Uglies

* Bibliographic information
Westerfeld, S. Uglies. Simon Pulse, 2005. ISBN: 9780689865381

- Book one in the Uglies series.
- SLJ Best Book of the Year, 2005
- ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2006


* Plot Summary
This book takes place in a world where everyone receives plastic surgery and enhancements when they turn 16 to become what is uniformly considered pretty. Before these changes, people are called “Uglies” and after, they are called Pretties. Tally Youngblood and her friend Shay are waiting to become “Pretties” so they can join their friends in New Pretty Town; the Uglies are kept completely separate from the pretties who have fun all day and have no responsibilities. After Shay runs away, Tally is told by the officials that she must help them find Shay or she can never become a Pretty. Tally goes to the place, The Smoke, where Shay is hiding out to give her up but after staying in the wilderness she starts to think they have the right idea on how to live. The people in the Smoke, Smokies, do not have surgeries to make them pretty; they simply live with what they were born with. Tally also starts to question the surgeries everyone gets and wonders if there is more going on than just making people look good.


* Critical Evaluation
This book gives young readers an entertaining story, set in an exciting futuristic world. The writing is easy to follow but the story includes suspenseful twists as Westerfeld often does. By the end of the book readers are surprised and wanting to go pick up the second book so they can learn Tally’s fate. Tally is a great character for teens to follow because in the beginning she falls into the hype of wanting to be a “Pretty” but after she does some thinking on her own, away from the propaganda she grows emotionally and mentally. This is a coming of age tale that is done with lively characters in a science fiction world. As young adults get older they start to realize the world is different from what they thought it was, just as Tally has her blinders removed and sees the dark side of becoming a Pretty. Teens will love taking a journey with Tally as she figures out who she is what world she wants to live in.


* Reader’s Annotation
Tally has waited her entire life to become a Pretty but when her time comes her roommate, Shay is missing and the government agency in charge says she will never be pretty unless she finds Shay. Will Tally give up her friend and a small community of people living in secrecy to become a Pretty?


* Information about the author
Westerfeld grew up in Texas, California and Connecticut because his family moved around. Him and his wife move back and forth between their two homes in New York City and Sydney, Australia. Westerfeld says he grew up in a large family that valued storytelling and he has always written, even as a child. He has written five science fiction novels for adults but his young adult science fiction novels are what he is best known for. He continues to write young adult novels because he loves the people involved. For more information about Scott Westerfeld and his other novels check out his website at http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/.


* Genre
Teen Fiction; Science Fiction, Issues


* Curriculum Ties, if any
English or Health:
Young adults are going through so many changes inside and out; they enjoy reading about others with issues or conflicts while they struggle with the process of dealing with them.


* Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the Rusties and their destructive ways. Are their similarities between today’s society and the Rusties?
2) After reading this book would you want to become a Pretty? Why or why not?
3) In what ways does Tally change over the course of the book
4) If Tally becomes a Pretty, what do you think will happen to the Smokies?


* Reading Level/Interest Age
7th Grade and Up / 14 and Up


* Challenge Issues and Defense
N/A


* Why did you include this book in your titles you selected?
I included books from this series because it is quite popular and the books provide a strong message to young adults about being happy with who you are and how you look. I enjoyed reading this book and following Tally’s journey of self examination as she figures out who she wants to be and what her government is really doing to people when they make them “Pretty”. The message portrayed of being comfortable with yourself and your appearance, is very important for young adult readers. Westerfeld includes a healthy message of individuality as with many of his books, and he does it with a science fiction twist.