Pretties

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Tally is back but as a pretty this time. Shes made the ultimate sacrifice, undergoing the operation even though she knew something went wrong with peoples heads when it happened. And now she doesnt remember the warnings she received. She barely remembers being an ugly. Instead, she focuses on being part of a new clique and getting the attention of Zane.

Of course, until an Ugly comes to her in New Pretty Town with two pills, and she suddenly remembers. But she has doubts too. So, she and Zane each take one pill. And things seem to work, even though Zane keeps getting excruciating headaches. Tally realizes something is wrong, but she cant exactly tell the doctors inside the city about that. She needs to go to New Smoke.

Pretties is the incredible second book in the Uglies series. The story was fast paced and I never lost interest. I loved the first book in this futuristic series, and this novel was better, if that is possible. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Reader reviewed by Lenore

"Pretties", the second book in Scott Westerfelds great Uglies series, continues where the first left off. If you haven't read book one and don't want to be spoiled, STOP READING NOW. Ok, so now Tally has had her surgery and her "smoky" friends are trying to contact her and save her from her "pretty" ways. She now runs with a group of "pretties" who seem to be smarter than the rest, called "crims" because of their "criminal" backgrounds as "uglies". The leader of this group is Zane and he and Tally start up a romance while still pulling "ugly" tricks.

This book suffered a bit from "middle" book syndrome but was still very compelling save for some blatant anorexia and cutting (sure, it worked as part of the story, but I personally didnt like it). Tally and Shay continue their "love/hate" friendship/rivalry which is a well-drawn and convincing adolescent relationship. Some characters from the first book, such as David are given not as much screen time as I might have hoped and some new characters, such as a savage young man who is part of a anthropological study of violence, are given a bit too much. You do learn more about the world the author has created and are well set up for the third book, "Specials".

Reprinted here with author's permission

Reader reviewed by Megan

Tally's story continues from the previous book, UGLIES, in this second installment of Scott Westerfeld's futuristic trilogy. Tally is now a pretty who lives only for good times. While attending a party at which she is to be voted into the Crims clique, she is followed by someone appearing to be a member of the ominous Special Circumstances team.

Tally can only remember her previous adventures as an ugly outside New Pretty Town in brief disconnected snatches. She is shocked to discover that the person stalking her is Croy, an old friend from the Smoke. He has something for her, he tells her, but she must search for it later in a certain secret spot. She agrees, bemused by his repellant ugliness, including his big pores and tangled hair --- all the imperfections that the surgery to become a pretty transforms to beauty.

Tally returns to her pretty life, concentrating on the fun she has with her friends. Her peace is disrupted when gorgeous Zane, leader of the Crims, asks her about David, whom she loved when she lived in the Smoke. In fact, Zane once knew Croy and had been determined to escape to the Smoke before his surgery. He regrets that he didn't go into the wilderness then.

Zane is eager to accompany Tally in finding the mysterious object Croy has hidden for her. They must face strenuous, dangerous physical challenges in order to locate the gift, which is accompanied by a startling and eye-opening letter from Tally to herself, written before she underwent the pretty surgery and explaining to her future self her motive in becoming a pretty --- to save all the pretties. Zane and Tally also learn that the pretties' brains are altered during their surgery. When the two share what Croy left for Tally, everything in their lives changes, putting Zane's health at risk and infuriating Tally's friend Shay.

As with UGLIES, you cannot read this book without questioning values and mindsets prevalent not only in New Pretty Town in the future but also here and now. How much will people surrender in order to be pretty? What is the price of popularity and conformity? Can people who relinquish everything get a second chance? As in UGLIES, the plot pace is rapid and exciting, the characters are real, and the situations are truly frightening.

How good is this book? I read it in a day, unable to concentrate on anything else until I finished it. After the tantalizing ending, I'm filled with delicious anticipation for the third book in the series, SPECIALS.

Reader reviewed by Lilia

Pretties is an awesome read filled with action and adventure. It is a really fast-paced,fun, and interesting book that you will not be able to put down. I absolutely loved it. It wasn't as good as the first but it was still really great. It has a really unique version of what might possibly happen in the future..... I would recommend pretties to any teen interested in a scifi-fantasy book.

Reader reviewed by Sam

Ok, I have to admit when i read the first one for the reading bowl i wasn't going ot read the rest of them. But after i got through with Uglies i changed my mind.

I was surprised and keep guessing through the whole thing! Just liek a good book should do.

Tally reunites with Shay, but is it the same? Finding the dark secerts of Prettyness shocked me. But i got more shocked in Specials.

Shay...no matter what they put in her head, she still remembers the jealosy and anger she felt for Tally. Will they ever be friends again? Nope, maybe somtimes, but not really.

Zane, i loved him. It made me sad that he got so messed up at the end.

All in all, great book!

Reader reviewed by Cowgirl

I love this series! "Pretties" is the second in the wonderful series.

Read on as Tally finally gets her surgery to turn pretty, because she gave herself up so that she could help her good friend Shay. Now that Tally is pretty, will she remember what it was like to be ugly, or have the brain lesions taken over her brain to much?

I don't want to give to much away but this was a terrific book and I definitely suggest reading it! However, make sure to read the first in te series, "Uglies" before you start this one!

Reader reviewed by KitKat

I have to admit, Pretties is my least favorite book of the series. And yet it's still one of the best books I've ever read. That must tell you how much I love the series!

The plot moved quickly and was quite absorbing, the characters were amazing - they really came to life for me - and I just love Scott Westerfeld's writing!

Reader reviewed by cosmicdustbella

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she is completely popular. It is everything she has ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun, the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom, is the nagging sense that something is wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what is wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life-because the athorities do not intend to let anyone with this information survive.

The sequal to Scott Westerfeld's Uglies has finally come. The book is as good as good as the first. In this continuation of the series, Tally has agreed to test out an experimental drug that is said to cure the changes made to your brain durring the pretty operation. Tally is faced with the fear of the unknown, will she dare to take the risk of the new drug to save herself and her boyfriend?

The novel will be greatly enjoyed by science fiction fans, with its gadgetry and futuristic setting. Scott Westerfeld has once again asked provocative questions about the meaning of beauty, individuality, and bravery. You will be able to sink your teeth into this novel and read it for hours on end.

Reader reviewed by Cowgirl

Tally is now pretty.  A beautiful girl with perfect hair, perfect teeth, and a perfect body.  However, there is actually something wrong with her.  Not just her, every person that has turned pretty due to the operation given to everyone after they turn 16.  They all have brain lesions.  After Tally meets someone and gets a letter in the mail and 2 pills to make the lesions go away, Tally takes them and soon starts feeling normal.  What will happen in the rest of "Pretties?"  One things for sure, it will be exciting!

I loved this book!  It gets the reader so involved, and I love the way its written.  It gives you a different view of the world and helps you see what we are like in a different way.  The characters are easy to get attached to you, and it is so adventerous that you feel like you are right there with them!  I definitly suggest this book!

Reader reviewed by vampreviews

In this sequel to Uglies, Tally has given herself up to the authorities to save Shay from losing her free will.  Maddy (davids mom) has found a cure to the lesions you get when you become pretty, but Shay refuses to be the guney pig to try the pills. So when Tally goes to get the pills hidden in garbo masion, Zane(the leader of the crims and tallys crush) comes along with her.  When Tally is afraid of taking the pills alone Zane said he'll take one with her, unfortunantly you need both pills otherwise the nanos in one of the pills eat away at you and you dont have the good nanos in the other pill to destroy those nanos(you follow me there? Basically ane took the pill that will eat at the lesions in his brain but when those are gone they'll eat at other things like his motor skills and Tally took the other pill wich is supposed to destroy the nanos that eat the lesions, so they did nothing for tally).  So now Tally, Zane, and the crims are off to the new smoke, by escaping by jumping out of the city limits with a hot air balloon. Tally lands off course onto a preserve where caveman live, and when she finnaly escapes and makes it to the new smoke only zanes there so ware are the other crims?