Book Review: Uglies- Scott Westerfeld
Apr. 15th, 2017 02:45 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
niori_1709With this particular review I’ve decided to dive into the realm of ‘young adult’ (AKA teen) fiction, which happens to be unfairly disregarded and severely underrated (in my opinion, some of the best books I’ve ever read are in this genre). But anyway, ‘Uglies’ by Scott Westerfeld is my choice because not only is it a book for the young, but the themes are ones that have an impact on all ages.
In a futuristic world –one that has been rebuilt after we go and destroy ours (a second, not so subtle theme also breached in the book)- when one turns sixteen, they are given an operation that makes them ‘pretty’, which is a generic and conformist ideal of beauty (though Westerfeld never exactly describes what exactly what that ideal beauty is, but leaves it up in the air). With the operation they get to go one to a ‘perfect’ life of fun and party. Of course, it wouldn’t be a good story if things were exactly as they seemed; Tally has waited her whole life to be pretty, but when a friend runs away to avoid the operation, Tally gets thrown into a scheme that would force all the runaways (the ones who want to stay ‘ugly’) to be turned, and for very devious reasons.
‘Uglies’ very blatantly forces you to look over society’s idea of what beautiful is, and how far we’ll go to achieve it. Are we willing to completely change ourselves? To betray people we love? What aren’t we willing to do? While those questions are strong and forceful, the book doesn’t come out sounding overbearing. It’s an easy read despite the deep themes, and thankfully isn’t all that preachy either. Young adult or not, everyone who reads it should be able to enjoy ‘Uglies’ for what is; an awesome story.
In a futuristic world –one that has been rebuilt after we go and destroy ours (a second, not so subtle theme also breached in the book)- when one turns sixteen, they are given an operation that makes them ‘pretty’, which is a generic and conformist ideal of beauty (though Westerfeld never exactly describes what exactly what that ideal beauty is, but leaves it up in the air). With the operation they get to go one to a ‘perfect’ life of fun and party. Of course, it wouldn’t be a good story if things were exactly as they seemed; Tally has waited her whole life to be pretty, but when a friend runs away to avoid the operation, Tally gets thrown into a scheme that would force all the runaways (the ones who want to stay ‘ugly’) to be turned, and for very devious reasons.
‘Uglies’ very blatantly forces you to look over society’s idea of what beautiful is, and how far we’ll go to achieve it. Are we willing to completely change ourselves? To betray people we love? What aren’t we willing to do? While those questions are strong and forceful, the book doesn’t come out sounding overbearing. It’s an easy read despite the deep themes, and thankfully isn’t all that preachy either. Young adult or not, everyone who reads it should be able to enjoy ‘Uglies’ for what is; an awesome story.
