Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
Tally Youngblood is Ugly and all of her friends are Pretty.
Luckily for Tally, she just has a few more weeks until she gets to be Pretty as well. Where she lives, it is simply a matter of waiting until you are 16, then you receive surgery to become Pretty. At that point, you get to move to New Pretty Town, where you and all of the other ‘new’ Pretties get to party your lives away. Tally can’t wait to become Pretty and join her best friend Peris. Then she meets Shay, another Ugly who shares her birthday, but who is not planning on becoming Pretty when she turns 16. When Shay runs away to a settlement beyond the city where everyone is Ugly and invites Tally to come along with her, life gets very complicated for Tally. Does she want to be Pretty? How badly does she want it?
So I was interested to read “Uglies” since everyone seems to be talking about and enjoying it, but I was skeptical as well. First of all, I was skeptical of the hype. I mean, “Twilight” had a lot of hype and, though I thought it was engaging, I didn’t really think it was very good. Then, I started reading the book and got even more skeptical. I was sure this book was going to suck because “New Pretty Town” sounded like a ridiculous adolescent fantasy: everyone is gorgeous, it is implied they all fool around all the time with no consequences, and they love to party and drink. I mean come on, this author and book are clearly going to be infantile!
Then, all of the sudden, I realized I was halfway through the book. The back story about the disappearance of the ‘Rusties’ and the emergence of this new civilization was fascinating and the discussion of the implications of being Pretty was fantastic. Tally is a great character and I think the story was told well – and the adolescent fantasy thing stopped bothering me, because Westerfeld had a deeper plan for it. Unlike with “Twilight,” where I kept reading because I felt I had to, I’m going to continue reading this series because I want to.
I’ve been kind of skeptical on this one too but so many people have raved about it. I walk past it at the library every time. Like I said on your teaser, I’m going to be the last to read it but maybe this time I’ll pick it up. Not like I need another series to get hooked on though-lol.
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The good thing about getting hooked on this series is that the books are REALLY quick reads, even if they are 300-400 pages. I found I can read them about twice as fast as another novel of similar size, even compared with some other YA books.
I have this one on request at the library. They only have the first one, so I’m not sure if I want to love it or hate it so I don’t have to buy the rest. That’s probably strange, but oh well. From your review, I think I will definitely like it.
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Great review. I have this series on my wish list.
I was skeptical at first too, but wow, did this book impress me!
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Great review! I’ve been pretty skeptical as well, and it’s kept me from reading this book for a while. But with the reviews that it’s been getting lately, I think I’ll have to try it!
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This one does go quick, I agree. Hope you like the rest of the series, too!
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Everyone in my family has read–and loved–Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras. One of the fun things about the first two is your acquisition of the language–after awhile, you may find yourself using the terms. One of our favorites is “bubbly,” of course, and we have accused each other of not being “pretty-making.” Have you ever seen the author’s blog? Almost every one of his commenters adds “la” or “wa” after the name.
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I just finished (and loved again) Pretties. I haven’t said “bubbly” or “pretty-making” yet, but I imagine it is only a matter of time.
Good review! I agree about these being quick reads… in between all of the hoverboard chases and death-defying stunts you barely notice the social commentary!
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Although when I DON’T skip over the social commentary for the next hoverboard chase, the social commentary makes me very happy.
Someone reviewed this lately on my blogroll…I think it was Carrie at Books and Movies. She loved it. It definitely wasn’t something I would have picked up on my own, after my own disgruntled reading of Twilight! If I find the series in my meanderings, I will certainly now pick it up!
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I have been waiting for Pretties from my library for weeks now! Fortunately, my best friend just picked up the entire series on the cheap at Powell’s, and she’s willing to loan it to me since she hasn’t started yet.
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Excellent review…Uglies is upstairs waiting for me on my huge TBR list! It’s a hit at my middle school library!!
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Isn’t this good?! I really loved it but I haven’t picked up the others in this series yet
OOH, glad you liked this one. I need to read it at some point!
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Yes, you DO need to read it at some point. Make sure you have the entire series on hand when you do so.
i have read the whole series and i loved it!! if you read the first 3 make sure you read the last one lot of people skip but it was my favorite!!
When I first heard about Uglies, I was pretty wary about picking it up due to the fact that the words “uglies” and “pretties” hauntingly transport me back to a place I’d rather leave in my past – junior high. But, like you, I loved the novel (and the series). It was such a pleasant read and I’m excited to read more of Scott Westerfeld’s novels.
Have you read any of his other works?
Only this series, sadly. I keep meaning to read his new book, Leviathan, but I still haven’t gotten around to it.
I hated this book. It was ridiculously boring. I think the whole thing is jjst some depressed teen trying to find herself in avery boring way