Specials (Uglies, #3) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Feb 26, 2011 A. S. rated it it was ok

The problems I found with the writing in the second book of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld continue in Specials, the the second to last book in the series. The Specials finds Tally Youngblood as a Special, an elite group of Pretties with heightened senses and strength that are basically enforcers of the mind-controlling government. In the last book, Tally was roped into becoming a special by her former BFF, Shay (who wants payback for betrayal of Tally stealing David from her/always choos The problems I found with the writing in the second book of the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld continue in Specials, the the second to last book in the series. The Specials finds Tally Youngblood as a Special, an elite group of Pretties with heightened senses and strength that are basically enforcers of the mind-controlling government. In the last book, Tally was roped into becoming a special by her former BFF, Shay (who wants payback for betrayal of Tally stealing David from her/always choosing a guy over her in the form of being Tally's boss) and Dr. Cable (the series antagonist who basically wants to control everyone's minds).

Tally isn't an ordinary special, however. She is a Cutter, along with Shay, Fausto, Ho, Tachs, and a few other assorted pretties. Cutters are Special Specials who engage in a sort of cutting ritual to help them think "icy", which has now replaced "bubbly" in essential meaning and reader-offputtingness. Allow me to step on my soapbox for a minute and let me explain why I hate Westerfeld's inclusion of this practice. In the Specials world, cutting helps specials feel more special...by allowing themselves to feel at all. Specials have a superiority complex in which they believe they are better than the uglies b/c they have heightened abilities and they are better than the pretties because they think they are smarter than them. Cutting is not only described as something that makes specials feel more special, but also as something that helps them feel clear headed and free. Self-harmers usually cut to release their own despair. Cutting as something cool and desirable isn't something worthy of promoting in a YA novel.

Tally is basically supposed to be trying to take New Smoke down, all the while hoping that Zane can work his brain-damaged brain enough to be reunited with her as a Special. But taking down New Smoke proves more difficult than she originally thought as she experiences it firsthand. The real problem starts when her bosses catch up with her and the first war in millenia begins. Tally and her friends have to be extremely creative and brave in order to preserve the town and change things around (many of which include minds).

The Zane/Tally/David triangle resolves itself in an anti-climactic fashion. Tally's resourcefulness in her confrontation of Dr. Cable is pretty cool, though, as is seeing minor characters from other books get more play here. It's still unclear how other races get along in this new world, and I'm hoping the other book explains it. The writing style is as flat and uninteresting as ever and made me struggle to complete this one. ...more

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Feb 28, 2010 Susan rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, fiction, science-fiction, dystopia, series

Great continuation of the "Uglies" series, and just as good as the first two. This one seems to bring things to something of a close, as though Westerfeld hadn't been planning to write a 4th. It does leave the reader wondering what will happen to Tally in the future, but for once, not in a state of crisis.

You shouldn't read this unless you've read "Uglies," then "Pretties." And if you have, then you'll know what to expect from it in terms of plot, characters, and tough moral questions.

However, I ...more

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Feb 13, 2013 Tallyho rated it really liked it

I really liked where this ended up. I'm looking forward to the next book. Worth noting that I've read the first three books in 3 days. :) ...more

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Mar 01, 2013 Rachel N. rated it liked it

The final book in the Uglies trilogy. Tally Youngblood has been turned into a special, a super-powerful human being. She and Shay are trying to track down the location of the New Smoke and destroy it. Tally also wants Zane to become special now that he has had surgery to fix some of his brain damage. An interesting conclusions with some questions about protecting nature and freedom.

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Apr 11, 2012 Melissa (ladybug) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: yearly-challenge

It was just ok. bleh! I don't know what it is, but I am starting to get so bored with the dystopian YA novels. They all seem to follow the same formula of two (or more) kids in "love" that fight the government (that NO adults are fighting or they are not really in the picture) ...more

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Jul 10, 2008 TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey rated it liked it

Shelves: 2009

This book took me a while to get into but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. The future aspect of this book was kind of weird at times but I loved the ending. I can't wait to start Extras. ...more

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