This series keeps you interested with new language, exciting characters, constant action and a great plot. The themes of taking care of the earth and appreciating individuality are strong but subtle. Tally, the main character, is a typical teenager with concerns that are beyond what most current teens have to deal with, but are familiar. There are times when the books are predictable, but with satisfying results. Overall, an enjoyable read. I would love to see more about Tally and her further adventures.

I've never really been into YA so I was skeptical when my friend recommended it to me. However as a fan of works like 1984, Brave New World, and Farenheit 451, the utopian plotline won me over.

In short, I was glad I picked it up. I was immediately enthralled and once I got the 2nd book, I finished it in a day leaving me anxious for the 3rd release.

The Uglies trilogy is a great YA series. The utopian/govt control themes make it an intelligent cut above the rest of the YA fluff and the romantic plot in it helps keep its appeal to the average teen.

Great work!

Scott Westerfeld's best work by far, The uglies trilogy is amazing. The series is perfect for and sci-fi or even just science enthusiast. The characters are well constructed, the plot is unpredictable, and the absolute best part is the suprisingly scientific concepts and descriptions. These books will blow your mind. I suggest purchasing Extras (Uglies) as well. To my knowledge, it is the final book in the series.

This set is absolutely wonderful! I'm way over 13, and I absolutely loved this trilogy! It's fun, exciting, and imaginative! Enjoy reading what I'll enjoy time and time again!

i read the first book uglies in one day. i just couldn't put it down. the rest of the series was like that and my favortie by far was specails. it had what i think was the most action out of all 3 and was by far the best.

I'm 26 and I must say, I really enjoyed these books. Other people have reviewed the story line, so I'll just give my two cents. If you're looking for a fun book that at times you won't want to put down, then try these. I read these after reading the Twilight Series and enjoyed these just as well.

Like the cover and the illustrated books. Came fast in good condition and have read them all. Loved. Everyone should just get the set. I can't wait to read the surprise fourth one. Too bad it didn't come with it.

Tally is about to turn 16 and can't wait for the day she goes for the surgery that will make her pretty for the rest of her life. Her best friend Peris has already changed, because he's a few weeks older than she is, and Tally is lonely waiting for her turn. Then she meets Shay, who takes her on adventures outside their city. Shay claims to know of a place where kids run away to before they become pretty. And she's unsure of whether she wants to be pretty or not. When Shay disappears before her birthday leaving instructions for Tally to follow, Tally has to decide whether to follow and be ugly forever or stay and become pretty.

The innovations of this futuristic world were fun to read about - hoverboards for transportation, holes in the wall that spit out new clothes. But as with any Utopian society there is a dark side that inhabitants don't see until they buck the system. A fascinating book! There's so much to talk about whether you're in a mother daughter book club or just reading for fun. How does society pressure us, girls especially, to have perfect looks? How can you choose your own path when everyone around you is moving in another direction? How much are you willing to give up for beauty?

I received this product in perfect condition and in new packaging. It arrived in much less time than I expected.

Would you be willing to give up your ability for independant thought in order to be pretty? An excellent series. The first three books go together, the fourth is more like a #6 or #7. It does not follow directly after the others. I read the series first and then gave them to my daughter.

I teach English to 8th graders in Fairfax, VA, and offered The Uglies as one of several choices for literature circles. Two groups of boys and girls are enjoying reading and talking about the action in the Uglies. But after reading 150 pages, one group of 4 girls didn't "get it" and found it "boring", and asked to change books. One of them didn't like The Giver, either, so I suspect a disinterest in science fiction.

The Uglies trilogy is a great teen story based on the power of secrets, a person's mindset, trust and friendship.

Uglies *****
This first book is set in a futuristic city in a time when everyone must wait until they turn 16 before turning into a pretty. Pretties are beautiful and strong and have special immune systems so they hardly ever get sick, except for hangovers; pretties are allowed to constantly party and have the life that every teenager dreams of. The main character in uglies is Tally Youngblood a adventurous 15 year old who is only 3 months from turning pretty and joining her best friend Paris, who she is no longer allowed to see until she turns pretty, But when she secretly sneaks into prettyvile to see Paris she notices something different about him. She later finds a friend who doesn't like the idea of turning pretty and is willing to do anything to stop from being turned into a bubblehead. When Tally and shay set out on their adventure they uncover one secret that will test the trust of Tally's own city.

I loved this book because it's new and adventurous and it has a very imaginative perspective of the future.

Pretties ****
In pretties tally has unwillingly been turned into a happy bubblehead and it isn't as great as tally expected, but she soon discovers that there's something different about her that could help her beat the lesions she also finds another friend that might help her along the way. then just when being a pretty wasn't so hard anymore an old freeing returns with Madee's pills and tally takes the risk of a 50/50 chance of the pills not working, but she shares it with a friend. She also has to find a way to get around Dr. Cable to rejoin the new smoke.

I liked this book because of its very emotional conflicts that made me want to jump in the book and scream at the characters.

Specials *****
Tally has been changed into a special by her own best friend, was it betrayal or was shay looking out for tally? Either way tally likes being a special and not only is she part of special circumstances but she's also in shays click the cutters. The cutters are a special kind of specials whose sole mission is to hunt down and destroy the new smoke but as tally tries to get rid of them she also might have a chance to help them especially when her feelings get mixed and she can't stay icy. Just when things can't seem to get any worse a war starts.

I loved this book because it was packed with unexpected problems and answers and the ending was really amazing!

Pre-read this whole series before allowing 11 yr old to read. While it was not quite adult fiction, it was not too difficult to get through. Has some story to it that requires some thinking and imagination. All the books including the newest "Extras" were fine for my daughter. One subtle reference to a "pleasure garden" wasn't given a second thought. The rest was thankfully appropriate. 5th grader loved the entire series so my effort was not wasted.

If you are wanting to read a humorous book, you might want to get a different book. But these books are one of my favorite series of books. They tell of Tally Youngblood and her experiences from being an Ugly all the way to being a fighting machine with really good reflexes an amazing senses (Special). When you read to the end of Uglies it sort of drops off and you automatically start looking for Pretties. The same at the end of Pretties, you look for Specials.
The whole series is action packed. Westerfield uses all kinds of descriptions that makes you feel like you're actually right beside Tally even when she's at places we aren't advanced enough to have. Through the dialog of the characters you can see the emotions of each character and even feel their pain or excitement.
Each book of the series gets better and better. I can't remember how long it took me to finish reading Uglies and Pretties, but I just finished Specials yesterday. I had the whole day to read (we weren't in school) and spent around 6 hours reading. In that time I began and finished Specials. It was the best of the series in my opinion. It has more action and war than the others.
I haven't started Extras yet, but I'm sure it will be just as the other books in the series.

These books are quick reads that have a wonderful sci-fi story line! I found myself completely engrossed in Tally's story and couldn't stop reading.

Because disliking books is one thing, but nothing in those statements was even TRUE... the main character struggles, but is ultimately very realistic and human in her wants and changes in opinion. She is anything but a follower (though that may have been true at the beginning of book one), and most of her choices are bold and independent... this series is truly incredible, and even me in my twenties and my husband in his thirties enjoyed these books immensely. I don't think a summary is necessary, as others have been very thorough, but I will say that these books ask some big questions. I think the central question is: is there another way? Can we be thoughtful and free people and not destroy each other and the world around us? Is there an alternative? Also, can people truly survive if we all look the same? What are the positive and negative impacts of having very few "pretty" people in the world? He provides fewer answers than he does opportunities for deep personal reflection... the food for thought is far beyond the questions I've posed here. Philosophy aside, the stories themselves are fast paced, well written, interesting and non-cliche in their perspective on future technology and society, and overall I give them five enthusiastic stars. Buy these books and you won't regret it, regardless of your age.

These books were recommended to me by some of my students at school. They're great fun and interesting. There is also a new book out, Extras, that is a similar environment but with different characters. He also wrote another trilogy/series, The Midnighters and I enjoyed that as well.

My daughter checked this series out from her school library and fell in love. When I found this set, I knew I had to get it!! She's read them over again already.

My daughter was excited! I purchased this set as a X-mas gift. She had them read in less than 5 days! KUDOS to Scott Westerfield!

If you like apocalyptic novels, you might as well order the trilogy and save time and money. "Uglies" is set several hundred years in the future where Rusties (the people of our time period) have left the civilized world in ruins, continues in "Pretties," and concludes with "Specials."

Although Tally is the main character, she is not the hero--Shay is and it is Shay who leaves her mark. In this utopian world designed to distract the rebellious ones, Shay is the leader whose personality is such that others willingly follow. It is she who leads Tally first across the river to Pretty Town just to attend this party for Pretties. At sixteen Uglies are given operations to make them perfect in looks and bubbly-making in behavior. One thing leads to another and they leave the city for the Smoke, a primitive settlement way beyond, in the frontier where rebellious Uglies go to avoid the Pretty operation. It is the perpetual theme of conformity against individualism, or in this case forced conformity against individuality that erupts happenstance.

In "Pretties" Tally and Shay are finally one with the group, although how they arrive is not typical. Even though they are Pretties, part of the "worm" that caused their dissension is still there. Shay becomes a dreaded Special and Tally tries to get back to the Smoke to cure her Pretty boyfriend. Twists and turns and more betrayals are part and parcel of the story.

"Specials" quickly became my favorite of the trilogy. Specials are given special powers--they are quicker, stronger, can propel themselves several feet, and have super-hyper abilities. Pretties fear them because they were created to spy and evoke fear in Pretties, but the reader now knows that Specials are just that and not bogeymen. Until Shay and Tally. Remember that "worm" of dissension? Now it is a "worm" of discord and boy, can it do some damage! When Shay and Tally were in the Smoke (the natural world), they learned important lessons for the third world beyond Pretty World and the Smoke.

For a quick criticism of society, find a science fiction book. Here's one: "Uglies." Look! Two more--"Pretties" and "Specials." What a bargain--a boxed set! You will be glad. And do something about your society and its ills before something evil this way comes.

Note: I apologize if this review makes the books seem confusing. They are not. If anything, they tend to be draggy, forgivable because the stories are so great. That "worm" is really part of human nature beginning in the Garden. It is simply part of human nature to be defiant, to break rules. Also, Tally is the truly the hero by the conclusion of Book 3. I think Westerfield meant Tally as the hero from the get-go, but Shay is the daring one for two and one-half books. I gave five stars because the story is so believable and made me live in it while I read.

If you like apocalyptic novels, you might as well order the trilogy and save time and money. "Uglies" is set several hundred years in the future where Rusties (the people of our time period) have left the civilized world in ruins, continues in "Pretties," and concludes with "Specials."

Although Tally is the main character, she is not the hero--Shay is and it is Shay who leaves her mark. In this utopian world designed to distract the rebellious ones, Shay is the leader whose personality is such that others willingly follow. It is she who leads Tally first across the river to Pretty Town just to attend this party for Pretties. At sixteen Uglies are given operations to make them perfect in looks and bubbly-making in behavior. One thing leads to another and they leave the city for the Smoke, a primitive settlement way beyond, in the frontier where rebellious Uglies go to avoid the Pretty operation. It is the perpetual theme of conformity against individualism, or in this case forced conformity against individuality that erupts happenstance.

In "Pretties" Tally and Shay are finally one with the group, although how they arrive is not typical. Even though they are Pretties, part of the "worm" that caused their dissension is still there. Shay becomes a dreaded Special and Tally tries to get back to the Smoke to cure her Pretty boyfriend. Twists and turns and more betrayals are part and parcel of the story.

"Specials" quickly became my favorite of the trilogy. Specials are given special powers--they are quicker, stronger, can propel themselves several feet, and have super-hyper abilities. Pretties fear them, but the reader doesn't now because she knows that Specials are just that and not bogeymen. Until Shay and Tally. Remember that "worm" of dissension? Now it is a "worm" of discord and boy, can it do some damage!

For a quick criticism of society, find a science fiction book. Here's one: "Uglies." Look! Two more--"Pretties" and "Specials." What a bargain--a boxed set! You will be glad. And do something about your society and its ills before something evil this way comes.

Great read for youth today who are bombarded with pressure to look perfect and accept shallow joys. In fantasy it draws out the consequences of such values. Slowly those who accept differences and tune into the clever ways of Earth, become far more attractive.

[We won't go into the plot here because each of the separate pages for the different books in the trilogy have sufficient reviews explaining how amazing these books are.]

We would just like to recommend that you buy this boxed set instead of purchasing the books one-by-one, because the way the story is set up it's more like one long novel. Once you finish the first book, you'll want to hurry and go to the second one to see what happens, and so on. Also, if you wait a while before buying the second book you might have to re-read the first in order to try to remember the details of what happened. It's better just to get the set so you can indulge yourself "de una vez"! (all at once)

Oh, and in the boxed set we ordered from Amazon there was a little "glossary" sheet with some of the words the author made up and tidbits on how he came up with them. It wasn't anything too special, but if you are interested in the "glossary" make sure you don't just throw away the box with the paper in it. (It's not a comprehensive glossary, by any means, so that's why we put it in quotation marks. More like a few highlighted words from the series.)

In summary, once you start you won't be able to stop reading, so buy boxed!!

This was exactly the gift I was looking for. And they asked for. Didn't have to go to the local bookstore that was packed to get this. And Amazon had it discounted.

This is a wonderful book for young adults. If you are unsure that you should buy/read this trilogy, don't give it a second thought. Buy it! You are sure to love it, especially if you are a fan of futuristic fiction, with a twist of sci-fi.

Set in the future they bring a new take on how the future could be. Very well thought out with amazing futuristic ideas and a great easy to follow plot. Very interesting story, a great read that is overall hard to put down.

These have to be the worst books I've ever read.The main character never knows what she wants.She is so boring and unsure she does what everyone does.Follower.I hate this book.I don't think I've ever hated a book more than I hate this one.I read the first one and hated it.Then I read the second because I thought it would get better.I was wrong.Then I read the third because I can't just start a series and not finish it.The third one has to be the worst of all.If ur thinking of reading this don't.It's not worth it.But if u still feel the compelling need to read it then go to the library because it's definatly not worth the money.

Students at my school LOVE this series. I cannot keep them on the shelf; a couple have not returned, but I consider it a compliment for the author.

I loved this trilogy - It's a unique look at a possible future. Along the lines of movies like Gattaca, it explores the what ifs of how far we can take science. "Rusties" have destroyed the environment and were very violent and wasteful. We are the Rusties. The idea that people respond to beautiful people better than to ugly people is what's behind the titles. At 16, every "Ugly" has an operation to make them "pretty" -- This is the story revealing what the operation really does. I like the exploration of the human spirit to overcome, and the old - just because we CAN do it, SHOULD we? -- What are the ramifications of trying to stop one bad feature of humanity?