Extras - Scott Westerfeld (#4)

**There may be spoilers for those that have not read the first three in this series: Uglies #1 (review), Pretties #2 (review) or Specials #3 (review). 

Although I think you could read this novel without the others in the series**

Extras is the fourth and last book in the Uglies series, following Tally Youngblood in her quest to change the society of the world.
Previously, we saw Tally at the end of Specials, defeating her city and opening people's eyes to the world they had become, looking at the prejudice between Uglies and Pretties. Specials ended with a note of finality for me, so I was interested to see how Extras would be different and continue the story along, yet still keep the essence that makes the Uglies series so great.

Synopsis: It's three years after Tally ended the Ugly/Pretty/Special regime and retreated into the wild with David. And the world has changed, again. Since the 'mind-rain', Aya Fuse's city has turned into a society where fame gets you everything. If you are in the Top Thousand, you have a more space, more clothes and lots and lots of merits to buy whatever you want. However, if you're like Aya with a face rank of 451,369, then babysitting and going to classes is the only way to get anything.
Aya is a no-body. An 'extra' at 15 years-old. However, as much as her face-rank is so low, Aya doesn't care. She's just waiting for the right moment when a great story comes along to 'kick' with her trusty hovercam, Moggle. And then that time comes. Aya discovers a secret clique of girls who pull crazy tricks - the Sly-girls. When she joins them, she finds something altogether more terrifying - a story that will propel her to a world of fame, fortune...and danger.


Review: When I started reading the Uglies series back in June, I thought this was a quartet, and it is really. However, I think Extras is more of a standalone novel featuring a world and a set of characters that have a series of books themselves. Simply, I think this novel can be read alone without reading the other books in the series.

The past three books have been set in North America, latterly we found out set in California area. However, Extras is set in, from what I can determine, Japan - although it's never clear. After the 'mind-rain' caused by Tally expelling the Uglies/Pretties/Specials society, the cities went into a little confusion without this authority and set society that everyone was used to. As a result, in Aya's city, they created the idea of face-ranks. In short, the lower your face-rank, the more merits, fame and an overall better life you had. If you got to the top Thousand, well, you were quite something. However, higher than 100,000, you are deemed an extra, like Aya, an extra person in the city desperately trying to win fame and fortune. The city is thriving culturally with the different cliques - everyone wants some attention be it a 'surge-monkey', 'Radical Honesty' or a 'kicker', which is the category Aya and her brother, Hiro call into. Kickers find the most interesting stories and post them on a feed for everyone to see. A future blogger in other words!

This book for me attracts two kinds of readers. 1) Fans of the Uglies series, with the references to the earlier novels and also as a look into Tally's impact on the world retrospectively. 2) New Fans. Okay, so if you read this novel, there are things that might be spoiled for the other books but seriously, I can see this as a stand-alone novel. The narrative is self contained and the references to the other three books are either too subtle or explained from Aya's point of view. It;s nice to see an end to a series like this and also I can understand some blogger's comments that this is more of a companion to the Uglies series, especially as it was more of an after thought.

The writing is great as always from Scott Westerfeld and I enjoyed the fast pace that was kept throughout. I think it was lost a little in Pretties and Specials so it was nice to see it back. This book is much different in many aspects from the Uglies series. They were about fighting the government, this? Fighting aliens. Again another reason for it's stand-alone quality.
The story is slow to start off with, I have to admit. I found the bits focussing on the Sly Girls a little tedious and I was starting to see why some bloggers don't like this book. However, around halfway when Aya gains some more fame, it became SO MUCH MORE interesting, enjoyable and I devoured the remaining pages. It's a book of two halves - the latter the better part.

Aya as a character was lovely and after Tally becoming a little annoying and intense by the end of Specials, it was nice to have this hint of innocence to the series again. From Uglies, I loved Tally's strong personality that was eventually lost in Pretties and Specials. However, Aya has inherited this strong personality and her determination (although as unethical as it might be) I think drives the narrative at times. I wanted to read about her. I wanted to see how she would help or react to Tally.
At the end of Extras, there's a side to Tally we see that shows her transition from Ugly to now a Special clearly. She is doing something extreme and Aya has to try and convince her it is not the right choice. I think it really shows how manipulation of your body and mind can really make you a different person. Aya is a young girl without any surge or manipulation and it made her a lovely character.
There are also some lovely more minor characters that I loved - Ren, Hiro and Frizz made a lovely comedy trio that made this novel more enjoyable.


Scott Westerfeld once again deals subtly with some heavy issues that we can all learn from - popularity, the celebrity status, sustainability are all dealt with in this novel and although being published in 2007, 5 years on, this still and always will remain relevant.
This was a lovely end to the series especially for faithful Uglies series fans. It was also nice to know Tally's total effect on the world and if it actually made a difference. I loved the ending which gave finality and also, a perfect ending for Tally and her friends.
It's fair to say this has been an amazing series that I have loved. I can't believe it's taken me THIS long to read it.
This book is perfect for Uglies fans. However, it is also perfect as a stand-alone as a taster of Westerfeld's work. Go ahead, I know you want to.

I give it a 4.5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://scottwesterfeld.com/
Pages: 417
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: None

Related Posts:
Review: Uglies #1
Review: Pretties #2
Review: Specials #3
Review: So Yesterday (stand-alone also by Scott Westerfeld)

On My Bookshelf (26)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea 

The books I had planned to read on my Kindle over my holiday won't seem like they're going to get a look in now. 

From Library:

- The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer. E. Smith - I've seen a number of reviews for this on the blogosphere and at work, it's incredibly popular. The idea of it seemed interesting, especially as I love to travel myself. It's a book I didn't mind reading but I wasn't bursting to do so. I have started this one already and it's good so far, although I'm sorry but Oliver is not British. His mannerisms and language seems too American for me at the moment. And he said Paddington was in West London. IT'S IN CENTRAL LONDON. West London is where I live and I'm no-where near Paddington!

- Extras by Scott Westerfeld - Ironically, I was returning Specials when I found this in the library. Normally, I by-pass the adult fiction section and breeze into the Teen section. However, that day I decided to have a quick look in the adult section (mostly because the library has air-conditioning and it was hot outside). I found this under R which I found a little bizarre. And of course, this is the last book in the Uglies series! Finished it in a few months, this is great! Have a look at my reviews for the first books in this series - Uglies (review), Pretties (review), Specials (review). 

Received:

- The Forsaken by Lisa.M. Stasse - Well, this was a surprise when it came through my letterbox this morning while I was munching on my cereal watching an episode of Glee. If you guys may remember, Lisa was in The 5 Questions (here) and when she asked me if I wanted a copy of her book, I never thought it would come from America! This is the US cover which I prefer MUCH more to the UK one. This has been getting some good reviews on the blogosphere so I may need to read this soon! 

Check this out if you see it, Lisa is lovely and this looks like it's going to be a big book - the next Hunger Games. 

Thank you Lisa again!

Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think? 

Specials - Scott Westerfeld (#3)

**There may be some spoilers for anyone that has not read the whole of the Uglies series: Uglies #1 (review) and Pretties #2 (review)**

For the last few months, I have been tackling a series which I have spent years and years acknowledging my interest and adding to my to-read list, yet never actually reading this set of books. This the third and final book in the trilogy that was first planned for this series. However, afterwards, the series was made a quartet with the addition of Extras which is set a few years after the original trilogy with a different protagonist in a different city.
This series has been fantastic so far, action-packed, fast-paced in a world of mystery, intrigue, lies and secrets. It's far to say the last two books have been far from boring. As a recap, Tally lives in a world where once you turn 16, you are made into a Pretty and live in New Pretty Town where all you do is basically party and drink. And party some more. However, runaways have gone missing for years around their sixteenth birthday, meaning they stay an Ugly and don't go under the knife in extreme cosmetic surgery to become this perfect Pretty. Tally meets Shay, an Ugly with the same birthday as her in Book #1 and she discovers this place for runaways as well as secrets about her own world. This trilogy has watched Tally turn from Ugly to Pretty and now, finally to Special. It's far to say my expectations were pretty mountainous.

Synopsis: Specials Circumstances were once words that sent a chill through Tally when she was an Ugly and Pretty. The Special Circumstances were an elite secret group which no Ugly or Pretty knew were true or merely a myth. They were reserved to help out and monitor the most disastrous special circumstances. But now, Tally is one of them and become a fighting machine. However, underneath the intense speed, strength and new found focus and clarity of vision and mind, there is something nudging at Tally's heart. Something - or someone - she has to remember. Tally's job as a Cutter is to take down the New Smoke forever, a part of Tally's personal history. Will she listen to her heart or will she do what she is programmed to do?

Review: I loved the Uglies series and overall the imagination and originality of Scott Westerfeld's writing of this fascinating and intriguing world. However, I have to admit I was a little disappointed for the climax of the trilogy.

As I mentioned in my Pretties review, there was something lost from Tally when she turned into a Pretty. In Specials, I expected the Tally that is in the latter part of Pretties, although as a killing machine Special. I was wrong. For me, Tally lost more from Pretty in her personality, she is hardly the person she was at the end of Uglies. She seems very naive and like a sheep, taking people's orders, even near the end when really, she shouldn't be like that (without revealing too much). I loved Tally's strong and individual personality in Uglies and in Pretties, but here in Specials, I felt nothing for her, she seemed a rather mediocre character to me.

Another character that I had strong feelings throughout this series about was Shay, a on-off friend of Tally's. I found her so irritating the whole way through, even when she was an Ugly. Here, for the majority of the novel, she is the same old Shay. Annoying, power-hungry and thinks she's oh-so-amazing. However, there is a twist in her character near the end of the book which I liked and I ended the novel with Shay completely redeemed. It was a nice way to end like saying 'Yeah, there are two sides to people'.
The other cast of characters all have something alarming and different about them compared to their portrayal in the other two books. I found that Zane, David, Fausto and Peris became almost like background characters, although they have all made an impact on Tally's life. I would have liked to see more of them.

Despite all my negativity so far, this book still holds what I found the most interesting and entertaining in the first two books of this series. The world. The world is so detailed in Uglies, although less, admittingly, in Pretties and Specials. Yet, this world is shockingly similar to both perhaps our futures and now. All three of these books have held revelations about Tally's world from Tally's own city to the wild to now a different city. What I also liked about Specials was the subtle hints to exactly where in America this trilogy has been set in. There are mentions of Death Valley and San Diego which makes me think that Tally's own city is either Los Angeles or Las Vegas, both of which I find quite ironic. For real Uglies fans, it's great to know finally where this is set after the mystery before.

The writing was clear, especially with some phrases from Tally's world that you might not necessarily understand. The way Scott Westerfeld writes makes it easy to work out what that means. Although at times when describing objects or actions, I was a little lost, overall, I had no problems with his writing.
Now, having read the whole series, it is clear to see Scott Westerfeld's message. In this series of books, he uses our future to tackle issues of today - war, self-harming, appearances, bullying, drugs are all aspects that crop up in this book alone that send a hidden message for those looking between the lines. So cleverly done for those that are truly paying attention.

Overall, I found the reason for reading Specials to the end was to complete Tally's story for myself. I wanted to know what happened to this world and Tally's decision at the end (which I also found a little disappointing although nice). The ending for me, seemed to just end like Westerfeld didn't know what else to say. In short, this book was disappointing and I found Uglies and Pretties much more engaging and just, better.
This book is made for true Uglies fans and although some parts I feel could have been better, there is plenty more to excite, worry and entice you. This is one action-packed series that I'm so glad I finally read.

I really hope this series gets made into a movie - I think it would be amazing.

I give it a 3 out of 5

Author's Website: http://scottwesterfeld.com/
Pages: 384
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: None

Related Posts: 
Review: Uglies #1
Review: Pretties #2
Review: So Yesterday (also by Scott Westerfeld)

On My Bookshelf (25)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea

I had put a small ban on the library for me so I could blast through the to-reads that I own - but yeah...that didn't happen. These are results of just 'having a look'. Will I ever learn...

- Specials by Scott Westerfeld - As regular and old followers will know, I have spent the last couple of months catching up with this series which I've grown up in my teenage years looking at - YET NEVER READING. This is the last in the trilogy focussing on the main character Tally as she becomes a Special. There is another book called Extras, a little like a spin-off, that looks at Tally's changes to this world of Uglies, Pretties and Specials. Have a look at my reviews for Uglies and for Pretties (1st & 2nd in series). 

- Debutantes by Cora Harrison - I have read I was Jane Austen's Best Friend (review) and loved it with the sequel Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend (a title I severely cringe at) on my bookshelf waiting to be read. So when I heard about this through a In My Mailbox/Letterbox Love/Stacking the Shelves/Showcase Sunday, I was pretty interested. So when I saw this on the shelf in my library when I was 'just looking', it was hard to resist, right? 

What books have you got this week? Have you read any of these books? If so, what are your opinions? 

Pretties - Scott Westerfeld (#2)

**There may be some spoilers from the first book, Uglies (click here for my review) in this review**

Last month, I finally read Uglies, the first book in this series by Scott Westerfeld evolving around sixteen year-old Tally on her journey from Ugly to Pretty to Special. I say 'finally' because this is a series I have pondered and been looking at for the majority of my teenage years - never quite having the nerve to buy the book nor seeing a copy in the library. 

I think the thing that spurred me last month to read this series of books I had grown up with was the new covers (left). Before the covers used to have bits of Barbie's on the cover that, now having read the first two books, I understand why the designer would have chosen that. Bits of Barbie (what teenager now can say they DIDN'T have a Barbie doll?!)  on the front cover? Now that's intriguing for my 12 year-old self. If you want to have a look at what I'm rattling on about, head to Google or click here.

Synopsis: It's a month since Tally gave herself up to become a Pretty. Now, Tally is finally Pretty - something she's always wanted to be. She has the perfect face and body, all the best clothes, completely popular - all with romance in her life as well as her best friend, Shay. This is her dream from when she was an Ugly. But that was before she met Shay, David and co, went to the Smoke and learnt the secret behind becoming Pretty. Beneath all the fun, Tally knows there is something wrong that she needs to remember. A person and message arrive from Tally's ugly past life and suddenly, Tally is awoken from the fun and remembers what is wrong with New Pretty Town. 

Review: I'd read a mixture of reviews for the sequel after finishing Uglies. With one blogger proclaiming 'Don't read Uglies or you'll want to read Pretties and Specials - they are awful. Don't read Uglies or you'll be drawn in hook, line and sinker'. However, I had been hooked, lined and sinkered into Tally's world and I desperately needed to read the next book to find out what would happen next. What would happen to David? Or Shay? Who was this Fausto guy in the sneak peek at Pretties section at the back of Uglies? Does she remember? WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

One thing I liked about Uglies is the setting and the post-apocalyptic world. The thing with Uglies that made the book for me is how uncomfortable I felt at times thinking how well I could see Tally's world becoming our own.
Although, this world hasn't gone and is built upon more in Pretties, I felt that it wasn't as life-like or relatable as the last book which I guess lost a little of the enjoyment factor. Any readers of this will find out more about Tally's world and how the cure of becoming Pretty came about. There is more mystery and surprises but not as much as I would have liked and only really latterly.

I admit that this book did take some time to pick up. The first quarter of the book is about Tally's new life before she discovers this message that reminds her of her ugly days. I found that it's only really when she discovers this message that the story picks up - before hand it is merely describing her dull, repetitive Pretty life of parties and clothes. The first chapter is, if you were not a fan of Uglies, hardly going to draw you in straight away. So my advice: even if the beginning seems rubbish, keep going because it is worth it.
The second half of the book is after something big happens which leaves Tally alone. I found this also quite interesting to learn about another aspect of the outside.

From the Uglies review, I stated I liked the mystery and intrigue from the world. Although the mystery I meant here is solved either in this book or in Uglies. However, in top of those, more mystery was created in Pretties as the reader, and Tally, find out more of this world she lives in. I must admit, it's a pretty intriguing world where a lot is hidden from public view.

I liked the character of Tally in Uglies, despite feeling a little detached at times because of the 3rd person narrative. The same here really, although something was different and lost on Tally this time. She wasn't as determined and strong-minded in this book as in Uglies and I think that is all down to the fact she is Pretty. I didn't feel attached again to her, but definitely less attached than before.
There are some new characters - both small and big as well as revelations about these characters - both small and big. I found the new characters okay and it is nice to have this mix of new and old characters that make more consequences in Tally's life. As I found in Uglies, Shay annoyed me so much in this book. She is someone the reader is forced not to like throughout this set of books so far - but her character is. SO. IRRITATING. She gets angry over the smallest things and the thing that gets her angry in this novel, I just think is slightly ridiculous. And what she does afterwards - seriously?!

Overall, I would definitely read this if you are a fan of either Scott Westerfeld or the Uglies series so far. Although this isn't as good as Uglies was, this is still pretty good and a good follow-up. I'm not sure if it has suffered from 'second-book' sickness but this book has definitely made me want to read Specials, the last in the trilogy. There are things that I missed from Uglies or things I didn't like about Pretties but overall, I think some of the bad reviews out there for this book are a little too harsh. This is one of the better sequels I have read.

I give it a 3.5 out of 5

Author's Website: http://scottwesterfeld.com/
Pages: 370
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: None.

On My Bookshelf (22)

This meme for originally inspired by 'In My Mailbox' created by The Story Siren
Other versions are:
Letterbox Love created by Narratively Speaking
Stacking the Shelves created by Tynga's reviews
Showcase Sunday created by Books, Biscuits and Tea

I didn't even do a meme last month so since I am breaking up from college soon, I hope to acquire more books and do more memes on the blog. Anyhow, these are some books I got within the last week.

Borrowed: 

- Pretties by Scott Westerfeld - I read Uglies (review) last month and loved the idea and story behind it especially as it's taken me years to pick up this series of books. When I went to give Uglies back to the library, I noticed Pretties there, which is the next book in the series. I've heard a mixture of reviews for the sequel but I hope it lives up to its predecessor. 

- Strings Attached by Judy Blundell - I read Judy Blundell's other YA novel, What I Saw and How I Lied (review) a few years ago which I liked but not as much as I thought I would. I discovered her newest book when I was doing The Great Gatsby in English Lit and found out it was set in the 1920's. I reserved it but it only came to my local library recently. The plot sounds a lot like Bright Young Things by Anna Godbersen (review)

Bought:

- War Horse by Michael Morpurgo - I'd been wanting to re-read this for a while since I saw and loved the movie adaptation in January but failed to get a copy. I was in a charity shop yesterday and happened to wander over to the children's books so see what they had, not expecting much, and found a BRAND NEW copy for £1. Right place at the right time? 

Have you read any of these books? What did you think? What books did you get this week? 

Uglies - Scott Westerfeld (#1)

There are an infinite amount of reasons why I didn't pick up this book sooner. The original covers of Scott Westerfeld Uglies series were the thing that mostly intrigued me. They featured parts of Barbie's that now having read the book, totally go with the messages contained. It was such an original and unique idea that I was drawn to staring at the covers in wonder. However, no matter how much I loved the original covers, I never picked the book up. I remember looking at them in the library or at my local bookshop yet for some unknown reason I never borrowed it or brought the book. I DO wish I knew why.

So when I was in the library a couple of weeks ago and noticed this sitting casually on a magazine table, I was surprised to find myself already picking up the book and walking to the self-service borrow machines (really sad, but true I'm afraid). Why did it take so long to pick this book up?!

Synopsis: Tally lives in a world where when every teenager turns 16, they have the chance to undergo an operation to become a Pretty and then they can go to the glamourous party districts of New Pretty Town. Until then, under 16's are considered Uglies and live in dorms in the dull Uglyville. This way everyone is pretty and Tally most of all can't wait the few weeks until her 16th birthday. However, Tally's friend, Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty and when she runs away the day before the operation, Tally starts to learn the other side to the idea of being Pretty and is forced to make a choice between not turning Pretty ever or turning her friend in which has drastic consequences.

Review: The stark reality of this novel is that I can totally see this happening in the future. A world where cosmetic surgery is something sort after and more acceptable than individuality - heck, what happened to the time when being a hippy or 'indie kid' was the 'in' thing? Now, being blonde, gorgeous and preferably a Hollister/Abercombie & Fitch/Jack Wills/Gilly Hicks model/sales assistant is the ideal (I have nothing against these brands, just a little cynical of them) and the coolness of being a geek or just plain different is starting to wear off gradually leaving us with this idea that EVERYONE has to be Pretty otherwise, well, you're ugly and insignificant. For the record, I fall in to none of the above categories - I am a brunette with temperamental hair, working in a bookshop in an unflattering Christmas shapeless t-shirt and jeans and the idea of the perfect outfit is a vintage inspired one looking like I just stepped out of either The Great Gatsby or Hairspray. I think that says it all, right?
   On terms of the novel, the life of being a teenager does transpire a lot to this story and it is clear that Westerfeld has used teenager's experiences and thoughts on image and fashion in Uglies. This is a book about cosmetic surgery and the effects of this in the future, but most of all, this is a book of self-image and how we should think of ourselves. He totally rocked that.

The world, as well as having this uncomfortable familiar quality, also has this mystery and intrigue of this place where it is never too explicit when this is set into our future. The Rusties that are referred to throughout as this mystic, exotic and freakish tribe are so so similar to us yet centuries old to Tally and the other characters in the story. There are almost myths or legends told throughout of the demise of the Rusties such as a bug infecting the remaining oil which is so vital in most industries, therefore, this created drastic and tragic consequences. This mystery added this rather depressing thought that this is an idea of an event that could happen any day now.

This is such a simple idea that Westerfeld has created but while being entertaining and engaging on one level, it is also a comment on some of the major problems with today's society, such as cosmetic surgery or the over use of oil. Although the novel was written in 2005, six years ago, the problems Westerfeld addressed still ring true with no real change. However, while these themes are never explicitly spelled out, they are shown and hinted at in a subtle yet simple way that makes it much more interesting to read.

This book is clever, very in fact. However, it is far from perfect for me, although I did thoroughly enjoy it. For starters, the 3rd person narrative made me feel very detached from Tally which in turn made me not feel sympathy or connection all together with Tally. It described her emotions, yes, but I didn't really get to see her - she comes across desperate and selfish to start with but ends very differently. Secondly, some events that happened seemed to have been added purely to move the narrative along. I know technically this happens in all books, but I felt that it could have been done in a more subtle way perhaps. I just felt conscious at times about events being added to merely move the narrative along.
Partly linking to that, I felt Tally trusted David WAY too easily. Here is a guy who is outside of the city borders she knows, part of the reason for Shay running away and she trusts him practically straight away, unlike the other characters there. She has JUST met him. The romance also I felt moved too quickly and due to the third person narrative, I didn't see it coming from Tally's side, which disappointed me slightly.
Lastly, Shay MAJORLY annoyed me. She....oh, it's hard to explain. She is so demanding!

Before thinking the idea that this book seems really really good but isn't, stop. This book has it's faults as many other books do, however, I enjoyed it immensely and the fact it was in the New York Times Bestseller's list for weeks and weeks - others must have enjoyed it too.
The cliffhangers and mystery behind the characters and world move this story along and the parts that keep you the most engrossed. This is one of the, for me, original modern dystopians and I could see a lot of similarities to other dystopians such as Matched or even The Hunger Games. Even if I am still not gripping you, just to read this book for the beginning and end is worth it. THE END - ah! SUCH a major cliffhanger that it was one of those moments where I'm flicking through the pages desperately looking for the rest.

In simple terms? This book is worth a read, especially for dystopian fans, but the things that make this book so clever and original is not the characters like most, but the world, the beginning and end and most of all, Westerfeld's comment to our world showing 'Guys, this is what our world could be like'.
I am now stalking down the next book in the series, Pretties - why did it take so long?

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://scottwesterfeld.com/
Pages: 425
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Challenges: None


More books by Scott Westerfeld:
So Yesterday

So Yesterday - Scott Westerfeld

This is the last book of the three I picked up when I was in Florida, America last year, mostly because they were American books with funny covers or weren't sold in England, much like this one. Okay, so I've seen the 'Uglies' series by Scott Westerfeld and heard all the praise around them but for some reason I've never picked them up and read them. And then my quest to find them recently have resolved in finding the other books in the series Not that one. I think I need to try harder before the movie comes out....


Synopsis: There are three parts to the pyramid that rules style. At the top there, are the Innovators - the selected few who invent the trends in fashion that will eventually being global. These are followed by the Trend-Setters who 'cool-hunt' for these Innovators and sell the ideas to companies. Under that, it is Consumers who buy this 'unique' product.
 Hunter is a teenager living in New York City who is paid by big corporations to roam the streets looking for what is 'cool' and what will be the 'next big thing'. He finds Jen, a Innovater with some of the coolest shoelaces he's ever seen. Mandy, his boss, however, goes missing with only her phone found in an abandoned building and a mysterious man following them. Hunter and Jen have to get to the bottom of what is happening before it is too late for Mandy and what they find it an attempt to ruin consumerism as we all know it.


Review: This was a very different and interesting book. First off, it's a mystery story which I like a bit of. I don't normally read them too much because I don't want to get bored of them. But this one...was very different.
It was nice to have teenage investigators who kind of bounce off each other and together are very funny and the romance that comes off them makes the book a bit more entertaining. The commentary from Hunter is good and although he tells all of it, you can tell how Jen is feeling too. The roles are a bit reversed here with the female being the leader (the Innovator). I liked seeing Hunter shy and not wanting to continue.

There are also lots of facts and history included through Hunter's love of history. This is applied to the case they are trying to solve so although they may be random and weird at first, they make sense later. I learn a couple of things from this book actually.
Most of all, this book does give an insight to how consumerism works and how big companies make things fashionable and new and original. It may not be completely true I guess, but I would say that it is mostly. When you think about it, if someone had a jab to cure cancer and it worked, they would tell their friends and family who would tell theirs and soon everyone would know about it and get it.
Well, when you see in magazines of some celebrity wearing something unique and 'cool', you see more of it in the shops and then more people have access to buying it. An example being when Kim Kardashain wore a jumpsuit and look now. Every shop I go in has one and I've seen lots of people wearing one, especially with the up and down weather of England.

I know I've done it. Copied what someone was wearing. My friend came home with a vintage find...I started to love vintage (just slightly before it became even bigger) and with Twilight. In October 2009, no-one had heard of Twilight except my friend, O, who loved the series. Others of my friends read them and then, the whole year seemed to read them and then, the movie came out and then more people read it until everyone had either read it or heard of it and knew the basic story.

I liked this book although it dragged a couple of times and some of the other characters (not Jen and Hunter - I loved them) got on my nerves. WARNING: If you hate books/films (like Inception) that are complicated and confusing and you have to think deeply about them before you understand, Avoid this book. It is very complicated plot and you only understand it fully really right at the end. Well, I kind of did.
This book title also just reminded me of the Hilary Duff song, So Yesterday. Great song and Great title which really fits in with the book. I'm definitely going to look for the Uglies series now.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: http://scottwesterfeld.com/
Pages: 256
Publisher: Penguin
Challenges: None