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Uglies

Book 1 in the series:Uglies

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In the book 'Uglies' by Scott Westerfeld, the story revolves around a futuristic society where individuals undergo surgery at the age of sixteen to transform into Pretties, who are considered the ideal members of society. The protagonist, Tally, eagerly anticipates her own transformation until she meets Shay, a friend who introduces her to a group of rebels living in a place called The Smoke. This encounter leads Tally on a journey that challenges societal norms and forces her to question the true meaning of beauty and individuality. The plot unfolds with themes of self-discovery, friendship, ethical dilemmas, and the complexities of societal expectations, all set against a backdrop of a dystopian world where appearances are valued above all.

The writing style of 'Uglies' combines elements of fast-paced action, mystery, and world-building, creating an engaging narrative that keeps readers guessing about the characters' choices and motivations. The book delves into deep topics such as self-image, societal standards, and personal identity, offering a thought-provoking exploration of beauty, conformity, and the power of individual agency. Despite mixed opinions on certain aspects, the book presents a compelling storyline that resonates with readers of various ages through its blend of science fiction, adventure, and social commentary.

Characters:

The characters are relatable and diverse, showcasing Tally's internal struggle between conformity and individuality, while other characters like Shay and David provide contrasting viewpoints.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is engaging and accessible, employing descriptive language and modern slang to enhance the futuristic setting while developing the characters' thoughts and emotions.

Plot/Storyline:

The novel's plot centers around Tally Youngblood, a girl eager to become pretty on her 16th birthday but who faces a moral dilemma when her friend Shay runs away to live in a community that rejects the societal norm of beauty.

Setting:

The setting is an imagined future world where beauty is dictated by a government-mandated surgery transforming Uglies into Pretties.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout the book, beginning slowly to establish the setting and character motivations but quickening significantly as the action and tension rise.
Of course, Tally thought, you’d have to feed your cat only salmon-flavored cat food for a while, to get the pinks right. The scudding clouds did look a bit fishy, rippled into scales by a high-altitud...

Notes:

Set in a dystopian future where everyone undergoes cosmetic surgery at 16 to become a 'Pretty'.
The protagonist, Tally Youngblood, initially desires to become Pretty but later questions the need for surgery.
The society in the book is divided into 'Uglies', 'Pretties', and the 'Smokies'; each group has its own lifestyle and values.
The operation not only changes physical appearance but also diminishes personal autonomy, as it creates brain lesions that make Pretties more compliant.
Explores themes of beauty, conformity, and individuality, making the reader reflect on societal standards of physical attractiveness.
The book features unique slang, such as 'Uglies', 'Pretties', and 'Smokies', which helps build its futuristic world.
It raises moral questions about the value of appearance versus personality and the consequences of societal pressures.
The ending leaves readers on a cliffhanger, setting the stage for subsequent books in the series.

Has Romance?

The book contains a medium level of romance as Tally begins to develop a relationship with David, but it is not the central focus of the narrative.

From The Publisher:

Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally Youngblood is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her driver's license; rather, for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

Anticipating this happy transformation, Tally meets Shay, another female ugly, who shares her enjoyment of hoverboarding and risky pranks. But Shay also disdains the false values and programmed conformity of the society. She'd rather risk life on the outside and urges Tally to defect with her.

When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world, and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: Find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Ratings (130)

Incredible (17)
Loved It (49)
Liked It (34)
It Was OK (15)
Did Not Like (12)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (223):

Read It (131)
Currently Reading (2)
Want To Read (54)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (32)

2 comment(s)

It Was OK
1 week

I liked the discussion this book created about being perfect or "pretty" and it had a very interesting concept. But while I didn't enjoy the premise and what not I wasn't as hooked on the futuristic world or the characters as I would have want to be with stories like this. Might continue on with the series though as I didn't hate it but wish it could have "more". Of what I'm not sure but I'll give the series another try.

 
Hated It
1 month

Uglies is a look into a dystopian society, where children, at age sixteen, are made "pretty", supposedly the highest aspiration for a child to become. Pretties get to spend all day being vacuous, uninteresting party boys and girls, drifting through life drinking, carousing, and doing nothing with their time. Sound appealing? Perhaps to a certain type of teenager it might, but it never would have appealed to me, even at the age this book is aimed.

Tally is a thoroughly unpleasant protagonist, shallow at the beginning and wanting nothing more than to be a "pretty", not even enjoying the fact that as an ugly, she has her own faculties, freedom, and individualist looks. She is willing to betray a good friend all to become pretty (which shows just how strong her loyalty is) and therefore, follows her friend, who has fled Uglyville in order to escape the pretty operation. Tally fears being found out and, if anyone in Smokes had half a brain, perhaps it wouldn't have taken them almost the entire book to realize she was a spy. (And these are the people without the brain lesions, mind you...)

In general, the characterization was flat and uninteresting, the characters not compelling or intriguing, and nothing within the book made me particularly care what happened as an outcome. It reminded me of a Stephenie Meyer book...except I prefer Stephenie Meyer to this, which should tell you something about the quality of the book.

It is highly predictable- why else would "Special Circumstances" give her a tracking necklace if they didn't eventually plan to use it? How could they have depended on a sixteen year old to keep her word?

Tally vacillates between her own selfish desires and realizing, suddenly, how much her selfishness could and does cost her. People died because she wanted to be pretty. She seems like she regrets her actions, but, like everything else in the book, her opinions seem superficial. Did she change? Perhaps. The end of the book suggests all her character development was for nothing, to become "pretty". Was it worth it?

Only the brain lesions know for sure.

While we're on the subject, although getting the operation seems like something you don't want to do, it also has some beneficial qualities. So why would you fight to prevent it if not everything about it is bad? It felt like things were very uneven in this book, without things being fully explained, and then we're left with a 'pretty' Tally, vacuous as she'd wanted to be.

 

About the Author:

Scott Westerfeld is the author of the Leviathan series, the first book of which was the winner of the 2010 Locus Award for Best Young Adult Fiction. His other novels include the New York Times bestseller Afterworlds, the worldwide bestselling Uglies series, The Last Days, Peeps, So Yesterday, and the Midnighters trilogy. Visit him at ScottWesterfeld.com or follow him on Twitter at @ScottWesterfeld.

 
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