Review: Specials by Scott Westerfeld
By plucking her petals you do not gather the beauty of the flower. – Rabindranath Tagore, “Stray Birds”
About the Book
“Special Circumstances”
The words have sent chills down Tally’s spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor — frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally’s never been ordinary.
And now she’s been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.
The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.
Still, it’s easy to tune that out — until Tally’s offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she’s programmed to complete. Either way, Tally’s world will never be the same.
My Thoughts
A fitting finale to the Uglies trilogy (yes I know that there is a forth book, but more on that later!) It’s everything the first two books were, a fast paced page turner, with an excellent lead character in Tally Youngblood. Once again, she has been changed into something she does not want to be, by the city authorities. This time with her memories intact.
She has a choice to make, only this time it’s even more difficult than last time, even though she has her memories, they just don’t seem as ‘special’ as she is now. What choice does she make, and where does it lead her?
I don’t suppose the choice will come as a surprise to most people,but the effects it has and the journey it starts Tally on, does keep the interest going, and it was one I enjoyed.
Much like the other books, I really did enjoy the book, but for me it just missed out on “loved it” status, and personally I’m enjoying the Midnighters series, just that little bit more.
There is another book in the series “Extras”, but for now I’m undecided as to whether to read it or not, I thought Tally’s journey ended in the right place, and while I realise Extra’s focuses mainly on a new character, I think I’m happy to leave things here.
Rating: 
About the Author
Scott Westerfeld is the author of five adult novels, most recently The Risen Empire and The Killing of Worlds.
His young adult novels include The Last Days, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults and the sequel to Peeps; So Yesterday, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults; and the Midnighters trilogy.
Scott was born in Texas, and alternates summers between Sydney, Australia, and New York City. Visit his website at www.scottwesterfeld.com.
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My recommendation is to read Extras! Please! I really really loved it. I thought that by the 4th book, Westerfeld had really figured this world out and it was so well-done. I thought it was even better than the last book. It actually makes a lot of sense, where he picked the story up again, and it answers some questions.
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