Scan barcode
sammyclarke2013's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ambipure's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bibliosonic's review against another edition
2.0
I can see why this book was groundbreaking at the time of publication, but it doesn't hold up well given the breadth and quality of dystopian/sci-fi YA available now. I DNF the first time around (1/5 stars) because I couldn't get past the fatphobia and extremely passe slang. I finally finished it and, though the story is entertaining (and I, admittedly, have now read the whole series...), I can't in good faith recommend it to younger readers. If you're reading it from a critical lens with an appreciation for its role in developing the genre and you can understand its flaws in addition to its storytelling, then I say go for it. I don't recommend it for less critical reading.
mini_margaritta's review against another edition
3.0
This is my typical fall back book. Dystopian novel with twits and turns. Some expected others not! I look forward to reading the rest.
bevans27116's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
chezler24's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I loved this series when I was younger; it was such a great time to revisit it many years later especially in light of the movie coming out. I'm hoping to finish the series since I never got beyond the first one when I first read it. The dialogue and text does read very young YA but I think it fits for this book since we are primarily from the pov of our 16-year-old protagonist. I think about the hoverboards and spagbol way more than I'd like to admit. Definitely takes me back to the time when teenage dystopian books were at their peak!
(3.5/5 rounded up to 4)
(3.5/5 rounded up to 4)
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
pensnfeathers's review against another edition
3.0
In my mind there are three main tiers of YA: imaginative YA, unimaginative YA done well, and unimaginative YA done pooly.
Imaginative YA is the top tier, in which authors bring something unique and creative to the body of YA lit. Books like Everlost, Harry Potter, Scythe, Ender's Game.
Unimaginative YA done well hits all of the tired tropes that have turned YA into an endless sea of teenage heroines rebelling against the segregated dystopian society in which they were raised, but does so without the writing pitfalls that make so many of these books practically unreadable. These are books like the first two Hunger Games novels and the first Divergent novel.
Unimaginative YA done poorly hits all of the same tired plotpoints as described above, but is written poorly, clearly exists for no reason other than to pander to YA readers, and has completely lost the plot. Books like The Selection, Wither, and the Divergent sequels.
Uglies falls very distinctly into "unimaginative YA done well." This, of course, means there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. Is there a mild-mannered teenage girl who somehow finds herself at the head of a rebellion and is surprisingly well equipped to handle that? Yep. Is these a totalitarian government that has separated society into groups in a way that makes no sense? Yep. Is there a male best friend who appeared to be a love interest at first, but then gave way to a rough-around-the-edges older rebel who falls in love with the MC shockingly quickly? Yep. It's all very cookie cutter. It's not particularly risky or creative. But it scratches that YA itch without being offensive like the books that fall into "unimaginative YA done poorly."
Imaginative YA is the top tier, in which authors bring something unique and creative to the body of YA lit. Books like Everlost, Harry Potter, Scythe, Ender's Game.
Unimaginative YA done well hits all of the tired tropes that have turned YA into an endless sea of teenage heroines rebelling against the segregated dystopian society in which they were raised, but does so without the writing pitfalls that make so many of these books practically unreadable. These are books like the first two Hunger Games novels and the first Divergent novel.
Unimaginative YA done poorly hits all of the same tired plotpoints as described above, but is written poorly, clearly exists for no reason other than to pander to YA readers, and has completely lost the plot. Books like The Selection, Wither, and the Divergent sequels.
Uglies falls very distinctly into "unimaginative YA done well." This, of course, means there's not much to say that hasn't already been said. Is there a mild-mannered teenage girl who somehow finds herself at the head of a rebellion and is surprisingly well equipped to handle that? Yep. Is these a totalitarian government that has separated society into groups in a way that makes no sense? Yep. Is there a male best friend who appeared to be a love interest at first, but then gave way to a rough-around-the-edges older rebel who falls in love with the MC shockingly quickly? Yep. It's all very cookie cutter. It's not particularly risky or creative. But it scratches that YA itch without being offensive like the books that fall into "unimaginative YA done poorly."