The Uglies

The Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 8, 2005)
ISBN-10: 0689865384
ISBN-13: 978-0689865381

Plot Summary: Tally Youngblood lives is still in "Uglytown." She waits to have the operation to transform her into a "pretty," and talks about it all the time to her new friend, Shay. Shay doesn't want the surgery and in fact plans to escape to the Smoke. The Smoke is a place outside the cities and in the wilderness. Shay finally does flee to the Smoke, and Dr. Cable seeks Tally and makes her promise to find Shay or she will not get the surgery. Tally follows Shay instructions on her hoverboard. Once in the Smoke, she realizes she doesn't want to go to have the surgery. She meets David and he convinces her that the surgery is dangerous. The Smoke is invaded and after this and Tally and David have to rescue Shay and find out to reverse the part of the operation that controls the brain. They are in for a challenge.

Critical Analysis: The mandatory transformation into a pretty person is a social critique of our current love affair with beauty and plastic surgery. Tally believes she is ugly because that is what she is told. People are not celebrated for their natural beauty. Shay enjoys the unique aspects of her face and wishes she will not have to change. We see a girl comfortable with her own body and face, teens today rarely feel this way, and sadly Shay doesn't have a choice.

Annotation: Tally is very excited to be "pretty," and cannot wait for her surgery. Shay wants her to leave for the Smoke. Shay leaves and Dr. Cable convinces Tally to find the Smoke for them, and in doing so she sets forth a horrible turn of events.

Author information: Scott Westerfeld was born in Dallas, TX on May 5, 1963. He now splits his time between Australia and New York. He claims he has more frequent flier miles! He also is a ghost writer.

Curriculum Ties: There are none

Booktalking Ideas:
1.) Would you have the surgery?
2.) Is it wrong that Tally falls for David?
3.) What do you think Scott Westerfeld is trying to have us consider as we read this book? do you think as a society we are vain?

Genre: YA Novel

Challenge Issues: There are no issues.

Selection: I chose this book after reading it for my book club. Even as adults we all loved it. We have mothers, twenty somethings, thirty year- olds, and we all agreed that Westerfeld raises very important ideas about our society and our obsession with beauty.