This "extra" book in the uglies trilogy, while still very enjoyable, just didn't quite live up to or even add much to the original 3 books. ( )

This is the last book in the Uglies Trilogy. While the other three books dealt with Tally Youngblood and her fight to save the world from "bubbleheadness", this book deals with the aftermath. As the description states the main character in this book is Aya, a fifteen year old year. And just like Tally, Aya is bored and waiting to be able to get her surgery. Just like the other books, the idleness, boredom and need to belong propelled the teen into an adventure (except replace Tally with Aya).

I think that I should first start off by saying that this is my most favorite book in the "trilogy". Westerfeld uses the same formula as before but I think the cast of character introduced in this installment were more well rounded and thought out. I like Aya a little more than I like Tally. I think that was because she was a little more independent. While she did follow the larger crowd, she wasn't somebodies sidekick (I think Tally was more like Shay's sidekick). I also think that the other more minor character were more three demoniacal than in the other three books.

What made me really enjoy this books was that it was that I liked the action much more than the first three. It seemed from the start that something was happening. It made the book an enjoyable fast read. I hated to put it down at some points because I wanted to see what was going to happen.

One of the main short falls was that there was no clear indication of location. At the start of the book you are made to feel that Aya is in the same "Prettytown" environment that Tally was in the first three books. But then there are little hints that contradict this. Later, in the novel you find out that Aya is actually in Japan, a completely different country than in the first books. While this might seem like a minor thing, it does mess with the story a little and is confusing. In the first books, I felt like the appearance was given that the worlds population had dwindled to the point were same groups of people were living in a set region (North America) and the rest of the world had effective been destroyed. The survivors were scattered into cities (communities) across North America and were governed by one body. That turns out not to be the case. Instead, some nations did survive and they all somehow were able to develop together (ie, share technology). But the first books gives the impression that present day technology was completed destroyed and the world had to start over. Just a little confusing, but not a major part of the story. Until language barriers come into play, when Tally and Aya meet for the first time.

Another problem that I had and this is with might be a problem in a lot of young adult books is with romantic relationships. They seem to happen so fast and become very intense in a short amount of time. Aya meets her love interest at a party. She sees him only one additional time before they have an altercation and he claims that he feels like he doesn't really know who she is. Of course, he doesn't know who she is they have only spoken twice to each other. The relationship went from 0 to 60 in two encounters (not dates, but somewhat random meetings). I don't think it is realistic.

Westerfeld, also, continued with the annoying slang usage. It is not as pronounced in this book as in the others. But it is there and nerve wracking. It also leaves the impression that Aya and Tally are from the same place and culture.

I am going to stop here. Because I am finding myself about to pick apart a book that I enjoyed overall. As I am writing this I am finding more and more flaws. And I keep forgetting that this is a "young adult" novel. And probably appears to the "tween" age group. Not old ladies in their late twenties.

Overall Recommendation:

Only read if you have read the other books in the series. The background is very helpful to understand what is going on in the story. There is a little of a refresher in the novel as it progresses but not enough to make everything clear. It is also really easy, light, enjoyable fast pace read. ( )

Just a few years ago, Tally Youngblood freed the world from pretty-mindedness with what has become known as the ‘mind-rain.’ Since then, cities all over the world have been experimenting in different societies. In Japan, one city has become a reputation-based economy, where merits and faceranks make things happen. Aya Fuse is pretty mediocre, as these things go, with a face rank pretty squarely in the center of the city. Although only 15, she has big dreams and longs to be famous. Her main mode of trying for fame is as a ‘kicker,’ someone who ‘kicks’ stories to the city’s feed. If others pick up her story and start talking about it and her, her fame will increase (yes, it ‘kickers’ are basically bloggers, take from that what you will).

Aya has stumbled across what she is sure will be her big story, a group called the Sly Girls for whom the reputation economy is anathema. They spend their nights doing outrageous tricks, things that would make them completely famous, but do their best not to get caught. In the middle of gathering footage for her story, though, Aya uncovers something far larger and more dangerous. Something that could impact the entire world.

Although Tally and the other characters of the “Uglies” trilogy do make an appearance in this book, they are not the main focus of this story. If you go in thinking they will be, you are likely to be rather disappointed. I even knew the story wasn’t about Tally and was still mildly disappointed for the first hundred pages or so, until Aya grew on me. Since this story isn’t even about the same city from which Tally came, many fans of the trilogy may be annoyed with it.

However, I think it is still a story worth reading. Again, Westerfeld’s social commentary is fabulous, if focused a little differently this time. The adventure portion of the story was still good too, although it may have lost a little something for readers who had become very invested in Tally. Even when she does show up it is a very different feel for her not to be the main character and the reader to be in someone else’s head instead of hers.

If you were into the “Uglies” series, go ahead and read this one. If you don’t go into it expecting a lot of Tally and the rest I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. ( )

I feel that this book is pointless. The ending in Specials was the perfect way to end the series and this one just seemed like a way to make more money. I only read to the fourth chapter and then put it down. ( )

When i first got the book, i thought it was going to be about Tally and was going to be right after the last book Specials.

Then when i started to read it i wanted to throw it across the room and stop reading it, but, once i start reading a book i will not stop no matter how crappy the book is.

But, i was happy when they stared to bring in the Cutters and the Youngblood cliques. and stuff that was in the first three books.

And i was happy when Tally showed up in the book agen and had to safe the world.

So, thats why i like the book. But, at the start it made me kinda made that it was not about Tally just about the aftermath of what she did during the first three books. ( )