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ScytheNeal Shusterman

Children's fiction

Scythe

by Neal Shusterman

Book 1 of the Arc of a Scythe series

435 pages · First published 2016

In a future where disease, hunger, war, and natural death have been conquered, humanity controls population through professional killers called scythes. Teenagers Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch are reluctantly apprenticed to Scythe Faraday and must learn the philosophy, discipline, and moral burden of choosing who will die. Their training exposes divisions within the scythedom between those who treat killing as solemn necessity and those who enjoy its power. Neal Shusterman opens the Arc of a Scythe trilogy with dystopian science fiction about mortality, institutional corruption, and what happens when humans gain the authority to manage death itself.

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Bush Tea with Honey + Manhattan

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At a glance

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Spice0 of 5
Suspense1 of 5
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No surprises at chapter twelve

Content notes

Wartime/battle violence and peril · Murder and death · Serious illness/medical themes

Alcohol-Free Pour

Bush Tea with Honey

A fragrant cup of tea suits a lively, lighthearted reading mood.

What you'll need

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How to mix it

  1. Steep the tea and any herbs or whole spices in hot water according to the tea type, then strain. Stir in sweetener and juices. Serve hot.
  2. Garnish: Citrus peel, herb, or fruit from the recipe, if applicable.
  3. Glassware: Mug.
21+

Cocktail Pour · 21+

Manhattan

For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.

A warming pour with a sharp edge suits a lively, lighthearted reading mood.

What you'll need

  • 2 oz rye whiskey
  • 1 oz sweet vermouth
  • 2 dashes aromatic bitters
  • Ice

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How to mix it

  1. Stir with ice until chilled and strain into a chilled coupe.
  2. Garnish: Cocktail cherry or orange twist.
  3. Glassware: Coupe.

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