At the end of “Specials,” the third book in the “Uglies” trilogy, Tally has decided to keep an eye on the world and make sure that as the people start enjoying their newfound freedom of thinking, they won’t make dumb decisions that will ultimately destroy their environment. She clearly remembers learning about the days when people burned trees, and doesn’t want civilization to return to such a backward state of thinking. In “Extras,” the spin-off to the series, we meet Aya. A young woman who lives in Japan, she’s part of a whole new culture, one that no longer inflicts … Continue reading →

Third in the “Uglies” series by Scott Westerfeld, “Specials” takes us on a new journey with Tally Youngblood. At the end of “Pretties,” she had been taken in hand by Special Circumstances for thwarting their plans of controlling the populace through surgeries that would make everyone beautiful, but made them dumb and gullible. Tally fought hard to maintain her own will and her free agency, but Special Circumstances forced her to undergo another surgery, one that would rewire her brain and make her into one of them: a Special. Specials have gone through the most outrageous transformation of all. Their … Continue reading →

“Pretties” is the sequel to the futuristic sci-fi novel “Uglies,” reviewed by me previously. As I stated in that review, I’m not really a sci-fi fan, but these books are fascinating to me. Tally Youngblood lives in a society where beauty is the ultimate goal. When the people in her town reach the age of sixteen, they are given surgery to make them incredibly beautiful, but at the same time, their brains are altered to make them less aware of what’s going on around them. They are being controlled and kept from uprising. Only a few have escaped the surgery, … Continue reading →

“Princess Academy” is an unusual story of integrity, personal growth, and a group of girls who want to be the Queen someday. Miri lives on a mountain known for its rich resource of linder, a beautiful stone used in palaces and noblemen’s homes. Only those who live on the mountain know how to quarry it and bring it out in one piece. Miri’s father is an expert rock cutter, and she wants to join him in the quarry and learn the trade, but she is absolutely forbidden, even though her sister goes with him every day. The announcement is made … Continue reading →