This question is up to individual reader opinion. I believe that it could be argued that the characters are not heroes. One of Connor's major motivations is self-preservation. He doesn't want to be unwound, and he's basically willing to do whatever it takes to avoid that final outcome. Generally speaking, heroes are brave and selfless for the good of others. Connor has these moments—he does rescue a storked child, and he does risk his life for Risa and Lev—however, he does act quite often for his own survival. Risa is similar to Connor in that regard, but I do think that Risa acts with selfless intentions more often than Connor. Her actions are not as big and bold as Connor's actions, but once she becomes the medical person at the Graveyard, she is constantly putting her own needs second. That's fairly heroic in my opinion, but it is not the image of a violent hero that movies and most other hero stories portray. Lev is the story's third main character, and I cannot support him being a hero character. He does save many people at the end of the story, but throughout the rest of the story, Lev is motivated by hatred and revenge. He is so fueled by these feelings that he turns himself into a clapper in order to kill hundreds of innocent people. The fact that he doesn't go through with it doesn't make him heroic—it makes him a normal, rational, and moral individual.

It is possible to make a case that several of the characters in Unwind are heroes.  Here are the main three, in my opinion: Connor, Lev, and Admiral Dunfree.  Connor is an obvious choice because he is rebelling against a society that would take his life just because his parents are tired of dealing with him.  Instead of going quietly to be “unwound,” Connor fights and escapes.  He demonstrates bravery when he does this, but his heroism is shown throughout the novel when he tries to help others, such as Lev, survive, too.  Connor shows the reader that the decision made by his parents is the wrong decision—he is a good and honorable person who can, and does, make a difference in the world. 

Lev is also a hero.  As a tithe, at first he believes he should do what society expects of him.  In fact, throughout the novel, he is resentful of Connor for saving him.  He even turns Connor in, but he regrets his actions later on.  Lev’s heroism is displayed when he finally begins to doubt the ethics of unwinding, and he saves Connor’s life.

One can also make the case that Admiral Dunfree is a hero.  Although he is definitely not a hero in the traditional sense, what he is doing is heroic.  He saves the unwinds by keeping them in “The Graveyard” until they are 18.  Like Lev, he believes in the Bill of Life, but he changes his mind when his own son is unwound.