Monday, August 31, 2009

BotW: Uglies

BotW stands for Book of the Week. Every Monday, the Scrolling Scholar will highlight one book in particular.

This Monday's book is Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.

First and foremost, Uglies is a science fiction book. It's about a society in the future that surgically modifies it teenage children to look beautiful. Before the surgery, a child is called an Ugly. After the surgery, they are a Pretty.

So the book is about a civilization of gorgeous models? Not even close. A minority of kids refuse to have the surgery. Instead, they flee New Pretty Town and form their own community. The government that runs New Pretty Town and conducts the transformations of Uglies to Pretties seeks to crush this rebellion and actively pursues any Ugly that chooses to think for themselves.

Looking for a great sci-fi story with a thought-provoking message about conformity and self-worth? Then look no farther than Uglies by Scott Westerfeld.


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