Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is a dystopian novel set in a future where everyone undergoes cosmetic surgery at the age of 16 to become “pretty.” The city is divided into the pretties and the uglies, and once you transform from an ugly to a pretty your whole life changes. Tally Youngblood, a 15-year-old girl awaiting her transformation, has her world shifted when she meets Shay, who doesn’t want the surgery and plans to escape to a hidden rebel community called the Smoke. When Shay runs away, Tally is given an ultimatum by the authorities: find and tell on Shay or never become a pretty. As Tally joins the Smoke, she begins to question the true nature of beauty and the government’s control over its citizens. The novel explores themes of identity, freedom, and the price of perfection, as Tally is forced to make difficult choices that challenge everything she once believed.
Uglies is a gripping, entertaining dystopian novel that tackles ideas that still exist in the real world, like beauty standards, and the cost of perfection. The book’s futuristic world is vividly imagined in a society where everyone is forced to look and think alike. Tally Youngblood’s journey from wanting nothing more than to be pretty, to questioning authority makes for a genuinely interesting read. With unexpected twists, it keeps you wanting to know more. If you liked The Hunger Games and Divergent, you will definitely like this. This book is perfect for young adults and anyone who enjoys stories that reflect society today.
-Anonymous
