Author: Scott Westerfeld
Rating: 5 stars
The Blurb:
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.
The Review:
In this world when you turn sixteen you get cosmetic surgery that makes you "pretty," not just the people who are rich, everyone. Scott Westerfeld created an amazing story about what it means to truly be beautiful. This book really does make you think about what it means to be pretty; in Uglies being pretty means having a symmetrical face, big doe eyes, and pouty lips. Throughout reading this book I found myself wondering if I would ever have anything like this done to myself, surely everyone has something they'd like to change about themselves. I discovered that my answer would be no. All of my imperfections are what makes me, me and this is something that Scott Westerfeld portrays masterfully in Uglies.
Tally is our heroine in this book and she can't wait to be turned pretty. Her best friend Peris has already had the operation and Tally feels alone in the world. That is until she meets Shay an ugly who has the same birthday as Tally meaning they will both get the operation done at the same time. Tally and Shay become fast friends and Tally just gets more and more excited about being pretty. The only problem is that Shay doesn't want to be pretty, she wants to stay an ugly and soon she tells Tally about a place called the smoke, where no one has to get the operation. Where people keep there natural faces. Tally is appalled and wants nothing to do with it, she has her heart set on turning pretty. So Shay leaves Tally behind so she can find the place where she can stay herself. When Tally finally goes in for her operation she is told the only way she will be turned pretty is to find out where Shay has gone and turn in all the uglies in hiding. Tally has got a big decision to make and once she decides, there's no turning back.
Tally is a great character, she always does what she thinks is right even if what she thinks is right may change. She is able to acknowledge when she makes a mistake and apologizes for it. The fact that she has flaws makes her very relatable which is something I love. If a character doesn't have flaws then it's too hard to identify with them and they don't seem real.
I like Shay, she doesn't want to conform to her society so she goes out on her own to find the place that will accept her for who she is on the inside and not based on what she looks like. I really respect her for that.
David is the son of the people who run the smoke and he takes a liking to Tally right away. The only problem is that Shay likes him David and this proves to be a point of contention between Shay and Tally.
This book is just a really great read. It's insightful, interesting, and beautifully written. I can't wait to get the next book in the series titled Pretties from the library so I can continue enjoying Scott Westerfelds wonderful world.
The Review:
In this world when you turn sixteen you get cosmetic surgery that makes you "pretty," not just the people who are rich, everyone. Scott Westerfeld created an amazing story about what it means to truly be beautiful. This book really does make you think about what it means to be pretty; in Uglies being pretty means having a symmetrical face, big doe eyes, and pouty lips. Throughout reading this book I found myself wondering if I would ever have anything like this done to myself, surely everyone has something they'd like to change about themselves. I discovered that my answer would be no. All of my imperfections are what makes me, me and this is something that Scott Westerfeld portrays masterfully in Uglies.
Tally is our heroine in this book and she can't wait to be turned pretty. Her best friend Peris has already had the operation and Tally feels alone in the world. That is until she meets Shay an ugly who has the same birthday as Tally meaning they will both get the operation done at the same time. Tally and Shay become fast friends and Tally just gets more and more excited about being pretty. The only problem is that Shay doesn't want to be pretty, she wants to stay an ugly and soon she tells Tally about a place called the smoke, where no one has to get the operation. Where people keep there natural faces. Tally is appalled and wants nothing to do with it, she has her heart set on turning pretty. So Shay leaves Tally behind so she can find the place where she can stay herself. When Tally finally goes in for her operation she is told the only way she will be turned pretty is to find out where Shay has gone and turn in all the uglies in hiding. Tally has got a big decision to make and once she decides, there's no turning back.
Tally is a great character, she always does what she thinks is right even if what she thinks is right may change. She is able to acknowledge when she makes a mistake and apologizes for it. The fact that she has flaws makes her very relatable which is something I love. If a character doesn't have flaws then it's too hard to identify with them and they don't seem real.
I like Shay, she doesn't want to conform to her society so she goes out on her own to find the place that will accept her for who she is on the inside and not based on what she looks like. I really respect her for that.
David is the son of the people who run the smoke and he takes a liking to Tally right away. The only problem is that Shay likes him David and this proves to be a point of contention between Shay and Tally.
This book is just a really great read. It's insightful, interesting, and beautifully written. I can't wait to get the next book in the series titled Pretties from the library so I can continue enjoying Scott Westerfelds wonderful world.
No comments:
Post a Comment