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 really need to read the rest of the trilogy before making a final call on this series. I like the idea the author is trying to explore - what would you be willing to give up to attain perfect beauty? But I found the constant drawn out descriptions of what is basically a flying skate board boring and repetitious. There is a minor side story about a genetically modified plant that seems contrived to allow the author to moralize on environmental issues. As the main review states, you can see the plot twists coming a mile away so it feels like a sci fi novel dumbed down for kids instead of an intelligent sci fi novel written for kids. Not sure why people feel the main character is a strong female role model - she lies and stabs her friends in the back to get what she wants. It's unclear why her romantic interest falls for her before she does anything to deserve his trust or respect. Shay is far more interesting and I kept wishing she had been made the star of the show instead.

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.

I love the whole Ugly triology. (: i love the message in the story about how we're too obsessed with physical appearances.

This was a fantastic book. The first book left me madly flipping the pages of Uglies' two sequels, Pretties and Specials. Great, great series. Brilliant, I'd venture even. This piece really made me stop and thing about our physical obsession to appear beautiful, especially with girls my age. It makes you think... do we have it set in our mind already that we are ugly? Most of us do, and it's not our fault. It takes a hit on a girl's self esteem to see a retouched photo of a model in a magazine. That is the equivalent to the girls of Tally's world looking up to the "Pretties". This book really questions that way of thinking. Great read, I'd recommend it to anyone, to EVERYONE. Buy it.

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.

This book was great! It has a very original plot and storyline, and has a good message. On the other hand, the book is a bit violent, but you kind of have to expect it from a book about rebels and what-not. Also, it didn't surprise me much and it was obvious what would happen next.

i kinda got bored in this series and i really dont know why, its a good story plot, but it just needs to keep the pace going i wouldnt recomend this to my friends because to read this you have to really like reading but if you dont then you might start snoring in the end, it was very predictable which is why i stoped on the second book, because i already knew what was going to happen and i like books that have to keep you guessing, but when you know wats going to happen, then all the fun is taken away, just be warned, its a good book, but it could use a lot of improvment

it was good, i loved the series. the content is age-appropriate, and nothing is too extreme. There is only brief mention of sex, when Tally says that she was warned of the dangers of sex by Paris. Tally is a good role model because she refuses to accept her unperfect society and she helps to change it. Depending, younger, as long as old as 10, younger kids could read it