LS 5623 Uglies

Westerfeld, Scott. Uglies. Simon Pulse: New York, 2005.

ISBN: 0-389-86538-4

Tally Youngblood is fifteen and on the cusp of turning from an ugly to a pretty. In Tally’s world everyone gets “the operation” on their sixteenth birthday to turn pretty. Her best friend, Peris, has already turned pretty – three months ago – and she can’t wait to join him in New Pretty Town. But with the absence of Peris, Tally makes a new friend, Shay, who believes that one should have a choice whether to become pretty or not. Shay tells Tally of a boy, David, that has not turned pretty and of a hidden town, Smoke, full of people who refuse the operation. Shay eventually leaves for the Smoke and Tally is left behind to face the ruthless Specials as they attempt to find and infiltrate the Smoke with Tally’s coerced help. Tally’s ultimate choice has irrevocable consequences for the Smoke and the people of the Smoke.

Throughout the story Tally engages in several quests. She needs to through the Rusty Ruins and to the world beyond (and all its perils) to get to the Smoke. She needs to come a decision regarding her betrayal (or not) of the Smoke, and finally she needs to journey back to Uglyville to break into the Specials building to expose the truth of her society. Tally’s journeys open her mind to possibilities other than what is expected of her by society. A dystopian story, teens will appreciate Tally’s journey and hopefully think that being a pretty really is nothing special when they read of the consequences of the operation.

The March 2005 issue of the School Library Journal states the “characterization, which flirts so openly with the importance of teen self-concept, is strong, and although lengthy, the novel is highly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic technologies and a disturbing commentary on our current public policies.” If teens enjoyed this book, they should check out the sequels: Pretties, Specials, and Extras.