Excited about what’s next for Tally after watching Uglies on Netflix? Good news – the story continues in a trilogy of books.
For those new to Uglies, the Netflix movie is based on Scott Westerfeld’s bestselling book series from the mid-2000s.
In a world where cosmetic surgery is compulsory at 16, we follow Tally Youngblood, a rebellious teen challenging the norm.
The Uglies adaptation stays quite faithful to the original book.
Pretties and Specials delve into Tally’s adventures and the dystopian world post-Uglies.
Keep reading to discover Tally’s path in each of Westerfeld’s books and how the series concludes.
Pretties book summary: What happens?
In the beginning of Pretties, Tally is now a Pretty but has no memory of the past.
Croy, disguised as a Special, tries to warn her with a secret message left to save her, but Tally dismisses it.
She joins the Crims group, falls for Zane, who reveals his connection to Croy and their plan to escape to The Smoke.
They discover Tally’s message, leading to pills to reverse the Pretty procedure.
After taking the pills, Zane experiences headaches.
They seek help from old friends, finding Maddy in the New Smoke, where she explains the pills’ correct usage.
Tally is cured, but Zane’s health deteriorates due to the pills. With danger approaching, Tally stays with Zane, while David leaves to avoid capture after a tense moment with Tally.
Ultimately, Tally and Zane are apprehended by the Specials, including Shay, now a Special herself.
The book concludes with Shay acknowledging Tally’s changed status, saying, “Face it Tally-wa, you’re special.”
Specials book summary: What happens?
In Specials, Tally is now living as a Special, part of The Cutters group led by Shay.
They resort to self-harm to counter the numbing effects of being a Pretty, allowing them to think clearly but still under Dr. Cable’s control.
Tally starts feeling repelled by Zane due to his brain injuries preventing him from becoming a Special.
Upon discovering Diego, a city free from Pretty constraints, Tally takes Zane for treatment, realizing her repulsion stems from her own Special operation.
While the other Cutters have their enhancements removed, Tally retains hers. Dr. Cable attacks Diego, resulting in Zane’s death.
Tally, grieving and imprisoned, witnesses the truth about Dr. Cable’s surgeries exposed by Diego and decides to flee before her Special surgery removal.
Concerned about Diego’s impact on nature, Tally reunites with David, choosing to live in the wild to protect the environment from human harm.
Additionally, if you crave more Uglies content, there’s Extras, a companion book introducing Aya Fuse as the main character, with Tally making a cameo appearance, offering a fresh storyline.
Olekanma Favour is a resourceful, self-motivated, and result-driven writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives and insightful content. She loves tackling complex topics and weaving engaging stories.
When she’s not writing, Olekanma enjoys immersing herself in a good book, exploring new cuisines, and discovering new cultures.