YA Dystopian Book Society: Uglies

This is your official invitation to join the YA Dystopian Society, where we will explore a text that is meant to change our views of society.  We will discuss the political, social, and government ideologies involved and how we relate to the themes, characters, and subtext of the novel.

The Society is a safe space to share your opinions and thoughts.  We will speak openly about the subject matter in each novel, so it is expected that if you join the Society, you are open to having your values challenged.  The novels chosen for the Society are ones that exemplify the values of dystopian literature for young adults.

The Society's meetings are structured into 4 online meetings with discussions on a discussion board between the sessions.  Students will meet on video once each week during the month and discuss the novel in a structured setting.  Society members will be required to read a section of the novel each week, and the reading schedule is posted below.

UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld
     Section 1: Chapters 1-16
     Section 2: Chapters 17-26
     Section 3: Chapters 27-32
     Section 4: Chapters 33-50

Parental Warning:
Dystopian literature is created to challenge the values and thoughts of society.  This novel certainly does that, which may not make it suitable for all children to read.  As a parent, I encourage you to look at the resources below to make a decision that reflects the values in your household.

Please visit: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/uglies-uglies-quartet-book-1 

From Common Sense Media:
Tally has grown up in a post-apocalyptic world where, at age 16, everyone is given an operation that makes their faces and bodies perfect. Before the operation, they are known as "Uglies" and after as "Pretties." After the operation, they live in New Pretty Town, enjoying a life of constant partying and pleasure. Tally can't wait. Shortly before her 16th birthday, she befriends Shay, who tells her about the Smoke, a secret community of those who refuse the operation. When Shay runs away to join the Smoke, Tally is given a choice by the Specials, the secret police: Help them find the Smoke and betray her friend, or remain an Ugly forever.

Parents need to know that Scott Westerfeld's Uglies is set in the future and deals with our culture's obsession with physical perfection and hedonism. There's some fighting, and a minor character is killed, not seen. A gruesome operation is described. Girl characters especially are brave and stand up to an oppressive regime.