By : Scott Westerfeld Published By: Simon Pulse Released : Available Now Details : Hardback from library , 417 Pages
RATING 3 STARS
Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads
It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.
As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rank of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. But that's just until she gets to kick a good story for herself.
Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. Aya wants desperately to kick their story, to show everyone how intensely cool the Sly Girls are. But doing so would propel her out of extra-land and into the world of fame, celebrity...and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for.
BOOK REVIEW:
I really enjoyed the' Uglies, Pretties, Specials'. They all were a continuing story that grew. Tally grew, the other characters grew. I liked Extras but..hmmm...Scott Westerfeld was originally stopping at the trilogy and then added 'Extras'. I personally found the story readable and I liked it enough to finish it , but, I have to wonder if it should have stopped at the trilogy. This is my first book series where I have gone..hmmm...why did the author keep going??!!
Aya and her brother Hiro are kickers. This book although has the environmental morals woven through it, is a book about fame and face rank and kicking a story to upped your rank which eventually leads to something they never dreamed. Past characters do come back into play 2/3rds way through book. I just felt that Aya's story was just not enough to be classified as part of the series, the 4th book. I could quite easily see Uglies, Pretties, Specials as the Trilogy, end of the series. Especially the way Specials ended. I don't like feeling not altogether satisfied with a series. Again just personal opinion. I did get a couple little surprises throughout the book , but was it enough. I personally don't think so, sorry to have to write. It seemed almost a separate book.
By : Scott Westerfeld Published By : SIMON PULSE Released : Available Now Details: Paperback from library, 372 Pages
RATING: 4.5 STARS
Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads
"Special Circumstances":
The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor -- frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary.
And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.
The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.
Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.
BOOK REVIEW:
I really enjoyed this book the third in the four book series. Scott Westerfeld was supposed to stop at his trilogy and then wrote another book titled , 'Extra's'.
Shay , Zane, Tally, David , Andrew Simpson Smith and Dr Cable are some of the characters back in 'Specials'.
This book starts off with action and finishes with action. Souped up Hoverboards , Smokeys, Cutters, Special Circumstances, Pretties, it's all here.
Tally's character just keeps evolving. Shay, I just love as you want to hate her but I can't bring myself to. Tally still has that sometimes annoying character where she keeps stuffing up with everybody around her but eventually does the right thing. I have to feel sorry for Tally because her life has become forced upon her and she must try and find her way back. Scott makes you feel these 2 characters very well. Shay and her love/hate relationship with Tally. I would have liked to read more of David as I enjoyed his character. Andrew Simpson Smith has always had me wondering about his name, I am intrigued how this guy had a name like that in this book , yet by now we know he is one of the experimental villagers. His character name is quite out of left wing, or am I missing something? I don't thing I understood totally Andrew's reason for being more educated and well not so savage as the villagers. I felt so sad when one of my fave characters was killed off , I personally saw such potential in keeping the character, but Scott did what he felt he had to do, you will feel the loss.
In 'Specials' all is not what it seems, times are a changing, people are a changing and you don't see some things coming until POW!! they hit you. Is their world coming full circle?
Scott Westerfeld has a wonderful imagination, melding environmental , political and social issues all into a great YA series. It does kinda make you stop and think!
By : Scott Westerfeld Published By : Simon Pulse Released : Available Now Details : Paperback from library , 370 Pages
RATING : 4.5 STARS
Book Blurb : Taken from Goodreads
Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong. Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.
But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.
Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.
BOOK REVIEW:
What has become of Tally and Shay? I have to admit I did laugh at the 'bubbly' and 'bogus' dialogue, but it was to explain . I had to stop myself reading the book with a funny sounding voice in my head every time the pretties were talking.
I looovvvveeee Zane, what a great character. Zane is an uber dependable, smart guy. Peris , well hmmm I was hoping for more from the boy. David , will he be able to understand? Shay...oh Shay!!..what are you doing!!!!?? ( and that's all I will say on that)
The excitement was stepped up for this book. Lots going on. Hot air balloon escapes and hoverboard chases, discoveries of what is outside of New Pretty Town and Uglyville.
The world that seemed so small is now beginning to open up more for Tally. Tally's character really grows in 'Pretties'.
There are discoveries, further betrayals, love lost , love gained.....can't wait for Specials bk # 3.
By: Scott Westerfeld Published By: Simon Pulse Released : Available Now Details: Paperback from library , 425 Pages
RATING: 4 STARS
Book Blurb : Taken from Goodreads
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license—for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.
BOOK REVIEW:
I was bumbling around Goodreads and found the 4 book series Uglies. I must admit I borrowed from the library as I wasn't sure what to expect. Well I had a great time reading 'Uglies'. What a unique story!!
A clever way to weave environmental issues with human issues into one story. The brainwashing the humans had received to feel that becoming 'pretty' was the only status the 16yr olds needed. Everything else was taken care of. New Pretty Town was across the river and away from Uglyville. The parties and pleasures to find in New Pretty Town. Everything your heart desired.
The 'Rusties' of the olden days had attempted to ruin the planet with their disregard for it. The answer was no more discrimination , all were pretty and all were desired. But!! some did not want to become pretty, some were able to flee, escape with help from previous deserters, that's when the games begin.
Hoverboards, Dr Cable, Special Circumstances, betrayal and capture, death and friendships lost.
A great read. Book 2 'Pretties' is even better.
Peris, Tally's bestfriend has turned pretty. Tally is all alone in Uglyville awaiting her 16th birthday , all she wants is to become pretty. Shay enters Tally's life when she is most vunerable. ......let the deceit begin.
