This story takes place in a high-tech city on the continent of North America. It is three centuries after our time. During this period, there are many high-tech inventions like hoverboards and holes in the wall that will give you anything you want. There is a downside though; everybody is born really ugly with features such as small eyes and high foreheads. Once you turn 16, an operation is performed that will turn children from an “Ugly” into a “Pretty.” Once you have been operated on and become a “Pretty,” you are allowed to cross the river into a high-tech paradise full of fun. But what you don’t know is that the operation changes you in another way too.
The three main characters in this book are Tally Youngblood, a 15 year old “ugly” just waiting to go across the river; Shay, who is also an “ugly,” and who met Tally when they were trying to sneak across the river before having their operations; and David, also an “ugly,” who lives in the smoke. (The smoke is a city for people who don’t want the “pretty” operation and prefer to stay who they are). David was born in the smoke and is very skilled. All three of the main characters end up becoming best friends.
The main problem in this book is that Shay runs away from her operation and into the smoke society, leaving her best friend Tally behind. Tally is asked by Dr. Cable to betray her friends and give up their hiding place or else she will stay ugly forever. Tally feels she has no other choice but to find her friends and turn them in. But can she do this?
Tally eventually finds her friends and learns the truth behind why they ran away. Ultimately, she decides to stay in the smoke society. There are a lot of twists and turns in the conclusion of this book. Does Dr. Cable find them? Does Tally betray her friends? Do they avoid the operation, and is Tally successful in her quest from this series?
I thought this book was really good because it has a lot of unexpected plot turns. You think you know what is going to happen next, and then another element of surprise is added. This is the first book in a series of four books; Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras. Each book in this series is very good.