Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman | **** | The second installment in the Arc of a Scythe series builds on both the storyline and the tensions established in Book 1. Scythe introduced a future where all human problems had been solved by a benevolent AI called The Thunderhead.
This piece of the story introduces Greyson Tolliver, who is not a scythe, but possesses the integrity and self-abnegation associated with the ideal scythes. As it tells Greyson's story, and the continues the stories of Rowan and Citra from Book 1, Thunderhead begins to explore the possibility that power — whether it's wielded by men or machine — necessarily creates the conditions for abuse of power.
One thing I especially appreciate about this series (so far) is the wide net Shusterman casts for readers. Although the subject matter is occasionally violent, it's not gorily so, and although there is some language, it's kept minimal enough that I would see no problem with recommending it to any student — especially since the questions it forces the reader to ask about power, technology, and human nature are universally worthy of consideration.
And, like Book 1, it ends in a spot that virtually guarantees you'll have to read the next book as quickly as possible.
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