 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Specials: Uglies Quartet, Book 3
- By Scott Westerfeld
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Popular sci-fi series bounces back with action, depth.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Specials -- super-humans wired with an impulse problem and a superiority complex -- are essentially dangerous weapons always doing dangerous things like jumping off cliffs, crashing hover boards, and setting off massive explosions. As kind of a clique thing, they also engage in cutting themselves with knives to feel more "icy" (focused and in the moment). This behavior is eventually deemed unhealthy and sworn off by Tally, the main character, who is a positive role model in a number of other ways as well. That makes it almost worse to see Tally endure the death of character close to her, be unjustly imprisoned, and almost go under the knife while (yikes) still awake.
What's the story?
Tally's not just any Pretty anymore. She's a Special, along with her frenemy, Shay. They're charged with hunting down the city's runaways and, if they're worthy, turning them into more Specials. Tally feels like she finally belongs, but nothing is the same without her boyfriend, Zane, left in New Pretty Town with his damaged brain and tremors after taking the wrong Pretty cure. Maybe if Zane were to run away again, he'd be made Special, too. But Zane's not going anywhere: He's collared like a dog with metal too strong to break without better tools. On impulse, Tally and Shay break into the armory to find the right equipment, unleashing a chain of events that threatens the cure, the runaways, and everything else.
Is it any good?
Way to bounce back. Where Pretties (book 2) was lacking in excitement and plot twists, SPECIALS delivers. Tally is again put to the test mentally, trying to regain her own sense of self after yet another mind-altering operation. But thanks to her body rebuilt for danger, she's also got some truly fast-paced, nail-biting action scenes. It's a good balance of thoughtful and "icy," as the Specials would say.
Westerfeld's future world opens up, too, exploring what happens in a city with more freedoms and an ever-expanding immigrant population. This is the depth the series needed to keep it special -- and expand it into its final installment.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the Uglies series. Each book describes a controlling future society, a popular theme in many of today's popular books. What's appealing about this idea? How does the society depicted here compare/contrast with other future societies you've read about?
This book was once a trilogy, then turned into a quartet. What do you like about reading book series? Why do you think they're so popular?
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
LOVED IT!!!!!
I loved this epic finale!!!!! It was really good although sad at some parts (i won't spoil it). I'm extremely happy with it and I loved it.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Awesome book w/ great writing.
Definitely the best book of the series. The writing is such good quality. The genre is sort of sci-fi with some action. And while I hate both of those genres, this book is one of my all time favorites.
It definitely encourages you to think about government + how much government involvement is too much (the government in this series is a dictatorship.)
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Author: | Scott Westerfeld |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Publisher: | Simon Pulse |
| Publication date: | March 1, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 350 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Paperback price: | $9.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 17 |
| Read alone: | 17 |
Review It
Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already read it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
