Book Review: Uglies

      Imagine a world of flying cars, hoverboards, and incredible beauty.  Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies barreted me with the emotions and moral choices contained within its folds.

     A story can only be as unique as its environment.  If this is true, then  Uglies would most definitely be one of the most unique stories I have ever read.  The setting ranges from a super high-tech town, to valleys of orchids, to a camp in a valley.  The setting of Uglies stars in the high-tech town of New Pretty Town, or rather, the outskirts, in a place called Uglyville.  Tally Youngblood, the main protagonist in the story, constantly dreams of when she will become a pretty and move to New Pretty Town.  New Pretty Town is where all of the new pretties live after they have had the operation.  The town is always crawling with activity ranging from parties to parades.  The town is also brimming over with extraordinary technological advances.  Unused items can recycle themselves and everything is automated.  During a point in the story, Tally drops a plastic mask after finding what she was looking for, but before she can pick up the mask and put the disguise back on, the cover had already recycled itself and absorbed into the carpet.  Later on, the setting changes to a camp ground in a valley.  Not much can be said of the camp ground, because too much information on the story may be told.  However, the valley is described as being extremely beautiful.  The area is also described as if a feeling of true freedom were felt when seen from high in the mountains.

     Uglies is packed with morals and moral choices throughout the book.  Simply put, any choice, large or small, can have a much greater impact than one might have initially thought.  Through much of the story, Tally conflicts with herself on whether or not she truly wants to become pretty and what she’s willing to sacrifice to get what she wants.  Tally also gradually realizes how many other people she will effect with her moral choice.

     Uglies is a very unique story in that this adventure can easily pull the reader in and hold them there.  I would definitely recommend Uglies to anyone who likes Sci-fi technology and an engaging read. (425 pages)