Book review: Uglies

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Tally is an ugly and has been counting down the days until she turns 16, gets operations to become a pretty, and moves across the river into party-filled New Pretty Town. Tally and her best friend, Peris, used to sneak out of their dorm and do "tricks" like spying on new pretties - but that was before Peris turned 16. When Tally pulls her first solo trick to find Peris she meets Shay, who tells her about what exists outside their city and what really happens when you become a pretty. Will Tally risk her life to save Shay when she disappears? Do the terrifying Specials give her a choice?

Uglies and its sequels (Pretties and Specials) are set in a future not far from our own where everyone gets surgery when they turn 16 to make them beautiful. Like many of us never question our ability to choose a different nose or whiter teeth, Tally never wonders if becoming pretty is what she really wants; in fact, she can't wait until she becomes pretty and truly considers her own features to be undeniably ugly. The ideal of physical beauty that the society in Uglies buys into is disturbing while being a possible future for our own society.

Which isn't to say that Uglies is preachy. Far from it! There is lots of action, many different and interesting characters, adventures in the wilderness, and umpteen feats of daring. I read Uglies over the Christmas break and couldn't put it down - well, except for a break or two for Christmas cookies and revising my letter to Santa to include a hoverboard.

4.5 stars out of 5 for Uglies.

Read a review.

Scott Westerfeld's website (includes an interview about Uglies).