I was blown away by this book, and will be recommending it to all readers I know with anything in common with my tastes. Part of its impact on me is due to the low/moderate expectations I set out with. I'll also be singing its praises to younger readers, especially my nieces and other young girls (not excluding boys - but the body image themes are often more relevant to young women. Research shows that this is changing dramatically to include men, however).
I'm an adult reader who likes a bit of a challenge, so I must admit to needing to adjust my expectations a little bit - but that became very comfortable in a short time. A book to really settle into and live in for a while. The advanced and mature themes are as sublime as any I've encountered in other reading - and it would be a real boost for the culture if this book continued to gain popularity.
Light sci-fi, beautifully written characters. 5 stars from me.

Share/Like this Review?

It is actually HARD for me to give a review for this book, for I lack the words. Yet I feel that I MUST describe how unbelievably INCREDIBLE this book, author and series is, so that others may enjoy it. So, I simply say a few words: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ! The other best series include Harry Potter (J.K.Rowling), Twighlight (Stephenie Meyer), and Witch (Nancy Holder, Debbie Vigue....I suggest that you read those too!

Share/Like this Review?

First of a teen fantasy trilogy sent in a future world where everyone is given an operation and turned pretty at the age of sixteen. Since we humans apparently hadn't learned our lesson and our civilization as we know it crumbled because of wars started based on differences between us, the powers that be have decided that everyone should be alike. The operation, based on years of scientific research, gives everyone a perfect, symmetrical face, shiny white teeth, sparkling eyes and a toned, trim body. Gone are the little (and big!) imperfections and variations that make us unique.

Of course, there are always going to be rebels out there, and Tally Youngblood meets one of them, a girl named Shay who shares her birthday. As they get to become friends, Tally, who is very much looking forward to turning from an Ugly (read: normal) into a Pretty, soon realizes that Shay isn't so excited about the operation. When she runs away a week before their birthday, Tally is worried about her--but not worried enough to jeopardize her own operation. Excellent start to a series that I'm very much looking forward to continuing; fiction with a bit of a conscience that gives all of us--teens and adults--something to think about.

Share/Like this Review?

This book is excellent! It is the first in the Uglies trilogy (Pretties, Specials) by Scott Westerfeld. They are soon to be made into movies!

These books aren't what I would call fantasy, they are more logical and futuristic and thought-provoking. Though if you like fantasy, you will like this too.

Share/Like this Review?

Though this book is written for a teenage audience, a friend of mine convinced me to give it a try. It is slow to start, but it picks up quickly and is a fast read. I like the storyline and message about beauty and appearance. I think that this is a must read for teenagers. I will read "Pretties" to find out what happens next.

Share/Like this Review?

This book shares many of its themes with the 1964 The Twilight Zone episode "Number Twelve Looks Just Like You"

New technology ensures that citizens never want for food or luxury items, weapons of any kind are largely illegal, and at the age of sixteen everyone undergoes a series of extreme surgeries to better conform to societal standards of beauty. The logic being that, since humans are preconditioned to respond to certain visual cues in each other already (big eyes are non-threatening, a clear complexion and good teeth indicate that a person is healthy), applying these beauty standards will reduce conflict and create a more harmonious societes.

Definately a worthwhile read to sort of see how society is going and what kids are reading about.

Share/Like this Review?

thoroughly enjoyed.

If you enjoyed hunger games, you would like this series!

Share/Like this Review?

I totally enjoyed this series by Scott Westerfeld. It's a futuristic look at the scientific answers to eliminating, by surgery, the things in a human that cause unhappiness and strife. It centers around one girl who bucks the system and attempts to give back freedom of choice. Book five in this series is coming out in December 2010. This series is actually geared towards teenage girls but I'm older than dirt and enjoyed it anyway. Highly recommended.

Share/Like this Review?

First off, this was a great book! For teens and adults. (After all, there's a lot of us who are no longer teens, but don't mind or enjoy stuff like this because we know what we could be missing if we acted our age. ;P) I wasn't sure what to expect after the disappointment in the last teen series I read (Twilight) that was hyped, but this one surprised me. Perhaps because the angst in the teens was conditioned as opposed to a couple of overly sniveling ones who are mad at the world.

I think this book may have been written with the intentions of scaring us away from wanting a "perfect" society, but the advances in medicines and technology that are environmentally friendly are pretty amazing. So many of the things the Pretties have provided for them almost make you wishful that we had such peace and harmony as well. And, even though though certain individualisms are given up (which is narcissistically trivial anyway), the people as a whole seem to prosper and are happy in this "Brave New World". I guess a peaceful society, even if it is gained through a type of mind-control for the average pretty, is better off than the chaos, violence and unhappiness humans have created for themselves on a daily basis.

It also appears that the people in Smoke may feel free, but have managed to recreate many of the catalysts for problems we have today in pollutions and respect for other forms of life in their environment. They may seem to recycle everything left over from the previously felled civilizations, but eventually someone always wants to take shortcuts that impact the environment in a negative way. This actually happens when David wants to clear-cut brush to more easily reach scrap metal, but agrees not to after others are concerned about the waste that would be created.

Overall, this book has a lot of things controversial from both sides, and even though it's sci-fi for us, it still gives us a lot to think about.

Share/Like this Review?

Tally wants to become a Pretty so badly! Pretties were once Uglies who had a complete make-over operation and they get to have all the fun. She's been an Ugly for so long and her best friend turned 16 a few months before her time was to come. She missed hanging out with him. They even had matching scars. In the process of her longing to become a Pretty, she meets another Ugly with the same birthday she has named Shay. Shay keeps talking about how she may not want to become Pretty and wants to find The Smoke where a bunch of Uglies live. Shay knows a guy named David who lives there and he is going to take her to The Smoke. This astounds Tally. Who would want to stay an Ugly?

There as so much action in this book. I found it very unique and interesting in a society that COULD exist since we are obsessed with beauty in our culture. I liked how the different situations worked out and loved how the ending made me anticipate the sequel!

Share/Like this Review?

LOve this book~! A futuristic, scary look at what could happen if people continue to focus too much on outer appearence more than morality and character. Very thought provoking. Entire series is fantastic. Not just for kids.

Share/Like this Review?

I love the distopian genre, and this series fits. It captures the reader while making you think about what our world has become and the choices that we as humans make.

Share/Like this Review?

First off, this was a great book! For teens and adults. (After all, there's a lot of us who are no longer teens, but don't mind or enjoy stuff like this because we know what we could be missing if we acted our age. ;P) I wasn't sure what to expect after the disappointment in the last teen series I read (Twilight) that was hyped, but this one surprised me. Perhaps because the angst in the teens was conditioned as opposed to a couple of overly sniveling ones who are mad at the world.

I think this book may have been written with the intentions of scaring us away from wanting a "perfect" society, but the advances in medicines and technology that are environmentally friendly are pretty amazing. So many of the things the Pretties have provided for them almost make you wishful that we had such peace and harmony as well. And, even though though certain individualisms are given up (which is narcissistically trivial anyway), the people as a whole seem to prosper and are happy in this "Brave New World". I guess a peaceful society, even if it is gained through a type of mind-control for the average pretty, is better off than the chaos, violence and unhappiness humans have created for themselves on a daily basis.

It also appears that the people in Smoke may feel free, but have managed to recreate many of the catalysts for problems we have today in pollutions and respect for other forms of life in their environment. They may seem to recycle everything left over from the previously felled civilizations, but eventually someone always wants to take shortcuts that impact the environment in a negative way. This actually happens when David wants to clear-cut brush to more easily reach scrap metal, but agrees not to after others are concerned about the waste that would be created.

Overall, this book has a lot of things controversial from both sides, and even though it's sci-fi for us, it still gives us a lot to think about.

Share/Like this Review?