More interesting (and well-written) than the first book in the series, but ultimately it follows a similar trajectory. ( )

The second book of the Uglies series, this one was very interesting as it once again incorporated many aspects of the world, focusing more on the “pretties” before coming full circle.

Tally is now a pretty, forced to make a life changing choice for the sake of her old friends. Now with a whole new perspective, Tally is finding herself not quite what she thought a pretty would be, and even her best friend Shay is starting to notice.

Paranoid that she’s being stalked by Specials, Tally takes risk after risk and is confronted by the past. Too curious to resist, Tally and the Crims leader Zane, follow the path of clues to find that they may be saved afterall.

It was very interesting, the new characters were intriguing and brought more to the story than before, plus the reunion of other characters. I can only imagine what the next book , Specials, will entail.

Tally can't wait to turn 16 so that she can have an operation to become a Pretty, like all the adults in her city, and to get across to New Pretty Town where her best friend Peris has been without her for months. But in the lonely waiting time in between, she meets Shay, another senior Ugly who isn't so sure that she wants to become pretty like everyone else. Her friendship with Shay leads Tally down a path on which she learns much more about her society and the price Pretties may be paying for their beauty and from which she may never be able to return.

I wasn't crazy about many of the characters in this book. I guess many of them are not supposed to be likable, anyway, but the story was so compelling that I enjoyed it nonetheless, and I plan on reading the next book soon.

Tally Youngblood is back after the events of Uglies, but now she is a Pretty. The Pretty operation is what happens to everyone when they reach 16. They have their face and body changed to conform to Pretty standards. She lives with the other Pretties who form cliques/clans. They party all the time, have access to as many clothes and amusements as they want and generally have no responsibilities.

Tally is part of the Crim clique and their thing is pulling tricks like they did in their younger Ugly days. It gives them a buzz and helps them wake up from the Pretty haze that they otherwise live in. Tally is drawn to fellow Crim Zane and the two of them quickly start spending more and more time together. Events from Tally's past though don't stay buried for long and people form the Smoke start appearing to her with a series of clues and tests for her to follow. Trouble is, will she like what she finds at the end and where will it take her next.

This was a lot of fun. I like Tally and it was good to meet some new characters like Zane and Andrew Simpson Smith. The story moved on nicely and I am looking forward to the next in the series. ( )

http://tyranist.blogspot.com/2009/10/... ( )

Westerfeld's 2nd book in the "Uglies" trilogy (which added a 4th book) is a good transition. "Pretties" delves into a world where pretty people are constructed via cosmetic surgery and do nothing but hang out, go to parties and look beautiful. Tally receives a note from herself before she became "pretty" and soon embarks on a journey to cure herself and others of the lesions that are put into pretties' brains.

Good ethical and philosophical arguments arise within the story and will keep teenagers discussing what is shallow vs. what is real. Excellent science fiction. ( )

After her surgery to make her a Pretty, Tally Youngblood struggles against the brain lesions that work to keep her “bubble-headed” and unquestioning. She has forgotten her promise to test out the cure from the Smokies—until the delivery of the pills and the letter Tally wrote to herself. Too afraid to take the pills alone, her new boyfriend Zane convinces her to share with him. As they begin to stay focused more and more, plans are made to escape their city and find the New Smoke. Tally’s escape leads to frightening discoveries of what the Specials have been doing in the name of human progress and preservation. ( )

http://talesofarampaginglibrarian.blo... ( )

Interesting story about a society where everyone is made pretty when they turn 16 and then they life a life of continual frivolity. When one young woman decides that she might not want to follow the crowd, she discovers a new world under the surface that welcomes her as she is. Loved the premise. Enjoyed the sequels. ( )

Pretties is the second in this series by Scott Westerfeld, and they tackle some very serious subject matter. Unlike other dystopian novels for young adults, this book doesn’t just imply Tally’s displeasure with the current regime. Tally and her friends openly rebel, plot, and deceive to free themselves from their mind-oppression. This series has strong themes that aren’t as subtle as other dystopian YA novels; the characters express open displeasure for the world’s current authorities. Westerfeld has a lot of commentary on the freedom of thought — and it is portrayed extremely well in Tally.

Speaking of Tally, I really like this character. She is a strong female character, but she is also flawed (and not just when she’s ugly). She has friend troubles, boy troubles, and problems with authority. I was compelled when she was in trouble, intrigued when she was crafty, and cringed when she was embarrassed.

I can’t tell you too much about what happens in Pretties without giving away the ending of Uglies. However, as soon as I closed the back cover of Uglies, I walked over to the bookshelf and picked up Pretties.

Read more here: http://www.monniblog.com/2009/09/ugli... ( )

I'm torn about this book. On the one hand, I like that Westerfeld talks about there being more than one love in your life. I like that Tally overcomes obstacles on her own, without medical assistance. However, I really don't like the fact that Westerfeld made the "bad guy" in the crew of kids a self-injurer. People who self-injure aren't crazy and evil, and he sets YA readers up to view them that way.

For my full analysis, check out my review on my blog: http://bit.ly/319XD5 ( )

In Pretties, the second installment of Scott Westerfeld’s series, the infamous ugly Tally is now a pretty. Everything is perfect in Tally’s pretty world. She is with her friends again, and she has nothing but fun. But then Tally’s perfect world takes a turn when she is contacted by one of the uglies, and then finds the letter that she had written to herself.Tally and her new beau Zane find the cure, but Tally is to afraid to go it alone. So, Tally takes one pill and Zane takes the other. But the pill seems to have different effects on Zane and they must escape to find the new Smoke where Zane can get help.In their escape they are separated and Tally makes yet another discovery in the Pretties not so perfect existence. When Tally finally reaches the Ruins it is David that she meets, and learns what has happened to Zane. Once again the Specials are on Tally’s tail, but now she has a choice to make. Will it be David or Zane.Pretties is even better than Uglies. Tally’s character is even more complex as well as the storyline. You never know what is going to happen next and that makes it that more interesting. I have to say I couldn’t put it down and the cliffhanger ending has me eager to read Specials. ( )

The Pretties is a continuation of the Uglies.... which picks up where the first novel left off. Tally returned to New Pretty Town and was transformed into a Pretty, with a vauge recollection of the circumstances that preceded her "surg". This book covers Tally's adventures to find her way back to the New Smoke, to stay "bubbly" despite the lesions, and admit to her feelings for her new friend Zane. I listened to this book on audio, which was VERY SLOW, as I guess teenagers can't listen quickly??? Anyways, it was fine but I found myself wanting to race ahead as her time in New Pretty Town seemed to drag, as I was ready for her to get out and meet up with her friends. It got better after the Crims attempted to leave... but like the first book, ended on another cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next book, The Specials. ( )

Pretties follows on from Uglies, I am sure you could read this one as a stand along novel, but it's much more exciting if you read Uglies first. The story continues Tally Youngbloods tale, and what a tale it is, adventure, beauty and mischief in one book. The plot is fast and full of action but also deep and exciting. The characters have their flaws but not annoyingly so, well worth a read! ( )

Tally Youngblood is no longer Ugly, she is now Pretty and she is getting ready to join the Crims, one of the coolest cliques in New Pretty Town. Tally is finally at the party she’s been anxiously awaiting, the one at which the Crims will decide whether or not she can join, when some of the Smokies show up with a secret about the past she can no longer remember. Tally and her new boyfriend Zane fight to stay bubbly and not let themselves give into the lesions that make them pretty-minded, but it isn’t easy when the city and Zane’s own body are against them.

I really do like this series. Westerfeld keeps up the action without making this a brain-dead action book. The love-triangle also worked much better than one in another young adult I could name. Perhaps the best part is the social commentary, which works because of the dystopian society in which Tally lives. I don’t even want to describe some of the commentary both about Tally’s time and our own because I don’t know how to keep it from sounding heavy-handed, although Westerfeld pulls it off quite nicely.

Perhaps the only the I didn’t like about “Pretties” is that it ended with a similar sort of cliffhanger (although not quite the same) as did “Uglies.” They were a little too similar for my taste, but that didn’t stop the ending from propelling me straight into “Specials!” ( )

Pretties suffers from what I like to call Middle Book Syndrome. It's stuck in the middle so it has to continue the story to its conclusion without getting too close to the conclusion to justify an ending in book #2. It has to convey just the amount of information necessary to have #3 make sense while continuing to build on what was introduced in #1, and it also has to have its own story to keep the reader interested enough to move on to #3 without giving up altogether. It's a high order to fill and few middle books actually manage it. I slogged through this one because even though I wasn't thrilled with the first, I simply wanted to know how the story ended. In some way, Scott Westerfeld succeeded in making a story in which the reader wants to know the ending, even if the trip on the way to the ending isn't the most enjoyable journey.

Pretties provides an interesting picture into the lives of the people who have gone through the surgery and how they live and think (or don't think, as the case may be). It's interesting to see the parallels with the current 'Pretties' who flirt and flounce and party until they can't see straight, as well.

Where Uglies was not engaging, Pretties does not become any more engaging, and in fact wasn't even quite as interesting as Uglies, since the world is already introduced. However, it wasn't something that I regretted reading, and not regretting reading something means it can't have been all bad. ( )

This is my second go around with Tally Youngblood and Scott Westerfeld. Now I really did not like the first book in the series, Uglies.

Some of the main issues that I had with that book were not fixed in this book. But at least this time around they are a little more tolerable. Mainly the word choice. Westerfeld still tries to create this futuristic environment by coming up with slang terms and while I understand the concept the execution leaves much to be desired. Instead of pulling me into the story, the slang, left me puzzled and often times wondering what the characters were talking about. I found myself supplementing Westerfeld word choices with my own to make sentences make more sense. The most annoying habit he had in this book was hyphenating words and doing it often. For example:

nevorus-making
dizzy-making

And lot of other ones. Almost on every single page.

Last time I mentioned that I really did not connect with the characters in the book. I did not have the same problem this time. I liked Tally Youngblood's character and the other main character that he introduced in the installment, Zane. I thought that the characters were a little more realistic this time. Also, Tally seemed more mature. The personality of the characters (especially Tally) really shined through this time.

I also enjoyed that Pretties was much more fast paced to me. There was a lot more action happening and that helped. But with those actions you could see Tally's character growing and developing.

Westerfeld also picked up nicely in between the two books. There was no awkward reintroduction. I just gave a few paragraphs to remind the reader of what happened last time.

Overall a much better book than the first. ( )

I think that this book is a good book, but, it is a very slow reading book because it took forever. I never tought any thing was going to happen. But, it is a good second book to the first one adding on to the lives Tally Youndblood lived. ( )

A very nice sequel to Uglies, with a fitting ending. I love these books! ( )

Opening Sentence: "...Getting dressed was always the hardest part of the afternoon..."

The second in the series, I it did not enjoy it as much as the first one, UGLIES. It took a long time to get going and once it had it was over.

Set in the future after a oil virus destroyed human's capacity for travel and caused the downfall of the world; people now undergo an operation when they are 16 to become 'pretty' so there is no jealousy and wars can be eliminated. Prior to this operation people are referred to as being ugly. Tally found out in book one that there are people in the world (Smokies) who don't want this operation and she comes around to their way of thinking, but it is not meant to be. PRETTIES opens after her operation. While she has thrown herself into the mindless life of being a Pretty, such as going to parties, drinking heavily, and thinking of nothing more than the next thrill; she can't help but have this awareness that there is something missing from her life.

One day at a party a 'smokie' sneaks in and gives her a coded message - she gradually remembers why she allowed herself to become a Prettie and what she has to do. Unfortunetly before we get to the main adventure the reader has to put up with endless "bubbly" statements - bubbly this, bubbly that - it drove me mad. It didn't help that the word changed its meaning slightly so it was very distracting to try and figure out what it meant this time. I guess you have to read it to understand this.

On the whole it is not a terrible book - just a bit of a let down after UGLIES. It moves the plot of the whole trilogy along and sets up everything for book 3, SPECIALS. ( )

Pretties picks up where Uglies left off. Tally has been turned pretty and dull-witted. Tally loves the pretty life of partying, drinking, and doing whatever she wants. She has a lot of fun with it, until one day at a costume party, she sees someone in a specials costume, and she starts feeling like something's not right with her world. Together with Zane, another pretty, Tally must track down the clue to her past as an ugly. When she does though, the repercussions of her choices afterward will continue long into the book. As Tally remembers the truth, she tries to figure out a way to help the other pretties and to save herself and Zane as well.

Pretties was a little slow to start out, but turned out decent. It would have been good, had it not been for "bubbly." One word, repeated practically every page for the first two-thirds of the book, that drove me batty. You see, bubbly was slang for any number of meanings including, but not limited to: impressive, exhilarating, fashionable, cool, cute, interesting, smart, happy, buzzed, weird, daring, exciting, alert, rational, nervous, calm, thrilling, shocking, good, intelligent, trustworthy, rewarding, conscious, intense, riled up, cognizant, and aware. It was such a pain trying to figure out what bubbly meant in each situation, and it distracted from the story and grated on my nerves. Other than that, the story was good. ( )

"What happens when perfection isn't good enough?"

Pretties (book 2) wasn't as much fun as Uglies (book 1). When we finally get everything we thought we wanted in life, like in real life, you realize that getting what you wanted never really turns out the way you thought it would. As I reviewed in Uglies, this book is really geared towards teens or young adults and can be very juvenile at times. The plot still holds my attention despite that the vocabulary is working on my nerves. It will be interesting to see how Westerfeld pulls it all together.

I wouldn't want my 15/16 year old to read this book and think that the Pretties behavior is ok! It's not making me feel very "pretty minded"!

I hope that Specials (book 3) picks it up a notch! ( )

The second in the Uglies series, Pretties started to get a little too monotonous, far-fetched and juvenile for my tastes. The language, while initially amusing, gave the story a futuristic Valley Girls spin which I found tiresome after a while. I will read Specials, which I suspect will get really bizarre, but only because I already bought it, plus I do want to know what happens to the literally high-flying Tally! ( )

Spoilery review — beware!

Last we checked on Tally, she had volunteered to undergo the operation to become a pretty in order to test the cure discovered by Maddy. In doing so, she leaves behind The Smoke and her newfound freedom. It's a huge sacrifice, but Tally, having inadvertently betrayed The Smoke, is bent on proving her loyalty to The Smoke and to David, her new sort-of boyfriend.

In the beginning of Pretties, Tally has gone through the surgery and has become prettified. She is gorgeous, but she also suffers that other lesser-known side effect — brain lesions that eradicate free thought and any compulsion to stray from the herd. Her biggest worry now is what to wear to a party where she will be initiated as a Crim, one of the many cliques for pretty people who already snub ugly people to snub each other. Tally, however, still has vague memories of her time in The Smoke, and when she sees a Special stalking her at the party, she follows him and discovers that it is a disguised Croy, an old friend from The Smoke, come to remind her of why she chose to undergo the operation.

Read the full review here. ( )

The 2nd in a trilogy (Uglies), Pretties continues Tally's story as she tries to test the cure for pretty-headedness. When the cure arrives in the form of 2 pills, Tally's memories of her escape to the Smoke and her betrayal of Shay come flooding back. Now it's her mission to see if the cure really works. Tally and her boyfriend Zane each take one of the pills, and get more clearheaded as time goes on. As Tally struggles with what she's done, Zane has a bad reaction. They must escape the city and make it to doctors who will really help–not add back the prettymind-making brain lesions. Full of adventure and chases, the ending will make you want to find the 3rd book, Specials, right away. ( )