I received this book for free from Reviewer Purchase in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can’t wait. In just a few weeks she’ll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty. And as a pretty, she’ll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.

But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to become a pretty. 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 a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally’s choice will change her world forever.

Short and Sweet Review

Tally has been waiting for her 16th birthday and it’s right around the corner, once Tally turns 16 she’ll be able get surgery to take her from being an ugly to a pretty. Tally’s friend Peris got the surgery three months ago and she can’t wait to join him on the pretties side of town. As of now Tally has been lonely until she meets Shay another ugly who is supposed to have surgery around the same time as Tally. The girls spend time together and when it’s time for surgery Shay runs away. Because of Tally’s association with Shay, Dr. Cable decides that Tally isn’t going to have surgery until she brings Shay back. Tally goes and searches for Shay and finds her with a group who also wanted to avoid becoming a pretty. The longer Tally stays with this group she starts to wonder if becoming a pretty is actually worth it or if she still wants to sell this group out.

Uglies came out in the early 2000s and I didn’t read it until recently but I do think it holds up to more recent young adult dystopians. The writing is simple and it makes the story easy to follow, Tally isn’t a complex character. Tally grew up in a world where all she knows is going from being ugly to a pretty so to meet Shay someone who is adamant about staying an ugly kind of rocks her world. When Tally ends up at the smoke and meets the group who wants nothing to do with being a pretty she’s sure her visit will be quick. All she needs to do is call Dr. Cable and give her the location of the smoke and then she’ll get her surgery. Tally ends up meeting David and she feels sparks fly and that is what makes her wonder whether she wants to go back to the life she knows or stay in the smoke. I think this book was interesting and from my understanding the lesson here is that it’s okay to be different or an ugly while the pretties all look alike and in the process end up losing their personality.

Overall, the ending was good and it leaves off on a cliffhanger and I’m excited to see what’s next for Tally.