Uglies by Scott Westerfeild

Summary

In humanity’s future, a new type of society has been formed after a disastrous oil-bug was released upon the planet that killed 98% of the human population and left many cities in ruins. In this new society, the words ugly and pretty are re-defined.

At the age of 16 every teenager gets a life changing surgery that makes them physically flawless. The authorities see this operation as a solution to all wars and disputes between people. But is there something the government isn’t telling us?

Tally Youngblood is an ugly who wants nothing other then to become a pretty. When her life long friend who’s jut a few months older then her becomes a pretty she’s left all alone until her 16th birthday. She soon becomes good friends with a girl named shay.

But when shay goes missing the authorities tell tally that she can’t become a pretty until she finds shay and turns shay in. What will tally do? Will she give up being pretty or will she betray her friend?

The People

In this modern society there are are few different types of people. In a world filled with frighteningly beautiful people anyone normal is considered ugly. Everyone who is beautiful has gotten the plastic surgery that perfects all of your features. These are the new pretties. There are also middle pretties, crumblies, and littlies.

Littlies

Littlies are young, cute, and innocent children. They go to elementary school until they turn twelve.

Uglies

All children between the ages of 12 and 16 are “uglies”.  Everyone gets plastic surgery at the age of 16 so that they could become pretties. The uglies live in dorms in a town called Uglyville. When you are an ugly your every move is monitored by the authorities without your knowing. The authorities don’t restrain their behavior but however, they want to see which of them are most capable of ‘pulling tricks’ such as sneaking out at night and into New Pretty Town.

New pretties

New Pretty Town is where all of the “new pretties” (16 year old’s who just got their surgery) live. This town is full of parks, mansions , and amusements for new pretties. In Tally’s city, New Pretty Town is separated from the rest of the city by a river, and the bridges report people when they cross the bridge. When you are a pretty you basically live to party.

When an Ugly turns 16 they undergo a massive Operation that makes them perfect in beauty and health then they are called new pretties. New Pretties do not have to work, the only thing they do in New Pretty Town is have fun and maintain an active social life.

Middle Pretties

After you become a new pretty, then you become a middle pretty. Middle pretties receive a minor surgery that make them look a bit older and wiser. These people are the working class. Middle pretties are allowed to have children and get married. Their children, the littlies can stay with them until they turn twelve.

 Crumblies

Finally the crumblies. The crumblies are very old pretties. They go to live in assisted living homes and get one last surgery that lets them live up to their middle hundreds and early two-hundreds.