Specials

Reader reviewed by dede

I enjoyed Uglies, didn't care for Pretties, and Specials got it right again. Tally is a special, again against her will she was made into something that is not "her." Shay surprises in this book, Zane is the best and the other cutters make surprising decisions. This is the first book of the series where I didn't know what was coming and I was anxiously waiting to see what happened. The "ending" is appropriate and heartwarming in a way. I am now on to Extras!

Reader reviewed by risunoko

Specials by Scott Westerfeld is a great book. I would recommend it to anybody that has read the first two books in the series, Uglies, and Pretties. If you have not read the first two books, Specials will most likely be pretty confusing! When I first started reading it I wasn't to sure about it, it seemed like I had already read it, I was ready for something new and exciting. After the first few chapters it got a lot better!


Tally Younglood is now one of the rumored Specials (if you didn't figure it out from the book title). Tally has two choices, to carry out the mission she was given and destroy the Smokies, or to listen to a little voice inside her that is telling her to do good. Which will she choose? You'll have to read it to find out, and I suggest that you do! Scott Westerfeld really pulls you into the story and keeps you guessing until the very end. Once you have read Uglies, Pretties, and Specials, do not miss the last book in the series, Extras. These books are definitely worth buying and adding to your library.

Reader reviewed by Kayla (Midnight Twilight)

Tally thought they were just a myth, but now she's one of them. A special, a cutter. She is programed to keep the uglies in check and the pretties stupid.

But something stirs at the back of her mind and she questions whether being special is the best thing int the world, or if there's something better.

Tally is then given a chance to complete her mission: to wipe out the New Smoke forever. But there is still the little nagging doubt in the back of her mind. Which way will her loyalty fall; read the Uglies Series to find out.


The Uglies Trilogy was supposed to be a "Trilogy" (as in three books), but Scott Westerfeld decided to write a fourth book in the series (and i'm not complaining, these books are amazing). But this book was meant to be the end and was written that way, so that's how i'll talk about it. This is the resolution for Tally, Shay, David, Zane, and the rest of the group. It's amazing to see how all these people changed over a one year time line. In Specials i find Tally a bit scary, i know she's the same person she always was, but the way she acts is a bit unnerving. In the end i truly believe this series is a must read for anyone who has a pulse.

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

Reader reviewed by the book muncher

Tally has undergone yet another operation, and now she is a superhuman fighting machine, a Special. With her best friend Shay, she is a Cutter, and everything needs to icy sharp, because its better that way.

She and the Cutters are up against a new enemy: the Smokies. They are the teens who live out in the wild and smuggle nanos into to Uglies about to undergo the operation. This is dangerous because nanos can completely destroy the brain. But just because they are Specials doesnt mean they are foolproof; the Smokies manage to trick them, capturing Shay and another Cutter. Things are heating up. Tally is slightly repulsed by Zane, whos been permanently damaged by nanos, and meets David again.

I thought that Specials was an amazing ending to an amazing series. I could feel myself slip into Tallys character a lot, and the ending was surprising, but still incredible. I highly recommend this series to everyone, because I loved it so much.

Reader reviewed by Bettina

Tally Youngblood, originally a bored "ugly," then a bubbleheaded "pretty" and now, a cruel "Special." And that's not all she's a special "special," a Cutter. Yeah, it's a little lame, but the story isn't that bad. It's a conclusion to the Tally part of the series. It's all about saving Tally's world that's made up of mad scientists and obediant pretties. Tally's world is shaken when old friends come back and her "special" mind's ideas are revised.

This is an ok book. Uglies is still the best book. The different technologies and different surgaries are cool, but this book gets a little complicated.

Reader reviewed by abscae

While Pretties left me slightly unnerved (yet it was really good), this book just stunned me away. Westerfeld's writing has always stunned me because not only does he present thoughtful concepts and ideas to society, he shows it in such a way that leaves people aware. I think that the Uglies trilogy is a phenomenal embankment of what society has slowly started turning to: perfect bodies.

In Specials, Westerfeld once again stuns his readers by creating the last part of Tally's exciting tale. Full of excitement and emotions, I would definitely recommend this book. Not only does it present very thoughtful ideas, it brings to light some of teenagers very feels and emotions.

Reader reviewed by Rosie

As a shocking turn of events (as you may remeber from the end of "Pretties"), tally has become a Special, her once-greatest enemy. And even though everything is icy and fine, is life really worth living with that hole where Zane used to be (and wher on earth is he by the way? shouldn't he be done with his surge by now?). And now that she is fighting against what she once stood for, is there hope for Tally to find her destiny. Is it really Tally thats rising through all this special-speed and danger, or is someone still holding the controld on her mind?

Reader reviewed by Wendy

this was a very interesting ending to the uglies trilogy. in this hit, tally is turned into a Cutter, a group of Special Circumstance Agent. She is still in love with Zane and will not lwt go till he too becomes a cutter. She and Shay come up with this brilliant plan to free Zane and send him into the wild to find and betral the new smoke. Little do the know, the New SMoke is a whole lot more bigger than what they think. Tally is still unsure of who she is and who she wants to be.

this was a really amazing book that i would recomend to any sci-fi genre lovers and anyone who is looking for something new and different to read or has already read the first two books n the trilogy.

i was a little disappointed in the way Scott Westerfield ened the seies because it keeps the reader guessing and wanting more, and unsatisfied ending but a good one as well.

Reader reviewed by Amanda

I was very happy with the way this series ended up. I think this was supposed to be the conclusion of a trilogy, but if I'm thinking correctly I believe Extras is coming out next month, which would make it a series. I would be very happy to read that one as well! Scott Westerfeld is a great author and I've enjoyed these books very much. Always page turners and always exciting.


Specials, like other books, follows Tally Youngblood, now a member of Special Circumstance's prized group of Cutters. Though Tally's mind has been altered enough to agree with all of the things she does for Special Circumstances she still has lingering memories of her time with The Smoke and throughout the plot, begins again to think like a rebel. When her and Shay break into the Armory in order to help out a friend, the world begins to literally crash down around Tally. A war between cities breaks out and Tally is the only one who can save anything...or anyone.


This book was probably the most exciting for me. Uglies was a great introduction to the series and though Pretties moved a little slowly for my liking it was still pretty good, but Specials was the most action packed. I really liked this one and any fan of Scott Westerfeld's will enjoy it as well.