Arc of a Scythe Series by Neal Shusterman 4 Books Collection Set - Young Adult - Paperback

Titles in This Set
Scythe
Thunderhead
The Toll
Gleanings

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Walker Books
Age Range: Ages 14-16 (Grades 9-11)

Overview
Follow Citra Terranova and Rowan Damisch through Neal Shusterman's Printz Honor-winning Arc of a Scythe series, complete in this four-book paperback set. Beginning with Scythe and continuing through Thunderhead, The Toll, and companion volume Gleanings, the collection follows a future world where disease, war, and aging have been eliminated, and only trained Scythes may end a life. As Citra and Rowan train as reluctant scythe apprentices, they confront a society governed by an all-knowing cloud called the Thunderhead and a scythedom whose ideals begin to fracture. Perfect for teen and adult readers who love morally complex, dystopian science fiction.

About the Books
This four-book paperback set collects Neal Shusterman's acclaimed Arc of a Scythe saga in full, tracing a future society that has conquered death itself. In Scythe, teenagers Citra and Rowan are chosen as reluctant apprentices to the scythedom, the sanctioned order responsible for "gleaning" citizens to keep the population in check, and must learn to reconcile mercy with duty. Thunderhead widens the lens to the omniscient, benevolent AI that oversees nearly every aspect of human life yet is barred from interfering with the scythedom, exposing cracks of corruption within the very institution meant to preserve order. The Toll brings the original trilogy to its explosive conclusion as Citra and Rowan's fates converge again amid a scythedom in open crisis, testing whether justice can survive when absolute power goes unchecked. Rounding out the set, Gleanings gathers short stories set across the timeline of the Scythedom, filling in origins, side characters, and pivotal moments that deepen the wider mythology built across the trilogy. Together, these four books trace an arc from personal coming-of-age drama to sweeping questions of governance, mortality, and free will. Shusterman's world-building is precise and unsettling, imagining a post-mortal society down to its bureaucratic detail, while his characters wrestle with genuinely difficult ethical questions rather than easy answers. Ideal for fans of high-concept speculative fiction, book clubs, and classroom discussion, this collection rewards readers who want a complete, continuous read through one of modern YA's most inventive dystopian universes.

Key Benefits

• Contains all four books in the Arc of a Scythe series in one matching paperback set
• First installment Scythe is a Michael L. Printz Honor Book from a National Book Award-winning author
• Compelling, discussion-worthy premise about mortality, power, and free will suited to teens and adults alike
• Companion volume Gleanings adds extra short stories that expand the series' world and timeline
• Brand-new paperback condition, ready to read or gift immediately
• Great pick for birthdays, holidays, back-to-school, or building a classroom or home library

Book-by-Book Guide
Scythe — Teenagers Citra and Rowan are chosen as reluctant apprentices to a scythe and must master the grim art of "gleaning" in a world where death has been all but eliminated.
Thunderhead — A near-omniscient AI called the Thunderhead watches over humanity but cannot intervene in the scythedom, as corruption begins to spread through the very order meant to keep society humane.
The Toll — The trilogy's finale brings Citra and Rowan's fates crashing together again as the scythedom fractures and the fight for a just system reaches its breaking point.
Gleanings — A companion collection of short stories set across the timeline of the Scythedom, filling in origin stories and pivotal moments from the wider Arc of a Scythe universe.

About the Author
Neal Shusterman is an American author of young adult and middle-grade fiction, known for tackling ambitious, high-concept premises with emotional depth. He won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature for Challenger Deep and received a Michael L. Printz Honor for Scythe, the first novel in the Arc of a Scythe series. In 2024 he received the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring his lasting contribution to writing for teens. Shusterman has authored more than thirty books, including the Unwind dystology and the Skinjacker trilogy, and also writes for film and television.

Why You'll Love This Collection
This complete four-book set delivers Neal Shusterman's entire Arc of a Scythe saga in one continuous, addictive read, with no waiting between books. It's a standout gift for teens who love morally complex sci-fi, a smart pick for a birthday or holiday gift, and an easy way to stock a classroom or home library with a Printz Honor-winning series.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.