Extras (Uglies, #4) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Oct 15, 2007 Abby Johnson rated it it was amazing

This fourth installment of the Uglies trilogy is set in a Japanese city where popularity means everything. Their city runs on a reputation economy. The only way to get the things you want is to become famous or to earn merits by doing chores or taking classes. Fifteen-year-old Aya, with a face-rank in the 400,000s, is a total extra - someone so un-famous that she hardly counts for anything. But Aya is determined to change that. She's got a lead on a story that she knows will be huge, and once sh ...more

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Aug 26, 2013 Lacey Louwagie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: youngadult, sciencefiction, apocalyptic-postapocalyptic, dystopia

This book is definitely an "extra" in the Uglies canon. As fun as it was to return to Westerfeld's dystopian vision, complete with all the slang (which really gets stuck in your head) and gadgets, the story here wasn't worthy of the setting. While I could relate to Aya's desire to be noticed in a world obsessed with fame, it ultimately made her feel a little whiny. This was fine in the beginning, but I expected her to undergo some significant character growth. That didn't really happen. This boo ...more

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Sep 06, 2008 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-and-kids

I don't think I've liked any of the books in the Uglies series as much as the first one, but Extras was better than I expected. It takes place a few years after the other books in the series and deals with a different main character - Tally, the heroine of the other three, is talked about, but doesn't make an appearance till the very end. Inexplicably, this book takes place in Japan, but Tally still manages to be close at hand (that part really confused me). Protagonist Aya lives in a city wher ...more

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Mar 13, 2009 Carla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: not-own, 2009

After reading the third volume which disappointed me a bit, I wasn't expecting much of this one, but I confess myself surrendered and curious to read more science fiction.

In this volume the action takes place about 3 years after the "Prettytime". Teenagers can still continue to do operations, to join or establish new "cliques", but they don't end empty headed. In Japan, this new era brought a new economy based on fame, or how many times a person's name is mentioned, either because they are extr After reading the third volume which disappointed me a bit, I wasn't expecting much of this one, but I confess myself surrendered and curious to read more science fiction.

In this volume the action takes place about 3 years after the "Prettytime". Teenagers can still continue to do operations, to join or establish new "cliques", but they don't end empty headed. In Japan, this new era brought a new economy based on fame, or how many times a person's name is mentioned, either because they are extremely beautiful even without surgery, by founding new cliques and trends, by kicking the best and more interesting story, or because they simply changed the world – just like Tally, the famous #1 in the world. However, we don't follow her in this book but Aya Fuse, a "kicker" (a kind of journalist), who feels destined to be famous as soon as she kicks the story of a group of girls that are something elusive. But Aya does not expect to see herself in a bigger story...

The characters in this volume are much more enjoyable to follow than in the previous volume, including the main character. If Tally had many brain operations changing her dramatically, especially from book to book, this doesn't happen to Aya, who never experienced no surge and is willing to give news first hand thus winning fame, which seems just like any blogger. :P

The story is interesting enough to keep one reading page after page without wanting to put it down, and I liked how the title of the book related to the story. ;) Seems a much more satisfying end to this series that the third volume, which was supposed to have been the end. I was afraid of another "Meyer" *whistles innocently* but this book has enough action to keep one entertained.

Overall, it is a nice series and a good first step for those who have some reservations regarding science fiction, just like me. The society is interesting and the author manages to make us think about some issues, although not very detailed, but you have to consider the age group that this book is intended for. ...more

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Feb 27, 2012 Renata rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, fiction

Oh, Scott Westerfeld, I get it. Everyone loved Uglies (myself included). Everyone wanted more Uglies. So you said, ok, I'll write this fourth book of the Uglies trilogy. But in your heart, I bet you were done with Uglies, and it shows in Extras.

It has some cool ideas, for sure--the Twitter-like reputation economy is intriguing--but I was never able to buy into it the way I could the Uglies world. And the whole mess with the Extras? Uhhh jeeze I don't know.

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Feb 24, 2009 Rhiannon rated it liked it

Shelves: sf, ya

In this volume of the Uglies series, Westerfeld takes on blogging and celebrity culture in his trademark way. I liked it more than I did Specials; I wanted to strangle Aya (our new main character) at times, but I really liked Tally Youngblood, world-weary ecowarrior.

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Oct 20, 2007 Kate McCartney rated it really liked it

Shelves: teen-fiction

I thought it was just a trilogy and didn't expect any more after Specials, I am glad I was wrong. At first i was bothered that the story didn't revolve around Tally, there was much more to know about her since staying a Special and her "threat/promise" to keep humanity on track. But the story was good and the infusion of new characters was nice, refreshing. I have to admit it did take me a while to realize that it took place in a different city.
Sometimes though I think the world he created in Ug ...more

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Mar 30, 2009 Dana Berglund rated it liked it

This was a little better than Specials, and good enough that I'm glad I slogged through the whole series. This one takes place in an entirely different city...in Asia! Wow! ...more

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Nov 08, 2007 Annie rated it liked it

Shelves: environmental, culture-race, science-fiction, dystopia

As the next chapter in the series, it's pretty good. The antagonists and the crux of the conflict are interesting and it's good to see the protagonists making mistakes. While this could round the characters out, though, they still don't feel complex enough. Partly I think I say that because it's all eventually about the boy and the girl getting together and the first match is the right one and there's no option to be bold and alone and happy all at the same time. That makes me grumpy. I do like ...more

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Jun 22, 2015 Sarah rated it it was ok

a fine gym read, and also fills a spot on my bingo sheet.

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Oct 31, 2007 Marisa rated it liked it

Shelves: ya

Sadly, this book was a four-, maybe even five-star book until the last 30 pages or so. It was seriously awesome until the twist at the end, which I just didn't buy. For once, Scott Westerfeld has dissappointed me... ...more

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