Specials by Scott Westerfeld

This week, I've been reading Specials by scott Westerfeld. So far, the plot hasn't really taken off from the exposition. The characters and setting have been introduced but the level of suspense present in the previous books hasn't kicked in yet. I have definitely seen character changes since the first book, however. Tally Youngblood has gone from a hopeful Ugly to a deceived Smokie to a rebellious Pretty to a programmed Special. She is working against the people she once worked with. Her desire for freedom from the confining restrictions of the city has been transformed into a desire to get revenge and take down anyone in the way of the city and its goals. Her mind has been manipulated just as much as her appearance, molded into a twisted view of beauty. I really wonder if she will ever be the same person she used to be, or if she fell into a permanent trap of obedience to Special Circumstances. 

Predictions:

I'm not very far into the book but I have a few predictions. I think Tally will find Zane and realize how the Special Circumstances has manipulated her and how wrong she is about the Smokies. (Just as a refresher, Special Circumstances is a "secret" organization within the city devoted to stopping rebels and the Smokies are people, mostly 'Uglies', who have escaped the city along with its corrupt values.) I also predict that, along with Tally's search for Zane and potential encounters she may have with the Smokies, Tally will face some tough decisions and make more than a few mistakes. This has been the trend in the other books in the series, too; just as guilt from one betrayal is released, another mistake is made and settles in Tally's conscience. I think it's also safe to say that alongside Tally's internal conflict, some problems may arise between Shay and Tally again, or maybe Tally and David. With these predictions come many questions for what will happen in the rest of the book.

About the Author:

Scott Westerfeld was born in 1963 in Dallas, Texas. With his B.A. in Philosophy, Westerfeld is a composer of modern dance music in addition to a popular author. He has written nearly 20 books and received many awards. His most recent novel is titled Afterworlds and was released just this year. Scott Westerfeld rotates between living in New York City and Australia. His book tours, blogs and videos have added to the success of his books and his career as an author. He writes mostly science fiction and young adult novels. Here are some reviews of a few of his books:

Uglies...

“Highly readable with a convincing plot that incorporates futuristic techonologies and a disturbing commentary on our current public policies. Fortunately, the cliff-hanger ending promises a sequel.”
-School Library Journal (starred)

Extras...

“Just as thrilling as its predecessors, but it’s also a thoughtful novel of ideas, a brilliant parody of the modern obsession with fame.”
-New York Times

Leviathan...

“When a book pursues you into your dreams, you can’t ignore it."                                            -Sunday Telegraph

Afterworlds...

“Afterworlds is a wonderful book for any young person with an interest in growing up to be a writer.”
-New York Times

The following link contains more information about Scott Westerfeld and his books:

http://scottwesterfeld.com/books/