Simon & Schuster Uglies

WARNING!!!!! I got this trilogy for my 12 y/o daughter and read most of it with her. In the second, and especially the third book, I found it bizarre, irresponsible and reprehensible how the author focused on the main characters cutting themselves. They use cutting their forearms, hands, etc with knife as a way to "feel", "understand", and "gain clarity and insight" into difficult situations. I kept waiting for the book to do a 180 on this idea as horrific and ineffective, but all it really did was have the character, in passing, say she quit doing it because boyfriend asked her to stop. Utterly reckless and dangerous to paint cutting as a useful and effective way to blow off stress and gain clarity and insight into a situation - especially for a series geared to young girls. What the heck was the author thinking?!

It's marketed as a book about the trendy pretty people versus ugly geeks, except this is a political tale about how those in power keep power, and what a rebellion might look like. Pretty is the tool used to keep people complacent and out of the way of the politically elite. Ugliness is for youngsters still in the awkwardness of puberty and becomes the badge of pride for the scarce political dissidents.The main character is left in a compromising situation by an impulsive rebel, forcing her into a position of betrayal. Somehow she never has the self respect to get angry at her reckless friend and instead desperately and constantly is trying to fix this supposed betrayal she was forced into.Basically the main character Tally is a Bella like heroine, forever putting someone else's needs above her in own. The book is supposed to be about her discovery that there are more important things in the world than being pretty. Apparently like having no sense of self worth and being constantly self sacrificing and allowing well meaning people to continually scape goat her.This isn't a book I would want my nieces reading without a discussion of how important it is to set healthy boundaries, and how those boundaries enhance trust and friendship. Sooner or later in a realistic world, Tally and Shay's friendship is likely to be awash with bitterness and distrust. While this book does set up some worthwhile thinking about our popular culture and the distraction of pop culture from political power, Tally is not in this book a good role model for young girls, although she has the potential, it doesn't seem like the author is inclined to take her in that direction. Kind of a waste of a great female character. It was really hard for me to finish this book. It's like Sweet Valley High barreled in to continue the story after Atlas Shrugged. I don't ever want to read this book again, although the next in the series does look more interesting, I wouldn't buy it without making sure reading it wouldn't be an act of discipline.Check this out on nook in Barnes and noble or borrow it from the library before you buy it. It's not adding value to my library, even at two dollars it was a frustrating waste of what could have been an awesome strong female character.

I had to read this series of books as part of my young adult lit course in college. Just recently I saw a copy of The Specials in our teacher's lounge and decided to buy the series and read them again. They are SO MUCH more captivating now than when I had to read them for a grade!With out a doubt, this series helps us see the Uglies thinking and attitudes we deal with in our own lives making it easier, as teachers, to understand teens and preteens thereby enabling them to learn how to deal with their lives and its problems.

I adore the Uglies series! I first read it in middle school twelve years ago, and I still re-read the series now as an adult in my mid-twenties. I did purchase the Kindle edition, which was formatted well enough, but I really prefer the feel of real paper. In the end, I bought the newest edition that combines and Uglies and Pretties together, as it saved me a couple dollars in this format. As for the book itself, I enjoy the depth the protagonist, Tally, brings to a dystopian world, as well as the creative language used and bright yet not-too-verbose detail. Tally well-represents what it is to be a teenager, and I appreciate the depth even the supporting characters bring. Not to mention I've been dying for a hoverboard ever since! I recommended this series to teens and young adults when I worked at a bookstore as well, and most reported to me that they thoroughly enjoyed this series. Worth a read!