"Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld

Rating: 5

Description: Since her best friend was made pretty three months ago, Tally has been lonely, waiting for her sixteenth birthday and the surgery that will transform her into a pretty so she can join him in New Pretty Town. But then Tally meets Shay, who, shockingly, doesn't want to turn pretty. Shay talks of a secret place called the Smoke where no one is pretty. She tries to convince Tally to run away with her, but Tally can't understand Shay's desire to remain ugly for the rest of her life. Then Tally is given a choice: betray Shay or never turn pretty herself. Conflicted, Tally agrees to follow Shay's directions to the Smoke and activate a signal to let others know where the camp is. But when she arrives, Tally finds herself liking the Smoke and its teenage leader, David, who has lived there his whole life. Tally respects the people of the Smoke, but will she sacrifice her dream of becoming pretty just so that they can live as uglies?

Review: Westerfeld has yet another amazing novel in "Uglies". The idea of a futuristic society where major plastic surgery is the norm is interesting in this time when we are focusing more and more on looking like someone else's idea of perfect. The setting of the book is eerie and haunting, a not-so-distant future where everyone over sixteen is drop-dead gorgeous. Tally is a good main character for this novel, conflicted but good-hearted. The choices she makes are ones that readers can understand, and her journey (both physical and mental) is interesting to watch unfold. The other characters are distinctive and a good contrast to Tally. This book is entertaining and a definite page-turner, but it also makes you think. What is "pretty"? Readers will love Tally, Shay, and David, and the unique science fiction setting will make them really think about the established stereotypes of beauty.