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Pretties Scott Westerfield Simon and Schuster Children's © 2005 |
I could not keep interest in this book. It’s the second book in a trilogy, and nothing was explained about what happened in the first book. For a long while I understood nothing. The book seems to be set in the future, and a lot of things aren’t realistic. Hoverboards, Hovercars, talking walls, and “the operation” are examples of futuristic elements in the book. Girls were walking around with gemstone eyes. So unrealistic.
The book was basically about this girl, Tally, who doesn’t want this life anymore. During a party, she receives a message telling her there is a cure. The rest of the book is about her attempts to stay pretty-minded and not let anyone know she is cured. Things become boring for the next 100 pages or so. Then they plot the escape. Three of the pretties jump from a hot air balloon to escape the city. Tally ends up lost in the wilderness alone for a few weeks where she has to fight for her life. She lived with the fear of being found by the specials who are kind of like the police. She finally makes it to where she is supposed to be when someone enters her life from her ugly days. From here on out, I was interested in the book, but I really struggled through 300 pages to get slightly interested. I would recommend this to teens who have read and liked the first book. Maybe then you would understand and enjoy this one more than I did.
~ Ashley Senko, grade 12, Trumbull County Career and Technical Center