Uglies (Boxed Set): Uglies, Pretties, Specials (The Uglies) [Paperback]

Scott Westerfeld (Author), Rodrigo Corral (Designer)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Scott Westerfeld's teen novels include the Uglies series, the Midnighters trilogy, The Last Days, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the sequel to Peeps. Scott was born in Texas, and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1216 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416936408
• ISBN-13: 978-1416936404
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.9 x 3.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #115,366 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott Westerfeld's teen novels include the Uglies series, the Midnighters trilogy, The Last Days, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the sequel to Peeps. Scott was born in Texas, and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great trilogy for teens and young adults!, October 22, 2007

By 

JD Kent "BaseballGrrl" (Wenatchee, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Uglies (Boxed Set): Uglies, Pretties, Specials (The Uglies) (Paperback)

I loved this trilogy - It's a unique look at a possible future. Along the lines of movies like Gattaca, it explores the what ifs of how far we can take science. "Rusties" have destroyed the environment and were very violent and wasteful. We are the Rusties. The idea that people respond to beautiful people better than to ugly people is what's behind the titles. At 16, every "Ugly" has an operation to make them "pretty" -- This is the story revealing what the operation really does. I like the exploration of the human spirit to overcome, and the old - just because we CAN do it, SHOULD we? -- What are the ramifications of trying to stop one bad feature of humanity?

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging Series, November 23, 2007

By 

Tammy F. Ryan "teaching guru" (eastern iowa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Uglies (Boxed Set): Uglies, Pretties, Specials (The Uglies) (Paperback)

Students at my school LOVE this series. I cannot keep them on the shelf; a couple have not returned, but I consider it a compliment for the author.

24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wasn't the Soviet Union meant to be a utopia?, January 12, 2008

By 

Judy K. Polhemus "Book Collector" (Louisiana) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Uglies (Boxed Set): Uglies, Pretties, Specials (The Uglies) (Paperback)

If you like apocalyptic novels, you might as well order the trilogy and save time and money. "Uglies" is set several hundred years in the future where Rusties (the people of our time period) have left the civilized world in ruins, continues in "Pretties," and concludes with "Specials."

Tally is the main character and hero. However, her best friend, Shay, leaves her mark by being the catalyst that sets the story in motion. In this utopian world designed to distract the rebellious ones, Shay is the leader whose personality is such that others willingly follow. It is she who leads Tally first across the river to Pretty Town just to attend this party for Pretties. At sixteen Uglies are given operations to make them perfect in looks and bubbly-making in behavior. One thing leads to another and they leave the city for the Smoke, a primitive settlement way beyond, in the frontier where rebellious Uglies go to avoid the Pretty operation. It is the perpetual theme of conformity against individualism, or in this case forced conformity against individuality that erupts happenstance.

In "Pretties" Tally and Shay are finally one with the group of Pretties, although how they arrive is not typical. Even though they are Pretties now, part of the "worm" that caused their dissension is still there. Shay becomes a dreaded Special because she covets ultimate powers and Tally tries to get back to the Smoke to cure her Pretty boyfriend. Twists and turns and more betrayals are part and parcel of the story.

"Specials" quickly became my favorite of the trilogy. Specials are given special powers--they are quicker, stronger, can propel themselves several feet, and have super-hyper abilities. Pretties fear them because they were created to spy and evoke fear in Pretties, but the reader now knows that Specials are just that and not bogeymen. Until Shay and Tally. Remember that "worm" of dissension? Now it is a "worm" of discord and, boy, can it do some damage! When Shay and Tally were in the Smoke (the natural world), they learned important lessons for the third world beyond Pretty World and the Smoke.

For a quick criticism of society, find a science fiction book. Here's one: "Uglies." Look! Two more--"Pretties" and "Specials." What a bargain--a boxed set! You will be glad. And do something about your society and its ills before something evil this way comes.