Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Lenore

"Specials", the third book in Scott Westerfelds Uglies series, follows Tally in her new role as a "Special". Shay is now her boss and she feels contempt for anyone not "Special", including her boyfriend Zane. Shay, Tally and their group of "cutters" are charged with finding the new "smoky" settlement and stemming the tide of cured "pretty" runaways from the city.

Even though Tally is now one of the ruling class, she is still questioning authority and pulling even more dangerous pranks than ever before one near the beginning of the book sets off something that hasnt happened since rusty time a full out war between cities.

Again, Tally must overcome societal norms and be true to herself. Because she has a weaponized body, the story is full of action which reads quickly but is not as interesting to me personally. Brainwashing as a plot point can be quite convenient, but often makes characters act in strange ways that can simply be explained away would seem like lazy writing in any other book, but here it didnt bother me (too) much. Still, the story comes to a satisfying conclusion and you feel like you're leaving a friend when you read the last page.

Reprinted here with author's permission