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“They understood the misery of being betrayed by life. They understood what it felt like to have less than nothing inside you” (page 284).
The theme of identity is displayed again in this quote along with the theme of emptiness. Risa, Connor, and Lev feel alone in this world without their families, each other by their sides, and not knowing who they are and what their purpose is. They each feel broken and empty from events in their lives. Risa feels betrayed by life because she has never been loved by a family and hasn’t had the chance to show what she has to offer in life. Connor feels betrayed by life because the two people that gave him life are choosing to take it away from him. Lev feels betrayed by life because everything he has been taught and praised for, has been taken away from him. Lev felt the need to become a clapper because he felt as if he now had a purpose again in his life. He needed to feel the slightest bit of life and energy again.

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“This is survival here, and we do what we have to do to survive!” (Dalton Page 275).

The theme right vs wrong is displayed here and throughout the entire novel through Risa’s, Lev’s, and Connor’s choices. They are constantly battling whether to help someone else in trouble or save themselves. Being runaway unwinds and a runaway tithe is a very dangerous life. Choosing yourself is not always the morally “right” thing to do, but it does allow  Risa, Connor, and Lev to survive another day. Risa is lost when she is torn between playing in the band at the Harvest Camp to stay alive longer, or not play because Connor cannot. In the end, Risa plays in the band because she chooses to survive but feels as if she has done the wrong thing.

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“But they loved God more than they loved me, and I hate them for it. So I guess that means I’m going to Hell” (Lev, page 130).
The theme of Religion comes back again in this quote stated by Lev. As the book progresses, Lev becomes angry at his parents for being very religious and choosing him to be a tithe. Lev now portrays religion as a cult and not a beautiful unifying faith. Lev states that his parents loved God more him, so he now hates his parents. He then proceeds to say that he is going to hell for hating his parents. This ties into the theme of Religion and God as someone to fear. Lev thinks that God will punish him for not following and hating his destiny as a tithe and for being angry at his parents.

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“I am lost in every possible way”
(Lev’s thoughts, page 81).
Lev, Risa, and Connor feel as if they have lost and are fighting for their identity throughout the entire book. Risa feels that she has never truly known who she was being a ward of the state. Now that she is being unwinded, Risa feels as if she has lost the smallest bit of identity that she did have. Connor feels lost because of the betrayal from his family. The people who were supposed to love him no matter what, have decided to unwind him. Connor feels lost and that he does not know who he is any more or who he should be. Lev feels lost in the quote from his thoughts because everything he has been told and taught his about is tithing has been ruined. Pastor Dan told him to run from his tithing and he feels as if he does not know what his purpose in life is or who he is as just the boy Lev.

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“Doing the right thing shouldn’t make you ashamed” (page 78).
Throughout Unwind, Lev, Risa, and Connor are torn between right and wrong. They are put into situations where making the “right” choice (that they have been taught is the right choice) is actually the morally “wrong” choice. Even though Lev was not wrong for turning Connor and Risa in for kidnapping him, he felt as if he had made the wrong choice. Lev feels ashamed and guilty for turning Risa and Connor in as he sits in the principal’s office. Lev feels ashamed because of his parent’s values conflict with his morals as a human being. The theme right vs wrong is displayed throughout Unwind when Lev’s, Risa’s, and Connor’s childhood upbringings are challenged with the reality of life’s choices.

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“Being torn from his purpose was the most unnerving thing that ever happened to Lev, but now he understands why God let it happen. It’s a lesson. It’s to show Lev what happens to children who shirk their destiny: They become lost in every possible way” (Page 77).
Religion is a significant theme in the book Unwind. God is seen as the ultimate all mighty being in Unwind, but he is also seen as a God to fear. The character Lev and his family portray God as a rewarding God, but also a God who will punish you if you do wrong. The aspect of religion is portrayed as a brainwashing cult in Unwind, not people who believe in one loving and caring God. Lev was told that being a Tithe was his destiny, his purpose, and a great act towards God. Once Connor ruined Lev’s tithing, Lev felt as if God was coming to punish him.

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“Please, Miss Ward. It’s not dying, and I’m sure everyone here would be more comfortable if you didn’t suggest something so blatantly inflammatory. The fact is, 100 percent of you will still be alive, just in a divided state” (Headmaster, page 24).
To live and to exist are two completely different things. Existence is a major theme in the book Unwind. To be alive means to be living and not dead, but existence is the fact or state of living. Risa ’s headmaster at her school is trying to explain to her that existing and being alive are the same thing. Risa is being told that she going to be unwound and will still be living, just not in her own body. Risa spends the rest of the novel fighting to not stay alive, but to exist. The theme existence is shown through this quote and throughout the entire novel as to whether existing and being alive means that you have to be your original human form, or that you can still exist and be alive in another body.