LoveReading4Kids Says
LoveReading4Kids Says
Companion to the Arc of a Scythe trilogy (Printz Honor-winning Scythe, Thunderhead and The Toll), Neal Shusterman’s Gleanings is an inventive way of enhancing readers’ immersion in its dystopian world, characters and themes. Created in collaboration with David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofia Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman, it’s an anthology of short sci-fi stories that add depth to the Scythe series through backstories, histories, and character insights, with the added bonus of new Scythes, new enemies and new heroes also brought to light.
Thrilling and thought-provoking as it tackles life-over-death themes, power play, population control and corruption, this book is a must-have for existing fans of the series, and a prompt for dystopia fans who’ve yet to discover it that this really should be added to their reading wish-list.
Reviewed by Joanne OwenJoanne Owen is a writer, reviewer and workshop presenter whose lifelong love of books began when she was growing up in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
More reviews by Joanne Owen About Gleanings
New edition for 2026 with brand-new iconic covers across the series.A thrilling and terrifying collection of stories from the world of Scythe - the New York Times bestseller and a Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time."A true successor to The Hunger Games" Maggie Stiefvater, bestselling author of Shiver and The Raven Boys, on Scythe.What if death was the only thing left to control?Storylines continue. Origin stories are revealed. And new Scythes emerge...There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.Neal Shusterman - along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofìa Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman - returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you've followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.The Arc of a Scythe series is globally bestselling, award-winning and perfect for fans of Susanne Collins, Pierce Brown and Marie Lu.Collect all the books in the series:ScytheThunderheadThe TollGleaningsPRE-ORDER RISING THUNDER - OUT DECEMBER 2026!
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About
Gleanings Synopsis
New edition for 2026 with brand-new iconic covers across the series.
A thrilling and terrifying collection of stories from the world of Scythe - the New York Times bestseller and a Time Magazine Best YA Book of All Time.
"A true successor to The Hunger Games" Maggie Stiefvater, bestselling author of Shiver and The Raven Boys, on Scythe.
What if death was the only thing left to control?
Storylines continue. Origin stories are revealed. And new Scythes emerge...
There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.
Neal Shusterman - along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofìa Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman - returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you've followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.
The Arc of a Scythe series is globally bestselling, award-winning and perfect for fans of Susanne Collins, Pierce Brown and Marie Lu.
Collect all the books in the series:
Scythe
Thunderhead
The Toll
Gleanings
PRE-ORDER RISING THUNDER - OUT DECEMBER 2026!
About This Edition
| ISBN: |
9781529538342 |
| Publication date: |
13th August 2026 |
| Author: |
Neal Shusterman |
| Publisher: |
Walker Books Ltd an imprint of Walker Books |
| Format: |
Paperback |
| Pagination: |
426 pages |
| Series: |
Arc of a Scythe |
| Suitable For: |
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| Other Genres: |
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Press Reviews
Neal Shusterman Press Reviews
'Wow! This was such an unexpected little treat - and a must read for any fans of the original Arc of a Scythe trilogy. [...] I think I'll definitely be revisiting the series at some point, and may well tandem read it alongside some of these short stories to add to the experience. An easy 5 stars!' - Camilla, NetGalley
'I enjoyed these stories and it fascinated me to hear more about the world through a bunch of different authors.' -Michaela, NetGalley
'I absolutely love this Universe, so a collection of short stories featuring some familiar and some new characters is exactly what I needed. Each one is written with the usual style and flair, and I've been inspired to reread the main series again as a result!' - Liv, NetGalley
'[...] a must read for any fans of the original Arc of a Scythe trilogy.' - Camilla, NetGalley
'A great collection of short stories for lovers of Scythe and for all others as you don't need to know the universe to appreciate great storytelling.' - NetGalley
Author
About Neal Shusterman
Award-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Follow him on Instagram @nealshusterman
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