Uglies - Reception

Reception

The novel has received mostly positive reviews. The Baroque Body praised the novel as having “creative slang, unique technical gadgets, and defining characteristics of personhood. ” Cory Doctorow complimented its “perfect parables of adolescent life, ” and stated that it is “fine science fiction for youth. ” Jennifer Mattson claimed it to be “ingenious. ” Reed Business Information praised the “convincing plot” and noted that it is “highly readable” .

However, Publishers Weekly commented that Tally was a “rather passive protagonist” The United Kingdom Times complained that “Tally herself is a bit too vague as a character. ” Critic Jennifer Mattson commented on the brisk pace of the novel as being “bad for convincing relationships. ”

The novel Uglies has also sparked controversy over the use of plastic surgery to improve one's looks. The author said he has “ received many letters from girls who have decided against having surgery since reading Uglies, ” and others, sparked by Uglies, have started to ponder the ethics of changing your body’s appearance. Scott Westerfeld has theorized that “having extreme cosmetic surgery will be like buying a $1,000 Gucci bag, an indication that you are a member of the privileged class. " Critics echo his opinion. However, Scott Westerfeld has also stated he “wouldn’t hesitate if he had a kid with port-wine stain. We have all been altering our appearances ever since clothing was invented. ” Other critics have also stated that while altering one's appearance with plastic surgery can be ethically debatable, the benefits of it to people who are in need for it are tremendous.

There is also some moderate debate sparked by Uglies over the issue of monitoring people. The state has started to track teens through their cell phones and on occasion through dental implants. Scott Westerfeld feels that this will “result in a total loss of privacy” (Future Imperfect). However, others feel that this technology is necessary to properly supervise people.