Search - Uglies (Uglies, Bk 1)

I was blown away by this book, and will be recommending it to all readers I know with anything in common with my tastes. Part of its impact on me is due to the low/moderate expectations I set out with. I'll also be singing its praises to younger readers, especially my nieces and other young girls (not excluding boys - but the body image themes are often more relevant to young women. Research shows that this is changing dramatically to include men, however).
I'm an adult reader who likes a bit of a challenge, so I must admit to needing to adjust my expectations a little bit - but that became very comfortable in a short time. A book to really settle into and live in for a while. The advanced and mature themes are as sublime as any I've encountered in other reading - and it would be a real boost for the culture if this book continued to gain popularity.
Light sci-fi, beautifully written characters. 5 stars from me.

It is actually HARD for me to give a review for this book, for I lack the words. Yet I feel that I MUST describe how unbelievably INCREDIBLE this book, author and series is, so that others may enjoy it. So, I simply say a few words: THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST SERIES I HAVE EVER READ! The other best series include Harry Potter (J.K.Rowling), Twighlight (Stephenie Meyer), and Witch (Nancy Holder, Debbie Vigue....I suggest that you read those too!

First of a teen fantasy trilogy sent in a future world where everyone is given an operation and turned pretty at the age of sixteen. Since we humans apparently hadn't learned our lesson and our civilization as we know it crumbled because of wars started based on differences between us, the powers that be have decided that everyone should be alike. The operation, based on years of scientific research, gives everyone a perfect, symmetrical face, shiny white teeth, sparkling eyes and a toned, trim body. Gone are the little (and big!) imperfections and variations that make us unique.

Of course, there are always going to be rebels out there, and Tally Youngblood meets one of them, a girl named Shay who shares her birthday. As they get to become friends, Tally, who is very much looking forward to turning from an Ugly (read: normal) into a Pretty, soon realizes that Shay isn't so excited about the operation. When she runs away a week before their birthday, Tally is worried about her--but not worried enough to jeopardize her own operation. Excellent start to a series that I'm very much looking forward to continuing; fiction with a bit of a conscience that gives all of us--teens and adults--something to think about.

It took me a few chapters to really get in to this book, but once I did I was hooked. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, you would probably enjoy these too as they have very similar themes.

When I was first reading it I thought the story started out slow and a little bit boring... it did get better once Tally was forced to be a spy and to enter the adventure of finding the Smoke. It was interesting in this part and I like the story has revealed some secrets of the 'Pretties'.

Wasn't really sure what to expect with this book but the more I read the more I could't put it down.

The perfect society where only some of us are different and the rest of us are all the same...beautiful, rich and without a care in the world. After all who really wants to make their own decisions about life much easier to let someone else do it for us...right?!