Uglies
Posted by smspodcasts on September 19th, 2007
(intro song: Beautiful by Christina Aguilera) Welcome to a new year of the SMS podcasts. Today is September 17, 2007 and the first podcast of the year will focus on Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld.
Read aloud the lead
Uglies is about a girl named Tally who lives in a world where, when you turn 16, people get surgery to make you look “pretty”. Scientists have narrowed down the features that are considered attractive in a person’s face and body and the surgery makes sure that your features match those ideas. Right before Tally turns 16, she meets a new friend named Shay who doesn’t want to get the surgery. She plots a plan to run away and escape their city before she is taken to get the surgery. The people in charge find out about the plan and tell Tally she cannot get the surgery until she helps bring in Shay and the group of outlaws that are waiting for her. Tally is faced with the challenge of choosing to do what she is told (and get the surgery as a reward), or stick up for her friend (and have to be an exile of the city). What will she choose to do? Read the book and find out. It is full of action, futuristic devices, and is fast-paced enough that I couldn’t put it down. If you end up liking the book, it is the first in a series of four. Pretties and Specials can also be found in the library and Extras will be out later this October.
I connected Uglies to Passage to Freedom, the story we read as a class about Chiune Sugihara. He was told to do one thing by his government (not stamp any visas for the Jews during World War II) but he decided to do the right thing and saved so many lives. Tally has a similar choice to make in Uglies (follow Dr. Cable’s orders or keep her friends safe).
This also brings to mind the issue that most people, especially middle school students, face. We are constantly bombarded with images in magazines, tv, movies, and more telling us what it means to be “pretty”. In the story, Shay is like the Christina Aguilara of the book who feels people should just be comfortable with who they are and what they look like, which is why I chose Beautiful as the song clip for this episode. Are you comfortable with who you are, or do you sometimes feel “ugly” compared to those actors and models? If you ever have, or are just curious about how people on the cover of magazines are always so good-looking, check out the website listed here.
That’s our show for today. Check back often for new episodes or subscribe with iTunes, Yahoo!, or Google by clicking in the “Subscribe” section on the right side of this page.
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