Scythe by Neal Shusterman - Science Fiction Winner of The Sakura Medal

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Sakura Medal Winner · Upper Middle & High School Recommendation

Scythe by Neal Shusterman is a compelling science-fiction novel that explores morality, power, and free will in a future where humanity has eliminated disease, war, and even death itself.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things — even death.

Now scythes are the only ones permitted to end life, tasked with controlling the population.

The story follows Citra and Rowan, two teenagers selected as apprentices to a scythe — a role neither of them wants. What unfolds is a tense and thought-provoking examination of ethics, authority, and what it means to be human when life has no natural end.

This novel works particularly well in classrooms for discussions around:

• Ethics and moral responsibility
• Power, governance, and accountability
• Technology and unintended consequences
• Choice, agency, and resistance

Free Library Poster & Classroom Slide

• Download the free poster & PowerPoint slide
• Use code: scythe at checkout
• Includes A3 printable PDF and 16:9 slide format
• Suitable for wall displays, noticeboards, or library shelving

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