Uglies
Scott Westerfeld
ISBN 978-0-689-86538-1
Simon Pulse, 2005
425 pages
Genre: Dystopia
Readers Annotation
In a world where everyone gets plastic surgery at age 16 to make them into a Pretty, 15-year-old Tally learns about her society's ugly underbelly.
Plot Summary
In a future North America, people can't believe that 21st century Rusties used to cut down trees, burn oil, and use steel for buildings. Worse, it's unthinkable that people used to judge each other on genetic things they couldn't control, like their skin color or how attractive they were naturally. Since humans have evolved to favor perfect symmetrical beauty, those who approximated it naturally had unfair advantages. Now, society is peaceful and happy because at age 16, everyone undergoes dramatic plastic surgery to transform themselves. Everyone is equal and Pretty. 15-year-old Tally, an Ugly, can hardly wait for her upcoming surgery. Her best friend Peris transformed a few months earlier, and she misses him terribly. Once she's had the surgery, she'll be able to join him and her old friends in New Pretty Town, where life is one giant party.
Tally befriends Shay, a girl whose surgery is also rapidly approaching. Like Tally, Shay loves to play clever Ugly tricks, like sneaking out of their dorm late at night. Unlike Tally, though, Shay is apprehensive about the surgery; she's happy just the way she is. Before running away, she tells Tally she's headed to join a secret settlement called the Smoke, populated by kids who didn't want the surgery. On her 16th birthday, Tally's taken in by a covert government group called Special Circumstances. They tell Tally that they'll withhold her surgery until she helps lead them to the Smoke. Will Tally betray her friend just so she can become Pretty? And if Special Circumstances was a secret, what other nasty secrets does her society hold?
Critical Evaluation
I loved, loved, loved this book. Scott Westerfeld has created a vivid alternate universe with a lot of pointed commentary about our current society. Tally and her friends make a lot of pointed commentary about how wasteful and stupid the Rusties (obviously meant to be our current society) were, and Westerfeld's explanation of what caused the end of Rusty society is brilliantly thought-provoking. However, through showing how distorted, shallow, and ugly the Pretty society is, Tally learns to appreciate the beauty in the authenticity of the Rusty experience.
Tally is a likable and resourceful heroine and goes through a believable transformation in the book, though I think the book's strength is more its plot, originality and ideas rather than the writing and characterizations. That said, however, Westerfeld plays beautifully with language, giving the Pretty society a distinct slang. The book moves quickly, its short chapters maintaining a tense pace that will have the reader eagerly turning the pages. His depictions of the future are fun; among the great inventions we learn about are bungee jackets (that protect the wearer from a steep fall) and hoverboards (a sort of midair skateboard). Fans of the utopia/dystopia genre will love this series; it's a great one to recommend to teens who are eagerly awaiting the last book of The Hunger Games.
Other Books in the Series
Pretties (2005)
Specials (2006)
Extras (2007)
From Bogus to Bubbly: An Insider's Guide to the World of Uglies (2008)
About the Author
Scott Westerfeld is a popular and prolific young adult author, whose work is also critically well-regarded. He primarily writes in the science fiction/fantasy genre. In addition to the Uglies series, he's worked on the Midnighters Trilogy (about a group of young adults that have special powers), as well as two books (Peeps and The Last Days) about a parasite that turns people cannibalistic. His most recent book, Leviathan, is the start of a steampunk series.
Curriculum Ties
While not as deep of a work as Brave New World, Uglies could be used to discuss some of the same ideas about the consequences of a "perfect" society, perhaps in a junior high or freshman English class.
Booktalking Ideas
1. Give a basic introduction to the Pretty society and explain Tally's dilemma.
2. Talk about the cleverness of the Uglies vs. the vapidity of the Pretties and the value the society places on both.
3. Talk about the love triangle between Tally, David, and Shay.
Reading Interest/Level
While teens in high school will definitely love this book, its reading level and subject matter would also be appropriate for younger teens in junior high.
Challenge Issues
While there is a bit of PG or PG-13 level violence and some descriptions of teen drinking by New Pretties, I do not believe this book would be likely to inspire challenges. Though the Pretty society has some disturbing ideas, they are clearly portrayed as such.
Selection Criteria
I picked up this book because I've seen it in libraries and bookshelves since it came out and knew it must be popular, but didn't know anything at all about the book. (In fact, I first incorrectly assumed that it must be kind of like the Gossip Girl series!) Seeing it was named an ALA and SLJ Best Book convinced me it was worth the read.
Showing posts with label dystopia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dystopia. Show all posts
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire
Suzanne Collins
ISBN 978-0-439-02349-8
390 pages
Scholastic, 2009
Genre: Dystopia
Reader's Annotation:
Katniss' actions in the Hunger Games, an annual ritual in which 24 teenagers must fight to the death as televised entertainment, have made her an unintentional symbol of revolution and a target of an angry government.
Plot Summary:
Set in a dystopic future, where North America is divided into 12 Districts controlled by the almighty Capitol, Katniss deals with the fallout from her participation in the Hunger Games, an annual ritual in which 24 teenagers selected by lottery are sent as tributes to the Capitol and must fight to the death in a battle that's televised for the entertainment to the rest of the country. She tricked the gamemakers into letting her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta, survive, too, but now the Capitol is furious with how she outsmarted them. She's torn between Peeta, who is in love with her, and Gale, her friend and possible love interest who is upset that Kat had to pretend to love Peeta to survive the game. More importantly, as Kat and Peeta travel the country on a victory tour, she learns that the Capitol is working overtime to suppress revolution, and that her actions in the Games have made her the symbol of this revolution. Katniss struggles with her desire to protect her family, her friendships, and her fury at the government which has trampled on the lives of so many people.
Series: Book two in a planned trilogy; the first book is The Hunger Games (2008).
Critical Summary:
The Hunger Games received so much positive attention that I simply had to read it earlier this year. I loved it and couldn't wait for the sequel, which I bought and devoured the day it came out. I'd had a lot of interesting conversations with people about the first book. Many of them disliked the ending of the first book, which they felt seemed a little pat and turned what was an interesting political or sociological story into a more hackneyed teen love story. I felt that this book completely addressed those complaints. While there is a bit of the love triangle, it's only in service of the book's greater message, which is completely about the impending revolution of all the Districts.
I really liked how characters from the first book grew and changed in this one. Cinna, her stylist, and Haymitch, her drunken mentor, both have more complex roles to play here and are serving their own motivations. Collins' writing style is taut, and the action is fast-paced; it's a page-turner, for sure, although at some times, it feels like the plot is chugging along so fast, there's not much room for any subtlety. There's not a lot of description here, and there were a few plot points that I found confusing, even after I read them several times.
As a standalone, I'm not sure if the book would work. While it's satisfying in its own right, it can't be fully appreciated without reading the first one, and the ending is very much unresolved, leading directly to the as-yet-to-be-published final book.
About the author:
Collins is now best known for the the wildly popular book The Hunger Games, the predecessor to Cathing Fire. In addition to this series, Collins has also written the bestselling Underland Chronicles series, fantasies about a strange world hidden under New York City. She started her career as a writer for children's television,
Curriculum Ties:
This book can't really be read on its own, but the first book could be used in discussions about the media and reality TV or societal problems and revolutions.
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Briefly explain the premise of the Hunger Games themselves.
2. For fans of the first book, give a hint of what faces Katniss at the start of this book.
3. Talk about Katniss as a symbol of revolution against the Capitol.
Reading Interest/Level:
While this book is completely appropriate for and interesting to older teens, it would also be enjoyed by 7th graders and up.
Challenge Issues:
Some of the descriptions of the Hunger Games are pretty bloody and violent.
Were it to be challenged, the librarian, along with explaining the selection policy to the challenger, could point out how immensely popular and well-reviewed the first book was, along with winning several Best Book the Year awards.
Selection Criteria:
This book was one of the most-anticipated young adult releases for 2009, so I had to read it!
Suzanne Collins
ISBN 978-0-439-02349-8
390 pages
Scholastic, 2009
Genre: Dystopia
Reader's Annotation:
Katniss' actions in the Hunger Games, an annual ritual in which 24 teenagers must fight to the death as televised entertainment, have made her an unintentional symbol of revolution and a target of an angry government.
Plot Summary:
Set in a dystopic future, where North America is divided into 12 Districts controlled by the almighty Capitol, Katniss deals with the fallout from her participation in the Hunger Games, an annual ritual in which 24 teenagers selected by lottery are sent as tributes to the Capitol and must fight to the death in a battle that's televised for the entertainment to the rest of the country. She tricked the gamemakers into letting her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta, survive, too, but now the Capitol is furious with how she outsmarted them. She's torn between Peeta, who is in love with her, and Gale, her friend and possible love interest who is upset that Kat had to pretend to love Peeta to survive the game. More importantly, as Kat and Peeta travel the country on a victory tour, she learns that the Capitol is working overtime to suppress revolution, and that her actions in the Games have made her the symbol of this revolution. Katniss struggles with her desire to protect her family, her friendships, and her fury at the government which has trampled on the lives of so many people.
Series: Book two in a planned trilogy; the first book is The Hunger Games (2008).
Critical Summary:
The Hunger Games received so much positive attention that I simply had to read it earlier this year. I loved it and couldn't wait for the sequel, which I bought and devoured the day it came out. I'd had a lot of interesting conversations with people about the first book. Many of them disliked the ending of the first book, which they felt seemed a little pat and turned what was an interesting political or sociological story into a more hackneyed teen love story. I felt that this book completely addressed those complaints. While there is a bit of the love triangle, it's only in service of the book's greater message, which is completely about the impending revolution of all the Districts.
I really liked how characters from the first book grew and changed in this one. Cinna, her stylist, and Haymitch, her drunken mentor, both have more complex roles to play here and are serving their own motivations. Collins' writing style is taut, and the action is fast-paced; it's a page-turner, for sure, although at some times, it feels like the plot is chugging along so fast, there's not much room for any subtlety. There's not a lot of description here, and there were a few plot points that I found confusing, even after I read them several times.
As a standalone, I'm not sure if the book would work. While it's satisfying in its own right, it can't be fully appreciated without reading the first one, and the ending is very much unresolved, leading directly to the as-yet-to-be-published final book.
About the author:
Collins is now best known for the the wildly popular book The Hunger Games, the predecessor to Cathing Fire. In addition to this series, Collins has also written the bestselling Underland Chronicles series, fantasies about a strange world hidden under New York City. She started her career as a writer for children's television,
Curriculum Ties:
This book can't really be read on its own, but the first book could be used in discussions about the media and reality TV or societal problems and revolutions.
Booktalking Ideas:
1. Briefly explain the premise of the Hunger Games themselves.
2. For fans of the first book, give a hint of what faces Katniss at the start of this book.
3. Talk about Katniss as a symbol of revolution against the Capitol.
Reading Interest/Level:
While this book is completely appropriate for and interesting to older teens, it would also be enjoyed by 7th graders and up.
Challenge Issues:
Some of the descriptions of the Hunger Games are pretty bloody and violent.
Were it to be challenged, the librarian, along with explaining the selection policy to the challenger, could point out how immensely popular and well-reviewed the first book was, along with winning several Best Book the Year awards.
Selection Criteria:
This book was one of the most-anticipated young adult releases for 2009, so I had to read it!
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