Summer has long been the time that I read books. I love to devour a whole book (if its good) in a day or two, and summer is the only time of year that I can actually do such a thing. My latest read was Uglies by Scott Westerfield. This juicy young adult novel is the first in a series of three, and thank goodness it has two more because I couldn’t put it down.

The central theme of Uglies is a coming of age story in a world where average is ugly and at 16 you get a surgical transformation to make you exceptionally beautiful. The best thing? No one is excluded. Tally, the heroine, is only days from this exciting fate, when her future is turned upside down when she befriends Shay. Shay is planning to run and stay an “ugly” and lets Tally in on her plan. On the day of her own surgery, Tally is faced with the hardest decision of her life, betray Shay or stay an ugly forever. The decision she makes leads her on a journey to the mysterious Smoke where everyone is an ugly. At the Smoke, Tally discovers a vicious truth about the transformation to become a “pretty,” that makes her question the motives of the authorities and what she wants in her own future.

Uglies brings to light many questions about the humanity of our present day and Westerfield poses a possible answer in the society he creates, where superficial equality is the law of the land. What kept me reading was the underlying hints as to what lead to this outwardly beautiful society, flawed in its apparent vapidness, and Tally’s struggle to decide at what cost is this beauty not worth it anymore. Westerfield answers these questions while simultaneously bringing the reader along on a fast paced adventure complete with high-tech toys and a love story that highlights the beauty that is found in the originality of being average.

Keep on the look out for the review of the sequel Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2) because if its anything like Uglies I’m sure Westerfield won’t disappoint.

I’ve always been a pretty big fan of Shel Silverstien, but I do have to admit, its a been a while since I’ve really looked or read through one of his books. Yesterday, I decided to read the short yet fun book, The Missing Piece (An Ursula Nordstrom Book).

Although the tale is simple and the illustrations un-grandiose, the moral affection I personally took away from ‘the missing piece’ was a little surprising. Take some of the simplest of shapes, give them needs and wants of social acceptance, but then turn it all around by expressing the importance of individuality and personal enjoyment…  am I making any sense? In other words, I think young children will love this book for its simplicity, and cute storyline… however, I also believe you could give this book to a very mature young adult (even as a graduation present) as somewhat of a “Welcome to the rest of your life” tale. It’s nothing like “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” but it’s definitely fun.

Ryan’s grade: A really great short read for kids, but don’t be affraid to pull it out for the older crowd. Lessons of social acceptance and self preservation can be fun sometimes! A-