I wish Scott Westerfeld (who wrote the Uglies series) had also written the Twilight series. It has all of the page-turning excitement, fantasy and romance. But yet it actually features a strong female heroine who kicks butt instead of waiting around to be rescued.
Uglies (Uglies Trilogy, Book 1)
(2006, Fiction - Science Fiction, Written by Scott Westerfeld)Ratings at a Glance
| 50% | of parents say it gives kids positive messages |
Have you read it? 
Most Recent Reviews
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
Exciting and interesting!
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
- My highlights are:
Good Read
I love the book and thought it was great. However, my sixteen year old sister read it and understood the main concept of it but had a hard time digesting it without my help. Great book and great concepts/themes to get young adults thinking about the materialism and perfectionism in the world.
- I rate this title on for age 14 and give it
Thought provoking for teens. I have concerns about the series.
As a high school librarian, I read the Uglies series to see if it would be appropriate for my students. The idea about a gov't that orders surgeries that beautify but dumb down the populace makes you think about priorities and freedom. The writer has created another word with it's own vocab, which is enjoyable. My reservations are how amoral the writer is in approaching teen drinking and partying and "cutting." Cutting doesn't show up in Uglies, but if you read Uglies, you will want to read the rest of the series, and later one of the main characters starts to cut herself to make herself more aware and alert. Eventually a group of Cutters form. The author is totally neutral in his treatment of the topic. My concern is that young people might read this series without thinking critically and think there is nothing wrong with cutting (or some of the other activities..., but I'm most concerned with the cutting). I plan to include this series in our library, but will paste a statement inside the front cover about the seriousness of cutting and websites for help.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it
Good Book, but alcohol content an issue
I thought the book was entertaining. I'm not sure, though, why the author had to bring alcohol use into the story. It really bothered me that alcohol was being consumed (under age) and its effects were glorified. Other than this issue, I thought it was a good book.
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Ugly is good
This is a great book for discussion with teens. Everybody grows up with the issue of body image and everybody feels judged and does some of the judging. What better way to talk about the relativity of beauty than to read a book like this?
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Excellant series about social pressure on appearences
Wow! I read lots of books aimed at this age group and this series is great! My students loved it! Hate the name but don't judge this series by that alone. Great story line, lots of adventures, amazing characters-this book gets you addicted to the series. Great for discussions and a fun read for all ages! Highly recommended by a headmistress of a girl's boarding school.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
An excellent read aloud for the summer!
After seeing the 11+ age rating, I chose to read the book aloud to my two children (ages 9 and 12). "Uglies" is the first of a triligy by Scott Westerfeld. I thoroughly enjoyed the book myself. Reading the book aloud, gave us the opportunity to discuss several issues where the characters struggle with moral decisions. I am the kind of person that found the whole "Uglies" and "Pretties" labels repulsive at first glance, until I realized that there is really an underlying message there, that is basic and good. If you like to have a few books that you read aloud to your children during the summer months when school is out - I highly recommend this book. We have started the 2nd book in the series now! Exciting read.
Parent & Educator Reviewers Say | Kid Reviewers Say
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
children shouldn't be discouraged from reading because someone deems a book "inappropriate" LET YOUR KIDS READ WHAT THEY WANT!!!
I love this book! one of my favorites!!!
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
My Favorite
I LOVE THIS BOOK! IT IS THE BEST!! It is a really good book. Once I started, I just wanted keep reading more and more!
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
For preteens and Teens.
i love uglies the ending was so ubrupt. Tally has comman sence to stay away fromspecail circomstances. This book helps kids realize that beuaty is on the inside too. This book is excellent for preteens and teens. i would not recommend this book to children under ten years old they would not under stand.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
- My highlights are:
good for 11 and up
omg i luv this book its one of my all time favorites and it took me 2 days to read it and it has a really good endding!
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This book has an amazing plot! it is a little slow in the beginning and a little in the middle, but there is a twist at the end!
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
This book has an amazing plot! it is a little slow at the begging and in the middle but has a suprising ending!
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
good book
actually, i'd just like to ask what the problem is with product placement? you see it EVERY DAY on the street, at home, online, on cars, on tv, its everywhere. so whats the big deal?
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Perfect for tweens!
This book has it all! An exciting epic that brings up important points.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Excellent book for people who loved adventure- anyone between 11-16 would like this book
OMG this is like one of my fav books! it's about a girl called Tally and she lives in the furture. In the future when you turn 16 u get a life changing opperation and become gorgeous. But when tally meets a girl who thinks that everyone is pretty just as they are and that people don't need to change, her world gets turned upside down and she has to choose between the life that she always wanted or her new life and best friends! The descisions tally makes will blow you away!
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Excellent book for people who loved adventure- anyone between 11-16 would like this book
OMG this is like one of my fav books! it's about a girl called Tally and she lives in the furture. In the future when you turn 16 u get a life changing opperation and become gorgeous. But when tally meets a girl who thinks that everyone is pretty just as they are and that people don't need to change, her world gets turned upside down and she has to choose between the life that she always wanted or her new life and best friends! The descisions tally makes will blow you away!
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- My highlights are:
Very good series!
I love this series! Actually it's my 3rd fave series of all time! (Only under Twilight and Harry Potter) Very good you should give them a try.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give itMy concerns are:
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- My highlights are:
- Educational
- Good role models
Nice and Different
This book was great! It delivers a change from the vampire fiction stories that are everywhere today. Don't get me wrong, I love vampires, just look at my username. But when you kind of just need a break from the supernatural, pick up this book and give it a try. The plot was excellent. I wish I could have a *SPOILERS* hoverboard! And I think the idea of not judging people is great, but I don't agree with the cities rules and 'lesions'. But nice and appropriate.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Read it in under a day!
This book has some pretty raw topics, about stereotyping and so forth, and unless an advanced 12 / 13 year old reader or above, it is unlikely that it would be understood. This book is action back for girls and boys, right upto adulthood, it really kept me gripped.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love book!It's so cool because it gives a look into what are future can be.Everyone is always judging people by how they look, so this tells use if we don't stop now, people will be like this.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Interesting Idea a Book, But...
I can't help but feel it could have been pulled off much better. First half of the book was very good, but after the main character reaches "The Smoke", I felt the book's pace sped up, and not in a good way. And, while the book is very descriptive, I often have trouble visualizing the scenes being described. Overall, it was "so-so".
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
I loved this book!
This book is awesome! I don't feel there was anything inapropriate about it. A must read for almost tweens and up. I think a 9 year old would be able to read it. The rest of the series was awesome as well, but drunkness is mentioned. Still, this book is good, and the whole series is a MUST-READ!
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Dull, Boring...who wants that?
I didn't bother reading the other books in the UGLIES trilogy, since I was unbelievably bored by the first book alone. Westerfield bored me with no sense of character, humor, or intelligence while authoring this book. The main character, Tally Youngblood, is a dull teen with a huge obsession about becoming pretty. I personally think the book makes many kids-teens feel insecure about how they look. In my mind, this book is a terrible read for anyone...one star (since he at least wrote a book, even if it was awful).
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
Good book, entertaining and great for discussions.
There really isn't any iffy material in the first book, but the next two are different stories.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
"I couldn't stop reading"
This book is facinating with adventures and action it is one of my favorite books
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
Thought-provoking
I absolutely loved these books. I finished the first one, 3 days. Second, 2, Third, 2, Fourth, 3. I read these books because my Mom had been reading about them, and I loved the first one so much I sped by them all. I even got my older sister and Grandmother to read them. I think there is one bad word in the 3rd book, and some mention of kissing, but they were very clean. These books really get you thinking, and they are awsomeness. I loved them.
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
I LOVE IT TO DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey everyone! In my opinion, the book "Uglies" by Scott Westerfeld is a great book with lots of adventure and excitement! But, I did think that at some parts it was a little confusing at parts. I still loved it though! I would recommend this book for 11 years and over just like Common Sense rated it.
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
OKAY
It was an okay book, although I only read it because people recommended it. Wasn't that good.
- I rate this title on for age 12 and give it
Read!
Tally is longing for the day when she's pretty. When you're sixteen, you undergo a (rather gruesome) operation. She'll see her family again, as well as her crush/best guy friend Peris. But the best thing, will be getting rid of her ugliness...Everyone 12 to 15 is ugly, yet... Being pretty has an irresitable appeal. This book was so interesting...the plot, the storyline. You could relate to Tally, and her hopes, her wantings... Her troubles. She does betray her friends, and break rules... But it's not a book like that. The meaning is deep...slightly preachy at times though Uglies=Must read
- I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
pretty good
this is actually a pretty good book. though i didn't find it as unbiased as the csm reviewer made it sound. it is definitely a little preachy sometimes. (i quote: becoming pretty doesn't just change the way you look... it changes the way you think.) but it's really, really good even though the middle is a little slow. the next one, pretties, is absolutely amazing.
- I rate this title off for age 11 and give it
This is a must read book it will take you on an adventure you never had
I lovedd thiss book it was the best one i have read
