By Natalie Browne, Fullhurst Community College
What is the real price of beauty?
Would you relinquish everything else about yourself to be pretty or would you rather cherish your innate personality, yet remain ‘ugly’?
This is the dilemma that Scott Westerfeld’s novel Uglies confronts and disintegrates. He creates two contrasting and conflicting worlds, showing us their dissimilarities to allow us to reach our own conclusion as to which is preferable:
Prettiness vs. Personality?
Protagonist Tally Youngblood is eagerly anticipating her 16th birthday because only then will she be turned ‘pretty’, undergoing the compulsory operation to ensure perfection. After years of feeling inadequate as an ‘ugly’ she will eventually be accepted into the realm of the New Pretties. However, after meeting and establishing a firm friendship with wannabe rebel Shay, Tally’s life changes dramatically. She faces many unbelievable situations, some exhilarating, some horrifying, yet Tally comes to realise that there is more to life than being ‘pretty’ and that beauty is not just skin deep, but about choice, love and being yourself.
Uglies is fundamentally a futuristic adventure story, for we see the missions, trials and tribulations of Tally and her friends. However, it is also deeply rooted in the societal obsessions with beauty and youth and the cultural bombardment of these issues that we, now, are bombarded with daily in our own zeitgeist. Westercott addresses this with a tentative and open mind, all the time reminding us of the importance of individuality, independence, and free choice. The futuristic aspect adds a real ‘edge’ for it is as if Westercott is unveiling a divine prophecy, showing us the way our own world will be if we don’t learn to value our inner selves. We live in a world of cosmetic surgery, dieting and sun-beds and we are repeatedly told that we are not good enough unless we embrace perfection. This element of the futuristic also impinges on the notions of ‘good vs. evil’ (pretty vs. ugly) that Westerfeld literally collapses in the novel.
Uglies is an absolutely consuming read, gripping every step (or hoverboard turn!) of the way. Westerfeld really develops the character of Tally to reveal her personal maturity which is far more perceptive than the transition of preconditioned ugliness to perfect and cosmetically pretty. We see her strength and determination, her fear and vulnerability as well as her guilt, love and gregarious nature.
This is a story which crosses many genres and embraces a variety of issues. A complete page-turner – I promise that once you embark on Tally’s journey, you won’t want to get off. And, to excite you even more….there’s a sequel to look forward to!
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I totally agree, when i read it i just couldn`t put it down, and i really liked your point about how we can find similarities in our world that relate directly to this book. Becoming perfect would defeat he point of life, what do all humans do? Strive to be better! How can we do that if we`re perfect? And getting rid of things like scars is wrong! I have a two inch scar on my right hand, and if that wasn`t there i`d be devastated, it was my first rugby battle scar. I totally love this book, because it really makes you think about who you are, and what it would be like if we were all the same.
I`ve already read pretties and started specials, but i`m awaiting the arrival of Extras on the fourth of febuary, i can garuntee it`ll be as good as the previous three.
i think this book is really interesting soo far
good review
but the fact that the author’s name was spelt wrong several times was’t particularly good.
I loved this book, but I think you should mention the environmental issues the book covers. The book is amazing!
so far i’ve read the uglies, pretties, and the specials. i’m starting the extras now. and now that i have an idea of what life would be like if everyone looked like a barbie (or ken) doll, i have a new appritiation for my scars, freckles, and even my slightly uneven eyes. because all it shows is being a pure human. and im very proud to be one, flaws and all!
i think EVERYONE should read the uglies series at least once before they really grow up and worry about their appearance too much. and for those who already like that, then they should most definetly read it. A very well thought out series. hats off to you scott!
I totally agree. This has to be my favorite series, out of all Young Adult fiction books.
this book is really good i can’t even put it down !!! it shows how life would be if the world “wanted to be perfect” which i don’t think would be a goo!