Super Short Summary

The young adult science fiction novel Uglies by Scott Westerfeld is set in a futuristic dystopian society where individuals undergo surgery at 16 to become "pretties." The story follows 15-year-old Tally Youngblood, who is divided between her desire to become pretty and her loyalty to her friend, Shay, who rebels against societal norms. Tally's journey leads her to the Smoke, an outsider community, where she discovers alarming secrets about the pretty surgery and ultimately confronts her beliefs and choices. The novel includes extensive discussions of issues related to physical appearance and body image.