The Uglies by Scott Westerfield: Review

the uglies cover art

The Uglies
By: Scott Westerfield
Post Apocolyptic Fiction, Science Fiction, Young Adult


Tally Youngblood can't wait for her 16th birthday. She's not anticipating a driver's license, but the chance to become "pretty." Her best friend Peris has already had his surgery, and Tally can't wait to join him in New Pretty Town. A few weeks before her birthday, she meets up with another ugly, Shay, who happens to have the same birthday as Tally. When Shay disappears before her surgery, Tally's own chance to become pretty is in jeopardy.

Well, this book hits at the heart of a common teenage issue: being pretty and the consequences. I liked Tally and Shay and especially the character development that occurs within Tally. She really does grow up. I kind of wished that the reasons why Pretty Town and the surgeries had begun in the first place had been explored a little more. But, it's part of a series, so I imagine they will explain it later. Other things I liked about this book were the lack of sex and vulgarity and the smartness of the characters. I'd recommend it for anyone who likes post-apocolyptic or end of the world type books.

I gave it 3/5 stars. This book was part of It's the End of the World Challenge