Friday, October 23, 2009

Specials

Sometimes Tally still remembers the days when she was fifteen; spending her boring days outsmarting the city's technology while waiting for the big surgery to make her pretty. Now, Tally has gone beyond that. She's been turned into an exclusive Special, her reflexes set to extreme. She's been under the knife with her Special friends so many times that it's just her brain left that's really hers. Then, in a bout of clear-headedness, Tally decides to get her former boyfriend Zane, the last one of her friends still just pretty, to turn Special. But what she doesn't realize is the uproar she causes when her plan goes horribly wrong. As Tally escapes and takes refuge in a free-thinking city very unlike her own, the professional Specials are ready to track her down. Again.

Let's wrap up the Uglies trilogy (plus an "Extra" book!) right now with Specials. Thankfully this was not as repetitive as the previous two books, but you can kind of tell how the plot is slightly based on the one used in Uglies. I know, I'm being so nitpicky about that. Well. We have some of the usual series wrap-up elements, including a very sneaky character mindset change, and a cliffhanger that leaves a lot to be answered. There aren't many new characters to ponder here, but all the old ones debuting on the other two books develop a new side to them. Overall, if the Uglies and Pretties ranked high on your favorite books list, you pretty much have to read this exciting yet somewhat similar conclusion.

Related links:
Author's blog
Official series site
Series fansite

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Double Identity

Who really are Bethany's parents? Why did they abandon her, especially when her unique past is starting to come together? Bethany tries to answer these questions when she is suddenly dropped off at her aunt's house, with no idea where her parents are headed. As she explores the rural town, she meets several people who can't help but stare at her. Bethany is sure she doesn't have an unsightly pimple forming on her nose, so what's going on?
Not all hope is lost. Her father seems to have something to say to her. It's just too bad he's nowhere to be found.

What is up with me? I'm drawn to some kinds of books (see The Goodness Gene) and repelled by others. Science Fiction being one type of "pulling" book. I loved the characters here; they seemed very alive and personified, unlike some other books I've read. Margaret Peterson Haddix's first-person narration is great. She manages to squeeze in humor between even the most suspenseful or depressing parts of the plot. I have to say, though, I was miffed by the epilogue, which was too sudden for me. Perhaps a certain author needed a coffee break and forgot about the book? Though you could kind of guess what was going on about halfway through, the characters are so naïve that you almost start being ignorant right along with them!

Related links:
Author's website
Simon & Schuster Author Page

What? NO WAY!!!!

Wait...is that...HOLY CRAP! BYS is actually updating her blog! I thought she was dead!
Well, yes. I'm back (hopefully) every Thursday! More reviews and the works. I'm so pumped, seeing as I haven't updated since around September...