Uglies
by Scott Westerfeld Book Review by Miranda Fraser (Moses) ISBN: 0-439-80611-9 I honestly cannot believe I never wrote a book review for this! I think because I did one on the graphic novel 'Shay's Story' that somehow I felt I had written about the original story. This is another one of those books/book series that I have read over and over. I loved this entire series, even though, admittedly the next two books in the series kind of break your heart. And then the fourth one, which is arguably a companion book more than a direct continuation of the story, was also really well done. My husband and I both read this book in middle school and I've reread it and recommended it countless times. It's one of those YA books that a lot people have either read, or would enjoy, so it's always a safe bet to suggest it in conversation. In The Uglies series it's a post apocalyptic world, some hundreds of years after a disaster reshaped the world and it's governments. In this new world everyone is born "ugly" and then on their 16th birthday they are given "pretty" surgery. All of their flaws are corrected and they will all look like super models. No one can fight or bully each other when they're all the same and perfect. Then you get moved into Pretty-ville (I don't think that's the exact name I just don't remember it, lol) where you have all the high-tech gadgets and parties you want. Can you smell the problem with this yet? Well our heroine, though honestly, I am not sure I want to call her that, Tally Youngblood is THRILLED to get this surgery. I mean, if you've been told your whole life that you were ugly wouldn't you jump at the chance to be 'fixed'? During her wait Tally becomes friends with a girl named Shay. And Shay doesn't want to be rebuilt, she thinks there is another option out there. And she's right. Far off the grid is a place called The Smoke where people never get the surgery and they live normal human lives. Shay runs away to this place and Tally stays behind. That's when The Specials (government/police), inform Tally that if she doesn't help them find Shay, she will never get her pretty surgery. Needless to say Tally goes on this mission with the sole intent of turning her in. After all the government wouldn't steer you wrong would they? It is discovered that they are rebuilding more than just your body and you are essentially controlled by your government in every way. Tally, finds The Smoke, finds Shay and a whole other world she knows nothing about. Suddenly it's a lot harder to decide if she wants to be a Pretty or not. There is a love interest and a bit of a love triangle, I know, how positively typical for a YA novel. But the story is really good and it's not too annoying of a love triangle for long, at least not that I remember. And it goes without saying that this is book one of a trilogy. After this is Pretties and then Specials. And like I said there is a fourth book called Extras. I feel like if you read the original trilogy the fourth book should also be read so you see more of the world and what's been happening in it. A lot of things happen throughout the stories and it's crazy, upsetting, and heartbreaking- but also riveting. ALSO BEFORE ANYONE COMES FOR ME- Trigger Warning in the second book. There is 'self-mutilation' in this novel. AND at the risk of posting spoilers I want you to know that I might be more upset about this if it wasn't under the context of the fact that pretties don't own their own minds and are under constant supervision so that nothing happens to them. But then they discover that pain helps them break free of the mind control. It completely plays into the story, it isn't a suicidal thing or anything in that context. BUT it has made a lot of mothers upset and so I want to be very clear on that being a part of this series. If you're not completely turned off to reading this I highly suggest it. Scott Westerfeld originally started out as a Scifi author and moved over to YA because it was a very lucrative writing genre at the time. I think that is really obvious with his style of writing that he clearly has some sort of a scifi background or interest. I hope you guys enjoy this book and as always links to the authors pages can be found down below. Read on my fellow book worms may we one day have Belle's library. GUYS SCOTT WESTERFELD I COMING BACK IN SEPTEMBER WITH NEW BOOKS TO CONTINUE IN THIS SERIES. I AM FREAKING OUT SO HARD RIGHT NOW. Also this review was written in march so waiting to share this with you guys is going to be so difficult.
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