Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld
Sixteen is the age that every girl impatiently waits for. Tally is almost sixteen and she’s excited to get her present. No, her present isn’t a car or a huge surprise birthday party with all her friends. In fact, it’s an operation that will turn her pretty. Tally lives in a world where everybody turns pretty only at the age of sixteen. Before that, you are known as an ugly. She can’t wait to turn pretty and move on to the other side of the river where the only job people have is to have fun. Although everything seems perfect, there is one thing stopping her from turning pretty. Her new friend Shay decides that she doesn’t want to turn pretty and runs away. Now, the doctors have given Tally two choices: either she finds Shay and turns her in, or she never turns pretty at all. While trying to bring back Shay, she learns the secrets of turning pretty that might make Tally change her mind forever. What will she choose to do? I won’t tell you. But I recommend you read this book if you would like to know what happens in a world where anyone that we classify as normal is classified as ugly. - Reviewed by Ani M., grade 9.
Comments
To me, the plot of the book was rather bland and cringeworthy. The concept of uglies and pretties really didn't amuse me at all and if anything seemed like the author was trying too hard to portray overused morals like "be happy with who you are" and connect to teens with no real understanding of them. The plot just felt forced and downright strange and out of place. It didn't actually connect with me at all, and felt as if someone with no understanding of teens were trying to talk to me about life and self respect. If you can get over this aspect of the book, however, the story and characters to go along with it are actually quite interesting. The beginning of it takes off very slowly and can make you opposed to the idea of reading it altogether, but towards the middle it actually does start to get exciting. In the end I personally think a lot of the book felt forced and filled with cheesy sentiment and overused cliche ideas about the teenage mindset, but the adventure aspects of it can make it a book worth reading.
Reviewed by Isabelle D., Grade 8
Pacific Park Library
This was one of he best science fiction novels I've ever read. Interesting, fast-paced, and gripping, there isn't a single moment where you find yourself bored and uninterested of the engrossing plot of the novel. The writing is easy to follow yet very compelling. Westerfeld truly knows how to weave a novel. I highly recommend this book to all readers, especially those who enjoy the science fiction genre!
Reviewed by Melody, Grade 10
Montrose Library