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Harper C.: Five Book Friday: Uncanny Graphic Novels (0 comment)
We are in the thick of winter here in the Pacific Northwest, which means it's dark, damp, and chilly. Rather than escaping to stories with warmer, brighter climates, I personally want nothing more than to dive deep into gothic and uncanny fiction as the wind rattles my windows at night...
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Uglies 01

by Scott Westerfeld
Uglies 01

  • Comment on this title
  • Synopses & Reviews
  • Reading Group Guide
  • Read an Excerpt

ISBN13: 9780689865381
ISBN10: 0689865384
Condition: Standard


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Staff Pick

The first time I read this book I was 14. I remember sneakily reading it under my desk during class and a teacher trying to punish me for using my phone. I literally could not put it down. The book swept me away to a city far in the future that solves conflict by making everyone look beautiful — and nearly identical. The high-tech gadgets they use seemed plausible, now more than ever. I reread the entire series in my 20s and loved it just as much. It contains undertones of body positivity, feminism, and wariness of an oppressive government. Sure, many problems would be solved if everyone looked the same, but there is another deeper, sinister level to the "pretty" surgery all citizens undergo on their 16th birthday. Recommended By Anna M., Powells.com

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

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

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license — 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.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. 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.

Review

"[H]ighly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic technologies and a disturbing commentary on our current public policies. Fortunately, the cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel." School Library Journal (Starred Review)

Review

"[T]eens will sink their teeth into the provocative questions about invasive technology, image-obsessed society, and the ethical quandaries of a mole-turned-ally." Booklist (Starred Review)

Review

"With a beginning and ending that pack hefty punches, this introduction to a dystopic future promises an exciting series....[T]he awesome ending thrills with potential." Kirkus Reviews

Review

"This book, the first in a trilogy, 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)

Synopsis

In Tally's world, one's 16th birthday brings an operation that transforms them from a repellent Ugly to an attractive Pretty. Tally wants to turn into a Pretty, but her friend Shay would rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, the authorities give Tally a terrible choice.

About the Author

Scott Westerfeld most recent novels are Leviathan and Behemoth, the first two books in a new trilogy. His other novels include the Uglies series, the Midnighters trilogy, The Last Days, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the sequel to Peeps. Scott was born in Texas, and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City. Visit him on the Web at scottwesterfeld.com or follow him on Twitter at @ScottWesterfeld.

Reading Group Guide

Uglies/Pretties/Specials

by Scott Westerfeld

About the Books

Living in a future where sixteen-year-olds are surgically transformed from "uglies" to "pretties," Tally Youngblood struggles with a choice: to become beautiful and content forever, or to leave the world she knows and keep her own face. Tally's decisions bring her to both locations as well as others she'd never dreamed of, but they also get her in and out of trouble, and force her to grow and change and learn. Westerfeld's books have won many nominations and awards as well as a huge fan following of teens everywhere. Uglies was named a 2006 Best Book for Young Adults by the Young Adult Library Services Association, a division of the American Library Association.

Discussion Topics

On your sixteenth birthday, how would you feel about being forced to have the surgery to become pretty? Would you feel like Tally -- looking forward to being beautiful and bubbly -- or like Shay -- wanting to escape the surgery and stay ugly, but remain herself? If your best friend asked you to not have the surgery, what do think you would have chosen to do?

What elements of the Smoke remind you of a camping trip you've taken or one you've seen on TV or in a movie? What advice would you give the Smokies about living in the wild?

Tally has three important guys in her life: Peris, David and Zane. How does her relationship with each of the three effect her decisions at different points in the story? Which of the three do you think made the greatest impact on Tally?

Compare Tally's society with our society today. What are the similarities between Dr. Cable's controls and our own government? Just as Tally and her friends were brought up learning about the failure of the Rusties' society, what lessons can be learned from the future portrayed in the series?

The author created new worlds, new technology and new language for the books. Which location -- New Pretty Town, the Smoke, or Diego -- would you want to make your home? Which of Tally's futuristic possessions -- a hoverboard, a sneak suit, SpagBol -- would you like to own? What were your favorite slang words in the series?

What do you think was the pivotal point in each of the three books? What would you change about them?

What are Tally's strongest assets and her tragic flaws? What about Shay? David? Zane?

Is Dr.Cable a protagonist or an antagonist? At what points in the series does she seem more good than evil or more evil than good? Does she have the best interests of the people of Pretty Town at heart or is she simply trying to gain power and prestige?

If the Uglies series was made into a movie, who would you cast to play the part of Tally? Shay? David? Zane? Peris? Dr. Cable? Where in the world do you think it should be filmed? Who would be the best director for this project?

Who was your favorite character in the series? How did you feel about how they ended up at the end of Specials? Which character do you think is the most like you or your friends?

Imagine that David decided to live in the city of Diego. What challenges would he face there, having grown up in the wild? What would a day in the life of David in Diego be like? Do you think he'd get used to his new life, or decide to return to his old one?

Where do you see Tally two years after the end of Specials? How about Shay? Peris? What do you think Pretty Town and Diego would be like two years later?

Activities

Design your own hoverboard. First make a blueprint including what kinds of gadgets you would include in its secret compartments, then make a prototype using cardboard, paper towel rolls, markers, etc.

Act out a scene from one of the books. Assign parts to each participant and choose your favorite scene -- maybe Tally's first trip to New Pretty Town to visit Peris, the invasion of the Smoke by Special Circumstances, or the destruction of the Armory.

Put a pretty spin on a sport (think about the suspended ice skating rink in Pretties) and come up with your own bubbly rules and regulations.

Put yourself in Dr. Cable's shoes. Take turns telling the Specials story from her point of view and include what you think her motives were behind her actions in the previous two books.

Design your own Smoke fashions, Diego surge or sneak suits. What materials found in the wild could you use to fit in at the Smoke? In Diego, would you have a snake for a pinky? How would you use your sneak suit in your everyday life?

Debate the benefits of Pretty Town versus the Smoke versus Diego. Form three teams -- one pro-Diego, one pro-Smoke and one pro-Pretty Town -- and discuss the positives and negatives of each.

Look at the covers of Uglies, Pretties and Specials. Then re-draw your own version of each of the covers highlighting your favorite scene from each book.


Exclusive Essay

Read an exclusive essay by Scott Westerfeld

4.4 23

What Our Readers Are Saying

Share your thoughts on this title!
Average customer rating 4.4 (23 comments)

`
chand04523 , May 05, 2015
How would you feel if you were trapped in a society where you were considered 'ugly' until the age of 16, when you would then undergo an extensive surgery to make you 'pretty'? Well, for 15 year old 'ugly' Tally, her life is about to change forever. Everything she has has ever known gets tossed upside down when Tally's friend Shay rejects the idea of becoming 'pretty' and urges Tally to run away with her. "Uglies' by Scott Westerfield is a brilliant fictional novel which captures its readers interest with romance, excitement, and just a splash of humor. Personally, I've read every book in the "Uglies" series and I loved every one, Westerfeild beautifully captures the thoughts that teenagers today can relate to and portrays those aspects throughout the novel.

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amuebelhard , May 14, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It was a really interesting book.

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Kacey , January 02, 2014 (view all comments by Kacey)
This book is so bubbly reader-wal, I almost can't handle it! Ok, so the made up slang from the book gets kind of annoying. If you can get past that, the book is fantastic. Everyone in this society is born ugly and are creatively called Uglies. When you reach a certain age you get high tech surgery to make you pretty. Can you guess what those people are called? Well, the main character is on the verge of getting her prettifying surgery when she gets wrapped up in rebels and conspiracy plots. Very exciting, fun, and ironically a great self esteem boost! Highly recommend!

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SydneyV , March 13, 2013 (view all comments by SydneyV)
I thought this book and the entire series was FANTASTIC! i thought it was vivid and imaginitive and full of energy! Also it explaines everything so well and lets you understand the book better and it is such a romantic book too (:

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mahi.alam , November 10, 2011
Just as Tally and her friends were brought up learning about the failure of the Rusties' society, what lessons can be learned from the future portrayed in the series? i need the answer to that question answer asap please and thank you ;).

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bookgirl94 , June 12, 2011 (view all comments by bookgirl94)
This was a page turner and I couldn't put it down. I've actually read it twice and sped through the rest of the books in the series. A great book!

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Laura McNeeley , January 03, 2011
As a writer I read many YA novels and make mental notes on what works with the writing (and what doesn't). This novel works. The characters/pacing and descriptions have me waiting for my "hold" at the library on the second book of the trilogy to be available. The fact that I have had to wait over a month for the book says something about the popularity of it as well with other readers!

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megwillis , November 11, 2010 (view all comments by megwillis)
To enjoy Uglies you must be willing to buy in to a futuristic often far-fetched fantasy world adorned in vivid scene descriptions and lacking in literary value. Westerfeld has a knack for creating a world within your mind: “The river wound into the dark forest, cutting its serpentine route into the unknown.” At the same time the dialog between characters lacks depth. Uglies snatches the reader with cliff-hangers and surreal scenarios. The most disappointing part is that the novel ends with a cliff hanger that almost requires you to read the second novel in the series, Pretties. I found this to be a cheap trick often used by television programs and now by mass-produced teen literature to force naïve audiences to continue onwards; they MUST know what happens next. However, the message of Uglies is powerful and important particularly for young impressionable teens. Tally, the protagonist, is a strong and determined young woman who sets a healthy example for other young women to follow. I would recommend this book to any teen who perceives their outward beauty to be inadequate. In Westerfeld’s world you are made exceptionally beautiful on your 16th birthday, conventional beauty does not exist, and without an operation you are automatically ugly. You will find yourself wondering, “Is it not good to make society full of beautiful people?”

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Jacob.Casey1584 , June 09, 2010 (view all comments by Jacob.Casey1584)
Simply, this book was one of the worst books I have ever read. I think that this book was written in an awkward way. This book lacked themes and was not very appealing or exciting to me. The author had a good idea but he simply displayed it in a strange way. I think the author could of easily written the Uglies in, around 200 pages, but the author wrote around 400 pages. Tally, the main character is a young girl who about to turn 18 and get plastic surgery to become pretty, but she is skeptical about it. The book can be very confusing because of the things we are not accustom to in our lives happen in the futuristic setting in this book. This book is not one of the books I would recommend to other readers. Overall this is not a very good book.

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anitaballerina , March 24, 2010 (view all comments by anitaballerina)
I had never heard of this author until I went to a book tour signing for another author. Mr. Westerfeld was also there promoting his new book. After speaking with him, I was intrigued by his books and now own the uglies series. Uglies is a futuristic book in which people are taken and they are made model beautiful. It's a place where natural beauty is considered ugly. Tally and her friends get together and try to escape the surgery. This book is joy to read and is full of symbolism.

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Lucy Black , August 28, 2009 (view all comments by Lucy Black)
A world where ugly people all receive mandatory plastic surgery to become super hotties. The premise: what happens when someone wants to retain their natural form? This book is not completely terrible, but there are definitely better examples of young adult fiction out there. All the characters are fairly one-dimensional, which bothered me more than the incredibly predictable plot. Wouldn’t recommend this to anyone over ten, although it made for a decently entertaining, quick read.

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kccam , November 18, 2008 (view all comments by kccam)
one of the best books ever! it has awesome smart chararchters and shows how one can change if, maybe even save, the lives of many. its a revolution that we can all make, showing us what we are really capable of if we try.

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tmtcatalyst , September 09, 2008 (view all comments by tmtcatalyst)
An incredibly fun read. This is a hugely creative universe with great parallels into today's society. The story is a lot of fun, and the whole series is a great read.

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Abbymasonfoggy123 , July 04, 2008 (view all comments by Abbymasonfoggy123)
A amzaing book of adventure, it is litterly a different world. I would have to have gone crazy to believe anything like this would happen in our world. This book engross's me, makes me feel like i am there with Tallie through her whole adventure. When i read this i feel like i am in a far away place where i can live freely and without fearing anything. I knoe that sounds rediculos but it is true. It is a truly amazing story and cannot wait to read pretties cause i know if uglies is soo good pretties must be better!

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j- san , June 24, 2008 (view all comments by j- san)
very good series and good for all readers. i liked all of the books (uglies, pretties, specials and extras) in the series though in extras he switches main characters.

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BellaEzrebetFang , June 18, 2008 (view all comments by BellaEzrebetFang)
I found this book to represent a lot of what's happening right now, with the influence to change and be someone you're not. With the futuristic and dramatic spin on society Scott Westerfield's "Uglies" is a great read.

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zifeara , June 01, 2008 (view all comments by zifeara)
uglies is an amazing the title sounds weird but that is an awesome book. that book is action pack and really shows you that beauty is only skin deep. i say everyone should read it

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malcolm.megastar , December 11, 2007 (view all comments by malcolm.megastar)
This Book Is Very Good For Younger and Older Teens.It Get's Kind Of Blan In The Middle But Besides That It's Very Good.

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chocochic53 , December 09, 2007 (view all comments by chocochic53)
This fun book gives a really interesting view to the way our culture values beauty vs. brains. I would recommend this book to all girls looking to be more than just a barbie.

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tomuch_love4u , November 03, 2007
yes it is good and the book defintly keeps you going back 4 more although i have only read the ugly version i'm still reading the ugly version that i can't wait to see if she is going to get pass the guards that are looking for her and it is defintly confusing but you got to actually pay attention to the book to understand because it is a really a DEEP book if you missed even a little part you could be lost and not know what is going on it is a really good book.

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crowyhead , October 18, 2007 (view all comments by crowyhead)
This is an excellent YA science fiction novel. In the future, everyone becomes Pretty on their sixteenth birthday, receiving the plastic surgery that will make them physically perfect. Everyone is beautiful, so there is no discrimination based on looks or physique, and peace reigns. Tally Youngblood is just weeks away from becoming Pretty, and is eagerly anticipating it -- her best friend Peris has already become Pretty, and she misses him desperately. When Tally makes friends with a hellion named Shay, she learns how to hoverboard and the two come up with better tricks than either one could think of on their own. But Shay doesn't want to become Pretty, and she has a plan to join other dissenters in a mysterious settlement called the Smoke. Now Tally must decide whether she will become Pretty, just like everyone else, or stay Ugly and leave the life she's known forever. The concept seems kind of silly, but this turned out to be a really well-crafted, exciting novel, and I'm looking forward to reading Pretties and Specials.

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twinchicklvsfrogs , December 28, 2006
Uglies is a real life synopsis of what the world would be like if everyone turned pretty. It taught me a lot, reading this book. I learned that people do not have to be beautiful on the outside to be beautiful on the inside. Many times, inner beauty reigns over outer. I think every girl sould read at least the first book of the series. You will appreciate it's depth and acknowledge it's creativity. Scott Westerfeld is a genius!

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priyap1223 , October 01, 2006
This book is so interesting.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9780689865381
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
02/01/2005
Publisher:
SIMON & SCHUSTER TRADE
Pages:
448
Height:
7 in.
Width:
5 in.
Age Range:
12-17 and up
Grade Range:
from 7
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2005
UPC Code:
2800689865383
Author:
Scott Westerfeld
Subject:
Science fiction
Subject:
Friendship
Subject:
Teenage girls
Subject:
Children's 12-Up - Fiction - Science Fiction

Ships free on qualified orders.
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$6.95
List Price:$6.99
Used Trade Paperback
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