In Tally’s world, no one wants to be an Ugly. So that’s why she can’t wait to turn sixteen so she can have the operation that will turn her into a Pretty. But then she meets Shay, an Ugly who would rather run away and rough it on the outside then be turned into a Pretty and move into their superficial world. Soon they meet a whole society of Uglies who inform them about the true intentions behind the Pretty operation. And when they get caught, Tally must make a life-changing decision—turn in her new friend or stay Ugly for the rest of her life.
The author's story provides a social commentary on the need to be flawless in today's society in the style of other dystopian works. Tween readers will initially be intrigued by the idea of becoming a Pretty, but will soon realize that there is more to life than image and that the power of the mind is more important and not something to be given up lightly.
