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Book Review of Uglies (Uglies, Bk 1)

Uglies (Uglies, Bk 1)
Spuddie avatar reviewed on + 412 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 14


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.