From the Bookshelf of Apocalypse Whenever…

Uglies (Uglies, #1)

Scott Westerfeld

Start date: May 10, 2012

Finish date: June 1, 2012

Discussion: AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

Why we're reading this: A futuristic story of a dystopia in which teenagers of a certain age get molded into beautiful people and…more
[close] A futuristic story of a dystopia in which teenagers of a certain age get molded into beautiful people and then live with the other "Pretties", and enjoy a life of constant indulgence, fun, and frivolity. It sounds ideal to Tally Youngblood, but she discovers along the way that things are a bit more complicated than she had ever expected them to be.

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AW BOOK CLUB (spoilers)

* What is a good book for AW discussion? (Nominations pool)
By Gertie · 64 posts · 216 views

last updated Oct 03, 2025 09:53AM

* AW Book Club: what we've read
By Gertie · 16 posts · 1822 views

last updated Dec 10, 2019 09:01AM

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What Members Thought

Feb 09, 2008 Amy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, favorites, 2008-books-read, post-apocalyptic, dystopia, fantasy

After finishing 425 pages that I couldn't put down, I'm finding myself needing to buy the next in the series as soon as possible. No wonder editors are getting copy-cat novels similar to this from aspiring writers.

Uglies tells the story of a post-apocalyptic dystopia where everyone gets a surgery at age 16 to make them "pretty" with a perfect body, perfect face, and diminished personality. This surgery is supposed to prevent people from having an unfair advantage in the workplace because of the ...more

34 likes · Like · see review

Dec 31, 2014 Melanie rated it liked it

This book was an easy read and I enjoyed it; however, I couldn't stop thinking of the Twilight Zone episode "Number 12 looks just like you." After watching that TZ episode today, I'm even more convinced that was the inspiration for the book. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 04, 2012 Katie Kenig rated it really liked it

Shelves: apocolyptic, ya, dystopia

You know, I think I read more YA fiction now than I did when I was in the YA age range (by that point I'd moved on to "adult" books.) I mean, I read Sweet Valley High and such, but why wasn't there YA fiction like this around when I was that age?

I guess it was so I could read it now.

Uglies takes place in a post-apocolyptic world where war and conflict has been eliminated. The small population goes through surgery to make everyone aesthetically pleasing, and somehow, this makes life better. Well ...more

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Apr 28, 2019 Angie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-books, adventure, sciencefic, post-apocalyptic, toughgirl, great-reading-challenge, dystopia, 2019-books, bookclub

3.75 stars. 🌟 I've been meaning to read this for ages! Thanks to my pal Tori for moving it to the top of my TBR list. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Feb 13, 2015 Joe rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Really 4.5 stars - I couldn't survive on stories like this alone. But that said, some of the best writing in the YA genre that I've encountered in a while. Heavily influenced by Australian writing, I think, with a dash of Margaret Atwood. Though this particular book was very well-written, I'm more pessimistic about the second in the trilogy, Pretties - based on what I've seen of it, it's less tense and has more of a 'soap opera' feel. ...more

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Nov 21, 2009 Rift Vegan rated it liked it

Shelves: 2009

Young Adult Science Fiction. A fun adventure story.

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Feb 26, 2008 Sam rated it liked it

This book had a weird concept, and I thought it was interesting enough to go on and read the second one, but I didn't think it was anything great. The idea was original but I think so much more could have been done with it and it could have been done better. ...more

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