Uglies
By Scott Westerfield
Scholastic, 2005
Tally is turning 15 in the book Uglies. Where she lives, everyone receives an operation when they turn 16. The operations turns everyone into look-alikes and “pretty.” Everyone in her world is brainwashed into thinking that they are very homely until they get the operation. Tally has waited her whole life for this operation and can’t wait any longer. She is set back, though, when her best friend, Shay, runs away. Shay despises the operation and refuses to have it done. Tally is faced with a horrid problem when she is asked to find Shay and turn her in. If Tally refuses, they will deny Tally’s wish to become pretty. Tally must either betray her friend, or live the rest of her life “ugly.”
Uglies is part of the Uglies-Pretties Trilogy. The third in the series is Specials. This is a very invigorating series by Scott Westerfield. It is very gripping and full of excitement.
Uglies is for anyone who loves a tale of adventure and friendship. It is a very exciting book that has a plethora of new experiences for both adults and teens alike. All readers would be consumed in this riveting story of betrayal and loyalty. It is the most thrilling series that I have recently read.

Left Behind, Death Strike
By Jerry B. Jenkins
Tyndale house Publishers, 1960
“I can’t explain how the rebellion groups arose in Israel and Judd got threatened, and how Vicki got in a detention center and how the detention center almost kills her, literally. I also can’t explain why or how Darla stabbed Vicki and somehow they still became the best of friends. I can be specific about the when and the where, though. The setting takes place at a New York public school and the New York Institute Detention Center. It also takes pace in Israel.”
For telling the story of conflict in this book, this book tells how Vicki tries to survive in a run-down detention center and how Judd is supposed to lie with the rebellion group after him. It also talks about Darla and Janie almost killing each other with a couple of knives. It talks about the quality of your life and how you only have one. So live your life wisely.
It all starts the day Darla stabs Vicki in the abdominal area and Vicki is the one who gets in trouble for antagonizing Darla to get her knife out, and Darla barely gets in trouble for stabbing Vicki. Then Vicki gets furious and causes more conflict between the two girls and the whole school. Vicki gets banished to a ghost town detention center. Judd is in Israel with some of his religious partners, but everyone thinks he’s a liar and a thief. He gets threatened a lot and he almost gets killed twice.
Now Judd has to get on Israel’s good side and Vicki is trying to survive the horrifying nightmare at the detention center. Along with Vicki and Judd, the reader slowly fits the pieces together in Israel and at the detention center and also with Darla and Janie.
This book is easily a five-star book. It was amazing to read. It had me up and out of seat just reading it. I recommend this book to both boys and girls for ages 8-16. If you read it, I know you will love this exciting and marvelous book.