Review: "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies
by Scott Westerfeld
Published: February 8th 2005
425 pages
I give it:

Description: 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.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book! But be warned, if you are reading this book, you must have the sequel, "Pretties", close at hand, because the ending will have you wanting more instantly! With series like this, I am always glad that I don't get into them until most or all of the books have been published, because if I end up loving them, like I did this one, it's simply torture to have to wait months or more for the next book! Especially when they end with a cliffhanger! (*Shakes fist* darn you Westerfeld!) But I guess I am the same way with tv shows. I'd rather wait till they come out on DVD so that I can sit down and have a marathon. I just know I'll be rushing to finish this series now!!! I can't wait to read more about Tally, David and the rest of the gang!

"Uglies" is one of those books that you just know is truly meant to be made into a movie. You can just imagine how amazing it will be visually as you are reading. It's a good thing that there is currently talk of an "Uglies" movie!!! YAY! But... it'll be awhile before we get to see it. And as I just mentioned, the wait is torture!!!

If you were being forced to turn supermodel gorgeous, aka "Pretty" on your 16th birthday, and your only responsibility was to be pretty and party... would you see this as a bad thing? Or would it be something you would look forward to? At first it seems obvious that this is something amazing. It's something you simply cannot wait for... but there are a few "Uglies" who would rather just be themselves, and some of them seem to fear the changes involved in becoming "pretty" so they runaway to a place called "The Smoke" where they try to live their lives as normally as possible. I actually found myself going back and forth on this one. If the pretties are truly happy with the change, then is there really any harm in that? But then again, being an unique individual is something that should be cherished. Right? There was almost something a little bit "Stepford Wives" about the pretties, but then again, they are pretty much living the dream. Maybe I will be able to make up my mind a little better once I finish the next book!