Tally’s one desire in life is to become a Pretty. At
fifteen, she is only weeks away from being able to undergo the operation that
will take away her Ugliness and transform her into a genetically beautiful
Pretty. And as a Pretty, she will be able to devote all her energy to parties
and having fun.
Tally is shocked when she meets Shay, the one person
she has ever met that doesn’t want to be pretty. After Shay runs away, Tally is
forced by the authorities to either find Shay for them or remain an Ugly
forever. Soon, Tally will begin to question whether or not being a Pretty is
really worth it.
Reviews
"...It’s a fast, fun read. The characters are great, as is the world-building.
And there are hoverboards. That’s awesome, right? I’ll definitely be finishing
this series, asap. Recommended if: you want a dystopia that manages to make the
government evil and scary without taking itself too seriously."
Reviews
“I
thought this book was fantastic! Even though the climax is somewhat
predictable, I love the idea of this book. The entire book is based on our
willingness as a society to follow along with what we're told, because that's
just the way we do things. Also, our obsession with being beautiful, achieving
perfection, and having all that we think we deserve in life. When I was reading
this, I kept thinking of The Hunger Games, which I LOVE. Whether it was the
futuristic setting, with the hovercrafts and overdone plastic surgery, or the
new world built out of the world that we destroyed, or the big, bad new regime
that has taken over, Uglies is a fascinating story. I'm just glad that
the other books in the series are out because the end of this book is a MAJOR
cliffhanger! Do
not conform to the patterns of this world, ask questions, know why you do what
you do and believe what you believe.”
-Tori, http://www.chickswithcrossbows.com/?p=993
"What I loved about this book was the way Westerfeld takes a strong topic like
appearance and inequality and throws it back at the reader. He has no shame in
showing the inherent issues with having everyone look "ideal." The message that
I got from this story is that anyone, but young adults especially, should
appreciate their appearance as being unique to them. There is no "ideal"
appearance and even if science somehow devises one, having everyone become ideal
may not be the best option out there.
Jam packed with adventure, emotion, and a message that I loved, UGLIES was a hugely entertaining read. The book wasn't preachy and instead allowed the reader to draw their own conclusions as we follow the characters of the story. With such a strong beginning, it will be interesting to see where Westerfeld takes us in the next book, Pretties"
Jam packed with adventure, emotion, and a message that I loved, UGLIES was a hugely entertaining read. The book wasn't preachy and instead allowed the reader to draw their own conclusions as we follow the characters of the story. With such a strong beginning, it will be interesting to see where Westerfeld takes us in the next book, Pretties"
Praise
for Uglies
“With a beginning and ending that
pack hefty punches, the introduction to a dystopic future promises an exciting
series.”
-Kirkus Review, starred review
“Highly readable…. The
cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel.”
-School Library Journal, starred review
“Teens will sink their teeth into
the provocative questions about invasive technology, image-obsessed society,
and ethical quandaries of a mole-turned-ally…. Ingenious.”
-Booklist, starred review
“Asks engaging questions about
the meaning of beauty, individuality and betrayal. Highly recommended for SF
fans or anyone who likes a good, thoughtful adventure.”
-KLIATT, starred review
Awards
ALA 2006 Best Books for Young Adults
ALA 2006 Popular Paperback for Young
Adults
Kirkus Editor’s Choice
SLJ Best Book of the Year
