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.

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 346 topics — 20,930 comments total

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

showing 10 of 14 topics view all »

What Members Thought

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: dystopia, apocolyptic, ya

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

Like · see review

Jul 16, 2013 Mitchell Friedman rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction, series, young-adult, science-fiction, dystopia, own, popular, candidate-powelsssfgroup, liked-reviews, author-w

A well considered future world, if just a tad simple. But only a tad and still works well as a ya. Really a great read with great ideas - which is kind of what I expect from Westerfeld. There are just a lot of ideas here - whether it is the societal one of Pretties versus Uglies, or the technological ones with the hoverboards and bungee suits. 4.5 of 5.

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

Like · see review

Mar 23, 2016 Dan rated it it was ok

A predictable story line and at times mundane dialog there were still a few intriguing plots/devices.

Like · see review

Feb 16, 2010 Aimee rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sf-fantasy, young-adult, dystopian, book-club

4.5 stars

I love this story and I can't wait to read (or listen to) the second book in the series!

The reader for this audio version was fantastic, though her voice did take a little bit of getting used to. ...more

Like · see review

May 06, 2008 Katie Verhaeren rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Pretty good YA novel. Sort of on the lines of fantasy/post-apocalyptic fiction. Makes you rethink your society, physical beauty, and what we accept as "normal." ...more

Like · see review