you for this exceptional novel. It was so encouraging as an educator to see my students become involved with the reading of a novel. I know this novel will stay in my program for years to come.
Thank you,
J.M.

Hello there,

My name is [name removed], and I am slightly older than the intended target of Unwind, but not by much. I have to say, I love Neal Shusterman’s book with a passion. One of the things about it that appeals to me the most is that the future depicted in the novel doesn’t seem too far away. Perhaps, we could say, Shusterman might become the Jules Verne of our times, in that he had an uncanny ability to visualize the future? Frightening thought indeed, if one considers all the possible implications.

In any case, I only just stumbled upon this news article, which froze the blood in my veins. This is the link: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/only-breed-smart-babies-ethicist/story-fn6t2xlc-1226005179171

There are so many wrong things about this… How can it be that an ethicist, of all people, feels motivated to voice these ideas? What have we, as a society, as human beings, become?

Anyway, I just thought you might find this article interesting, and maybe even relevant.

Best wishes,

A reader from Caracas, Venezuela. (Yes, Unwind has fans down here. )

Dear Neal:

Hello and how are you? I am [name removed], an 8th grade Communication
Arts instructor in Platte City, Missouri. Thank you so much for taking
time out of your very busy schedule to read my e-mail.

Though I’m ancient (49), this is only my 3rd year of teaching. I have
amassed a collection of more than 2500 for my classroom library
because I truly believe that passionate reading is the secret to a
well-rounded and successful life. My students come to me in August and
most are lackluster readers. They only read because they are required
to. We spend lots of time finding books that they love and in about a
month’s time, most of these students are reading at a pace of around 1
book every 10 days to two weeks. This truly fuels my love and passion
for teaching.

I wanted to write to you today to let you know how amazingly popular
your book “Unwind” is in my classroom. It is my go-to book for
reluctant readers (both boys and girls). I can’t thank you enough for
reaching these students through your magnificent story and edge-of-
your-seat page turner. It is one of my own favorite books as well. In
my three years of teaching, I’ll bet that I have had more than 40
students read this book. They love it!

If you keep writing wonderful books, I’ll keep leading students to them!

Sincerely,
K.M.
Platte City, MO

Hallo Neal Shusterman

in not large Polish town Olesnica there is a particular library

GLOWINSKIS’ Foreign language Social Library

It is special therefore that all the books of this library and the huge
gallery of illustrations (digitals and pictures) are donated by the illustrators,
writers, librarians, publishers and the people of large heart from whole the World.
I will be very, very happy, if also from You I will have in my library anything from
Your activity, for example Your own book (with autograph or dedication), the book
with Your illustrations or one (perhaps more) Your illustration.

See please, from who I have just the illustrations and books:

http://glowinski.olesnica.pl/index.php?lang=en&page=galeria

http://glowinski.olesnica.pl/index.php?lang=pl&page=swiatowyksiegozbior

GLOWINSKIS’ LIBRARY lends of books for nothing
and I am working in my library free of charge, as volunteer.
The glory, popularity of my library and quantity of books
and illustrations depends on people of large heart, also on You …

With compliments,

Tadeusz Glowinski – librarian volunteer

Neal,

I wanted to take the time to tell you how much I appreciate you as an author. You’ve been a huge inspiration to me from the moment I picked up Everlost. I’ve been writing stories since my mind could form words on paper. I know that’s nothing impressive considering every child does the same, but writing has been a huge part of my life, just as reading has. I’d been longing to find a book that out shined the cliché happy endings and monster stories you hear now that mainly involve the vampire race. I was looking for something with a twist that was completely unique. It was as if fate had brought Everlost to me then. I was in my senior year of high school when I came across it. I was stuck in this root of feeling terrified constantly because I knew one day I was going to die and it could happen any moment. Call me paranoid, but it was a real problem for me because it wasn’t death itself that scared me, but the unknown of what came after. Even raised Catholic doesn’t give you a true comfort of knowing what’s to come. It’s hard to trust.

I tried to dig my nose into books to escape the thought of the fate we all head to, but I wasn’t expecting to find my nose in a book like Everlost. It made a really big difference in my life. It really all started with my relations to Allie and Nick. It wasn’t the fact that they’re technically ghosts and my well-known nickname is Ghost. It was when I read Everlost and read about Allie, I saw so much of myself. She was head strong and had some problems taking in other people’s ideas if she didn’t see them fit. She defied what most people took comfort in because she knew the easy way wasn’t the right way. She was stubborn and tricky with a slight hint of an attitude problem. She pushed Nick around so much….just like me and my best friend, Nathan.

Nathan and I were brought up in this world just like Nick and Allie were brought up in Everlost. We came across other companions, but in the end, we have a loyalty to each other. When we were little, I pushed Nathan around like crazy. Sometimes I even made him cry. For that, he bought me a shirt that said just that: “I make boys cry”. I’ve dragged him into many situations he hasn’t wanted to be involved with, but he followed me anyway. Just like Nick followed Allie to The Haunter. We’re had our fits with each other, just as Nick and Allie. Reading about them felt like reading about my best friend and I which only brought more comfort to me. Maybe if Nathan and I were brought up in this world together, we’ll do so in the next. Who knows? I’d like to think so.

Anyway, I’ve strayed from what I was getting at. You brought me a peace that I didn’t have before five months ago and now just finishing Everwild, you’ve left my head spinning in such a wonderful way again. I couldn’t tear myself away from this book. I stayed up until 7 am reading. I know that makes me sound like one of those psychologically unstable fans, but I can assure you I’m just a normal 18 year old girl who is just trying to still figure things out and find her place. I just happen to find the place I’m at more tolerable when I’ve got such a great book at my side. I know I’d never be an Everlost….ling…….an Afterlight, which is sad to think I could be missing out on an adventure of a life time [ironic], but it’s still kind of cool to think that something like that is possible. I’m not one to close out any options.

And there I go straying off topic again. Sorry!! There is just so much I could spill to you that it’s nearly oozing from me like the chocolate to a familiar ogre.

Back on track now, you’re an extreme inspiration to me and my absolute favorite author I’ve ever come across. I can only hope to be as good as you one day. I have yet to read your other book due to the fact that I and my family are so short on money these days, but I can’t wait to dive into more of your books when I get the chance! I hear Unwind is a real knock out!

I heard Everlost is being made into a movie as well. I can’t wait to see the result of it=] Too bad I’m too old to play any parts. I’d die to Zin the Ripper in Everwild……ok, bad joke. I do love, Zin, though. I already have this love for acting her out. I can never read her parts in my head. I always read them out loud and in a Southern accent. Ha ha…you probably think I’m crazy. Well, either way, you’ve come up with something that I can truly appreciate and it will forever be in my heart. You probably get emails like this all the time, so blah blah blah, I’m your #1 fan! Blah make me a character! Blah I won’t be surprised if your trilogy ends up in Everlost itself! Blah I love you! Blah!

Your Everfan,

C.G.

 

Hi Mr. Shusterman,

I am a librarian at a middle school in the Chicago Area. Whenever, I get an order of new books and yours are among them, I grab your book first and take it home. I wanted you to know I read Bruiser in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. Then I annoyed my family all day talking about it until they decided I had to read it out loud to them, since I only had 1 copy and they all couldn’t read it at once.

We sent a long night reading, and when I was getting hoarse, they still wouldn’t let me stop reading. Of course, I had to do voices. . . .

Bottom line, I think it’s amazing. You made me laugh and cry inside of 20 pages. I appreciate how three dimensional the characters were. It broke my heart when Tennyson asked Brew to come to the lacrosse game, knowing what it would do to him.

You have such a gift and I appreciate you so much. You definitely have made a difference in my students’ world, all 1000 of them, as I can never keep your books on the shelf!

Thank you so much!

Your avid reader,

K.H.

This I got as a tattoo last year; thought you might like it.  I really enjoy all of your books, and am still hoping to make a movie out of full tilt someday.

– A.E.