Content levels
Heroine archetypes
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever. A very action-paced book; and a truly great read.
Is Uglies appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 13 and up.
Teens face forced surgical body modification in a dystopian society that values conformity over individuality. Contains action sequences with moderate peril and themes about beauty standards that may spark important conversations.
What to know going in
This book has moderate violence, no sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include body image issues, body horror, and deception (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
A thrilling adventure about a girl who must choose between fitting into society or staying true to herself and her friend.