Uglies

infobox Book |
name = Uglies


image_caption =
author = Scott Westerfeld
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = The Uglies series
genre = Young adult
Science Fiction
publisher = Simon Pulse
release_date = February 8 2005
pages = 426
media_type = Print (Paperback)
isbn = 0-689-86538-4
preceded_by =
followed_by = Pretties

"Uglies" is a 2005 science fiction novel by Scott Westerfeld. Set in a future post-scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is turned "Pretty" by extreme cosmetic surgery upon reaching age 16. It tells the story of teenager Tally Youngblood who rebels against society's enforced conformity, after her new found friends Shay and David show her the downsides to becoming a "pretty".

Written for young adults, "Uglies" deals with adolescent themes of change, both emotional and physical, and dealing with the revelation that "some of what you’re taught isn’t true, your parents are flawed human beings and the world isn’t constructed for your benefit."cite news | last = Hynes | first = James | coauthors = | title = Looks Aren’t Everything | work = Sunday Book Review | pages = | language = | publisher = The New York Times | date = 2007-11-11 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/books/review/Hynes-t.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | accessdate = 2008-03-21] The book is the first installment in what was originally a trilogy, The Uglies series, which has been extended with the publication of a fourth novel, "Extras".

Plot Summary

The plot is somewhat based on a Twilight Zone episode (Number Twelve Looks Just Like You). The story takes place in a post-scarcity dystopian world in which everyone is turned "stunningly attractive and blissfully carefree" — a "pretty" — by comprehensive cosmetic surgery at age 16.cite journal | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Uglies | journal = School Library Journal | volume = 51 | issue = Supplement | pages = 65 | publisher = Reed Business Information | month = October | year = 2005 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = 2008-03-20] The operation also creates lesions in your brain. These lesions prevent dispute, anger, creativity, and wanting to be different. People of the town thought it would prevent war and anger. Living in a world of diminished resources and high technology, a reduced population has retreated into a relatively few metropolises after an unremembered global catastrophe, leaving behind the "Rusty Ruins" of decaying cities in the abandoned stretches of countryside. Society is structured into a rigid caste system of littlies (children), uglies (adolescents), new pretties (teenagers and young adults), middle pretties (adults), and crumblies (retired adults). The city-state governments administer the cosmetic surgery to foster conformity, purging humanity of ruinous competition and jealousy. Until the operation, uglies attend school away from their parents, living in dormitories in Uglyville. After the operation, they leave Uglyville and move to New Pretty Town to begin living privileged lives centered on leisure and entertainment.

The book starts out with Tally Youngblood, a girl who is about to turn sixteen, looking forward to becoming "a pretty." While waiting for her birthday, Tally becomes friends with another ugly, Shay, who shares her birthday. Shay, however, has had contact with rebels who live outside government control in a hidden refuge called the Smoke. She doesn't want to become a pretty, and instead escapes to the Smoke just prior to her birthday. When Shay invites Tally to come to the smoke with her before she leaves for the Smoke, Tally refuses to join her. Shay leaves alone but gives Tally a note of cryptic clues to the Smoke's location, should Tally change her mind. Tally then promises never to reveal the Smoke's whereabouts.

Tally's excitement about becoming a pretty disappears when her operation is preempted with an ultimatum from the city's secret police organization, Special Circumstances. A "special", Dr. Cable, tells Tally that she cannot become "a pretty" until she reveals Shay and the Smoke's location. Forced by Special Circumstances to find and infiltrate the Smoke using Shay's directions, Tally changes her mind about becoming "a pretty" shortly after arrival and meeting its charismatic leader, David, with whom she starts to fall in love. She learns from his pretty parents, Maddy and Az (who no longer have lesions), that the pretty operation does more than just change appearances: more specifically, it makes people docile and more compliant with authority by creating lesions in the brain. Despite Tally's effort to stop Special Circumstances from arriving at the Smoke, they track her anyway, destroying the Smoke and capturing all but Tally and David.

Tally and David mount a successful rescue operation on the Special Circumstances headquarters, returning with their friends to an abandoned "Rusty Ruins" city. David's dad (Az) has died and Shay had turned into a pretty with lesions in her brain. Maddy discovers a cure for the lesions but Shay refuses to take them. Tally decides to sacrifice herself for Shay. Maddie wants to cure the "lazy vanity"cite journal | last = Hubert | first = Jennifer | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Westertield, Scott: Pretties | journal = Booklist | volume = 102 | issue = 2 | pages = 60 | publisher = American Library Association | date = 2005-09-15 | url = | doi = | id = | accessdate = 2008-03-20] created by the surgical brainwashing done to pretties, but needs a willing subject to test its efficiency and safeness. Tally volunteers to return to the city to undergo the pretty operation and then be the test subject. The story closes as Tally turns herself in to the city authorities, saying, "Make me pretty."

Themes

"Uglies" "plays on adolescent changes, both physical and emotional."cite journal | last = Levy Mandell | first =] The book and series as whole addresses the issues of conformity, body image and individuality, as well as the impact of peer pressure.

The book is also one of many modern science fiction works that features a dystopia created in an attempt to make a peaceful utopia.

Reception

The School Library Journal called "Uglies" a "complicated and thought-provoking fable" that gives the reader a "thrilling, provocative look at a high-tech world" and "much to think about as they devour a well-paced novel." Publishers Weekly also said "As in his So Yesterday, Westerfeld introduces thought-provoking issues, but readers may lose track of the plot while sorting the many messages about how the 'Rusties' nearly destroyed the planet. They may also feel cheated when, after 400-plus pages, the ending leaves loose ends to be tied up in the next installment, Pretties."

Adaptations

20th Century Fox and producer John Davis ("Eragon") bought the film rights to the novel in 2006. Davis and his co-producer wife Jordan were "plugged into the tale by their daughter, who read the book in school." No release date is available. [cite news | last = Fleming | first = Michael | coauthors = | title = 'Uglies' sitting pretty: Teen tale gets bigscreen makeover at Fox | work = | pages = | language = | publisher = Variety | date = 2006-06-25 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117945895.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=uglies+westerfeld+film+davis | accessdate = 2008-03-20]

Characters

Tally Youngblood---The main protagonist of the series. Also David's girlfriend, and friend to Shay and Peris. She is originally excited about becoming pretty, but after being forced to go to the rebel colony, the Smoke, she becomes pretty only on behalf of David's mother Maddy, who needs her to test a cure to brain lesions caused by the operation.

Shay--One of Tally's best friends. She meets Tally after seeing her sneak out of New Pretty Town. The two share a birthday and become great friends. When Shay runs away, she leaves coded directions in case Tally wishes to follow her. These directions eventually successfully lead Tally to the Smoke. Shay at first expresses a strong dislike of the 'pretty' operation, saying that she would prefer having an asymmetrical face (as opposed to a standard 'pretty' symmetrical face) and that she would not like to look like everyone else. However, when the Smoke is discovered by Special Circumstances (due to a mistake of Tally's) and the Smokies are captured, Shay is the first to get the pretty operation, since she was struggling so much. During the operation, Shay receives the characteristic lesions in her brain and starts to think in a different way - that pretty people are the happiest and that the Smokies are crazy. She refuses to take the pills made by Maddy, David's mother, to get rid of the lesions.

David Tally's boyfriend who has lived his whole life in the wild (as one of the Smokies). He only trusts that she's not a spy after seeing her face, which not only does he fall in love with but with her personality as well. David also helps recruit uglies who do not want to become 'Pretty' and brings them to The Smoke (A town of uglies in the wild away from city humanity).

Maddy She is David's mother, and was once a surgeon for turning Uglies into Pretties, along with her husband, Az. However, after the startling discovery of the lesions placed into Pretties brains, she runs away with Az to create their own community without false realities.

Az He is David's father, and was once a surgeon for turning Uglies into Pretties. He worked closely with Maddy to figure out what the lesions were, and once he discovered the effect they had on people, he fled with his wife and created the Smoke.

Croy One of Shay's friends. They knew each other prior to escaping to the Smoke. He does not trust Tally when she first arrives at the Smoke.

Peris Tally's best friend before he became a Pretty. After the operation, he failed to visit Tally. This concerns her, and causes a dangerous visit to New Pretty Town to see him. Tally views first hand what the operation does to people, but it doesn't click in her mind.

Dr. Cable Is the head, or leader, of the Specials of Special Circumstances. She is the person who forces Tally to go to the Smoke to betray Shay.

References

External links

* [http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/uglies.htm Author's official website]
* [http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/0689865384-excerpt.asp Book excerpt]
* [http://behindthepulse.com/uglies Official Uglies series downloadables site]
* [http://www.pulseblogfest.com/westerfeld.htm Author page at Pulse Blogfest]