Book Review: The Unwanteds

The Unwanteds is a middle-grade fantasy novel set in a dystopian society called Quill, where citizens are divided into three groups: Wanteds, Necessaries, and Unwanteds. At the age of 13, children undergo a yearly judgment in which any sign of creativity is deemed undesirable. The only catch is that those labeled Unwanted are sent to the Death Farm to be killed. However, we soon discover that these children are secretly rescued by a mage named Mr. Today. This is where the story becomes more engaging and hopeful.

We are introduced to a hidden place called Artimé, where the Unwanteds have been saved. It has a school where children are encouraged to develop their creative talents and learn how to use that creativity to perform magic.

At the beginning of the story, I found it somewhat slow, mysterious, and even a bit depressing, especially as the stark realities of Quill are established. The story becomes more interesting and draws me in as I learned about the backstory behind Quill and Artimé. Additionally, Alex, one of the main characters and an Unwanted, has a twin brother, Aaron, who is a Wanted. Alex’s desire to save his brother from Quill, though somewhat impulsive, adds to the emotional depth of the story.

Much of Artimé, along with Mr. Today and the school itself, reminded me of elements from the Harry Potter series. In a similar way that students attend Hogwarts under the guidance of Dumbledore, the children of Artimé are taught, guided, and protected by Mr. Today.

Overall, the book is a story of hope, survival, and perseverance. I enjoyed reading it. While parts of it felt slow, it became more interesting and engaging later in the book. The idea of expressing magic through creativity is especially clever. My wife, who is an artist, especially appreciated this aspect of the story and was the one who recommended the book to me. I would recommend this for middle-grade readers, as well as parents looking for a thoughtful fantasy story that emphasizes creativity, perseverance, and individuality.