Shusterman, N. (2016). Scythe: Arc of a scythe. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Scythe: Arc of a ScytheWritten by: Neal Shusterman
Publish in 2016 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Grades 7 and Up
ISBN 978-14424724626
Book Review
This 2017 Printz Award-winning novel is set in an Utopian future where death has been conquered and a select group of Scythes have been selected to control the population through "gleanings." Scythe explores the true meaning of immortality while discussing ethics, morality and politics. Alternating between two Scythe apprentices, Citra and Rowan, Scythe forces the reader to consider what it means to human - and what it means to be truly alive.
Teaching Ideas
English
10.8 The student will collect, evaluate, organize and present information to create a research project.
After reading Scythe, each student will select a Scythe and research the historical origins of their namesake. One aspect of the assignment will be for students to analyze why, based on their actions, that Scythe might have chosen that particular namesake.
Virginia and U.S. Government
GOVT.17 The student will demonstrate knowledge of personal character traits that facilitate thoughtful and effective participation in civic life by
a) practicing trustworthiness and honesty;
b) practicing courtesy and respect for the rights of others;
c) practicing responsibility, accountability, and self-reliance;
d) practicing respect for the law;
e) practicing patriotism;
f) practicing financial responsibility.
After completing Scythe, students in Virginia & U.S. Government classes will work in groups to select and research one aspect of civic life. Students will analyze whether or or not the citizens in Scythe exhibit these character traits and discuss how they impact society.
Health
Healthy Decisions
9.2 The student will explain the impact of health risks and identify strategies and resources to limit risk.
f) Describe the need for proper nutrition, sleep and rest, physical activity, and healthy body weight and other personal wellness behaviors, and develop a daily wellness plan.
Working independently, students will use library resources to research and develop a daily wellness plan. After reading Scythe, students will discuss why a wellness plan would not be necessary in this society and discuss whether this has had a positive or negative impact on the mental health of the society as a whole.
Biology
Bio.8 The student will investigate and understand dynamic equilibria within populations, communities, and ecosystems.
a) interactions within and among populations including carrying capacities, limiting factors, and growth curves
After completing their unit discussing dynamic equilibria within populations, communities, and ecosystems, and reading Scythe, students will research the carrying capacities, limiting factors, and growth curves of a self-selected population. Next, students will participate in a class discussion regarding population control through "gleanings" in Scythe. Is this a practice we're seeing in the animal kingdom?
English
9.4 The student will read, comprehend, and analyze a variety of literary texts including narratives, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and drama.
e. Explain the relationships between and among elements of literature: characters, plot, setting, tone, point of view, and theme.
After reading Scythe, students will work in small groups to create two slides. One slide will define the element of plot that the group has selected, the second slide will explain that concept within the context of Scythe. The librarian will present multiple presentation platforms and explain their various strengths and weakness and will be on hand to provide support.
Further Explorations
Wisdom from YA Authors on Leaving Home: Neal Shusterman - In this NPR interview, Neal Shusterman discusses the summer he turned 16 and moved to Mexico City from his Brooklyn home. This interview will appeal to students on the brink of graduating, and setting off on their own adventures. Complete with an audio version and transcript, this interview is accessible to all learners.
Neal Shusterman's Website - Students can explore Shusterman's previously published novels, learn about upcoming releases and connect with Shusterman on social media by accessing this website. Students who enjoy Scythe will enjoy learning more about his published works.
Utopias in America - This website provides students with a brief explanation of the history of the Utopian ideal and the history of Utopian societies in the United States. Students who are curious about the origins of the the Utopian ideal will enjoy learning more about the concept, and the very real attempts to create Utopian societies in the U.S.
The Beginner's Guide to the Cloud - One of the underlying issues discussed in Scythe is the presence of The Thunderhead, an all-knowing, ever-present presence that monitors the actions of citizens and interacts with them. Students should see a parallel between The Thunderhead and the Cloud. This article will introduce students to the concept of the Cloud.
Quandary - Quandary is a game that challenges students to build a colony in a futuristic society. Students must solve challenges that have no clear answer, but have huge consequences for all members of the colony. This game challenges students to make on-the-spot ethical decisions. Designed for ages 8 and up, this interactive game will appeal to all students.
Scythe Book Trailer - This book trailer is sure to garner student interest prior to reading, and asks the reader: what kind of scythe would you choose to be? A question that will haunt readers throughout the course of the novel.
Positing a Perfect World: Neal Shusterman on Scythe - This interview conducted by Kiera Parrot of School Library Journal, features a candid discussion with the author regarding multiple facets of the novel. It also includes some teasers about what's coming in book 2, Thunderhead.
Partner Titles
Bird, B. (Director). (2015). Tomorrowland [Motion picture on DVD]. United States: Walt Disney Pictures.This film, produced by Disney, tells the story of grownup "boy genius" and his adventures in the Utopian society - Tomorrowland. Students of all ages will enjoy the story and enjoy comparing the Disney version of Utopia with Shusterman's.
Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children.
Lois Lowry's The Giver is also set in an (arguably) Utopian society in which each member of society has a specific role that they are meant to fulfill. However, as protagonist, Jonas, begins his role, he realizes that the pills he has been taking eliminate his emotions. He begins to question what it means to be human, and what it means to truly feel. This Newbery Medal-winning novel is sure to hook readers of all ages and reading levels.
Anderson, M.T. (2006). The astonishing life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the nation, volume 1: The pox party. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.Instead of being set in the future, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing is set in a re-imagined past. Octavian, a young black man, is held captive by a group of philosophers in pre-Revolutionary Boston who are conducting an experiment to determine whether or not Africans are of the same species as the philosophers. At first, Octavian is convinced that he lives within a Utopian society, but that image is shattered when the experiment ends. Anderson poses a variety of moral and ethical questions that fans of Shusterman's Scythe are sure to enjoy. Winner of the National Book Award, The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing will force readers to consider their definitions of right and wrong.
Shusterman, N. (2007). Unwind. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Publishers.
Fans of Scythe are sure to enjoy Shusterman's Unwind Dystology. Book one of the series is titled Unwind, and imagines a Dystopian society in which parents are allowed to retroactively abort their children between the ages of 13 and 18. The story follows three different teens who have been selected for "unwinding," a process by which the organs of a teen are donated to other teens in need, ensuring that the "unwound" aren't technically killed. Navigating the murky waters surrounding abortion with a deft hand, Shusterman keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they consider whether "unwinding" is the more humane option.
George Orwell's 1984 imagines a future where people are taught to disbelieve everything they see and hear - unless it comes from The Party. Citizens are constantly monitored by "Big Brother." Students who are intrigued by the role of The Thunderhead in Shusterman's Scythe will find an interesting comparison between Big Brother and The Thunderhead. 1984 is often taught at various levels of high school English classes, and would work well as a paired text with Shusterman's Printz Award-winning Scythe.
References
Fee, J. (2013, August 26). The beginner's guide to the Cloud. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2013/08/26/what-is-the-cloud/#Ufd01xH0DgqI
Learning Games Network. (2012). Quandary. Retrieved from https://www.quandarygame.org/play
National Park Service. (2017). Utopian societies: The Amana Colonies National Register of Historic Places travel itinerary. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/amana/utopia.htm
Parrot, K., & Shusterman, N. (2016, November 29). Positing a perfect world: Neal Shusterman on Scythe. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2016/11/teens-ya/positing-a-perfect-world-neal-shusterman-on-scythe/
Riveted. (2016, November 22). Scythe book trailer. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQcycxxkBZA
Shusterman, N. (2017). Neal Shusterman. Retrieved July 17, 2017, from http://www.storyman.com/
Shusterman, N., & Simon, S. (2016, August 27). Wisdom from YA authors on leaving home: Neal Shusterman. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2016/08/27/491613518/wisdom-from-ya-authors-on-leaving-home-neal-shusterman
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