When Tally turns sixteen she’ll go under the knife, a tradition that will initiate her into the life of a Pretty where everything is possible, most of all acceptance and approval. But then she meets Shay, who lets it spill that she doesn’t want to be Pretty. She doesn’t want some committee deciding how she should look, what she should do and who she should be. And Shay knows rumors about another place, and other people who chose not to be Pretty.
When Shay runs away without Tally Special Operations blackmails Tally into spying for them, to help them destroy the dissenting citizens or she’ll never be made into a Pretty. But instead Tally finds a whole new kind of life and a great secret the Specials are keeping from everyone.
Enty-level SF at it’s finest, long time readers will find Uglies to not be terribly surprising, but still interesting. Tally comes off pretty superficial and hive-minded at first, until she’s stripped out of society and becomes a natural at thinking for herself.
This is a fabulous, relatable book for young teens and YA readers. Plus, I couldn’t read it in public without someone stopping me and singing it’s praises. Got love it when so many people get excited about the same (good) book.