Westerfeld, Scott. Uglies

Westerfeld, Scott. Uglies #1. Simon Pulse, 2005 [0-689-865384]
Westerfeld has created an alternate world in this first of a trilogy where at the age of 16 people are given an operation to change their appearance and thought from "ugly" to "pretty." After the operation they live in a paradise where life is fun. Tally is approaching her 16 birthday and suddenly becomes friends with Shay does doesn't want to become "pretty." Shay runs away to a mythical place where everyone is not pretty and because Tally was her friend, the authorities give Tally a choice, either go after her and betray her friend Shay and her new world or never to get the "pretty" operation. This 425 page book is a great science fiction tale centered around everything teenagers are concerned about... appearance.. and fitting in. This is one of those books that I purchased because I saw several 8th grade girls walking around with it before I even hear of it. Note that one of my copies has a page order problem after page 380. You may want to look at yours if no one has read it yet.