In the young adult dystopia novel Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, we get to Imagine a world where, at sixteen, you’re transformed from an “Ugly” into a stunning “Pretty”—all thanks to advanced surgery. No more awkward features, self-doubt, just a perfect, beautiful version of yourself. Sounds ideal, right?

The Hook

That’s the world of Uglies, the first book in Scott Westerfeld’s bestselling young adult dystopian series. The story follows Tally Youngblood, a fifteen-year-old living in a dystopian future where society values conformity above all. In this world, everyone undergoes a drastic operation at sixteen to become a “Pretty,” gaining not just beauty but access to a life of luxury.

But Tally’s excitement fades when she meets Shay, a rebellious friend who doesn’t want the surgery. Shay introduces her to the Smoke, a hidden group who’ve escaped the city and rejected the Pretty lifestyle. Tally faces an impossible choice: betray her friend and go back to become beautiful, or stay with the Smoke and risk everything.

Uglies is the first in a four-book series that explores themes of identity, freedom, and the cost of perfection. Through Tally’s adventures, Westerfeld challenges the notion that beauty equals happiness and questions the price we pay for societal standards.

So, what would you choose: to fit in or to fight for who you really are?

Buy Uglies by Scott Westerfeld on Amazon.

Watch the Trailer for the New Uglies Movie

Why You Must Read Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

I read Uglies years ago when it first came out. And it’s a crazy fast read. It was super fun but also thought-provoking, which I feel is super relevant to teens today, where much emphasis and pressure are placed on young people to look and be a specific way. Even as an adult, as my skin ages, the desire just to get a tiny bit of Botox is tempting. But like Tally, I embrace who I am, and I’m growing to love my imperfections.

At its heart, Uglies explores the pressure to conform and the dangers of a world that values beauty over individuality. It asks us—what’s the actual price of perfection? And are we willing to pay it?

In our own society, where everyone strives to be the same, standing out might be the bravest act of all.

Do you like reading the book first or seeing the movie without knowing the story? And if you read the book, do you prefer it to be fresh in your mind before you see the movie or do you prefer the forget me stick of time, so you don’t get frustrated when the movie derails from the source?

Who did it better: Hollywood or Westerfeld? Let me know in the comments.