Uglies Series

 

Dystopias, what can I say they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I know that may seem odd to some people but hey, to each her own. I recently read Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan and Behemoth which I loved and figured I would check out some more of his novels (Thanks again to Allison for being my library :) yay no late fees!) I went through these books faster than I have a series in a while which is always a sign of an addictively good series.

Enter Tally Youngblood, an ugly in a post apocalyptic North American city. Faced with tough decisions about becoming a mindless drone or part of the rebel forces (heehee). In the Uglies we follow Tally on her hoverboarding journey in the wild as she makes new friends and realizes what her priorities should be. She reaches the fabled Smoke where people who want to live like the Rusties (basically people who were dependent on metal and other natural resources to live... us I guess) get their chance at a normal life. Calm is not to last forever though...

Well it's happened, in the Pretties Tally is finally pretty and living the life she has always dreamed for herself. But is she really? While trying to fight off bubbleheadedness and joining up with the coolest group around the Crims, Tally tries to regain the memories of the Smoke that she has lost and overcome this new vapid person she has become. Fighting against the authorities didn't end well the first time, how will Tally fair after a second bought with Special Cirmcumtances?

Finally feeling in control and as though she belongs, Tally has rejoined her best friend Shay as a special special, part of the infamous group calling themselves the Cutters. In Specials we see Tally fight the hardest she ever has to retain her own individual thoughts and see what is really going on, not what they want her to. A few pranks and schemes later sees our heroine free from oppression and ending the "mind-rain".

Extras is unique in the series as it does not follow Tally and her gang around but rather Aya Fuse, a young ugly in Japan. She is a girl obsessed with her reputation as the economy in her city is based on it, i.e. the better your rep is the more money you will have. In an effort to "kick" an awesome story Aya teams up with a group called the "Sly Girls" and winds up discovering some interesting creatures as well as running in to our much loved Tally. An awesome adventure in itself and a great companion to the first three books.

Scott Westerfeld