I decided not to read Uglies after reading the sample first chapter on Amazon. I do, however, adore Westerfeld's Leviathan series.

I really liked the Uglies series, in part because the action sequences are awesome. Man knows how to keep you on the edge of your hoverboard.

I will give him that. I wasn't entirely sure what the hell was really going on during some of the hoverboard sequences, but I could still feel what was going on.

Because the third book is called Specials, I was hoping there would be superpowers involved, but I just got introduced to the Specials, and there are no superpowers. BUT the story just became more interesting and intriguing, so that's good.

Tally is a rather maddening protagonist, though, because she's so IN that world and believes all the bullshit that's been fed to her, even though we as readers know that it's wrong. I find the whole concept fascinating, and I hope it's explored in a compelling way without being anvilicious. I want to know more about how this society developed and why.

Also, we do run into the same Hunger Games problem on an even smaller scale: what about the rest of the world? We have an Uglyville and a New Pretty Town, but...surely this is not the only civilization in existence on the planet, right? Are there multiple Uglyvilles and New Pretty Towns? (Obvs, these are rhetorical questions.)

I liked Uglies but didn't love it. It's definitely no Hunger Games.

I think Collins could take huge lessons in dystopian world-building from Westerfeld. The Hunger Games books were compelling, but the world-building was lousy. She needed a good beta.

I thought the worldbuilding in Hunger Games was great, so I look forward to better in Uglies !

I just have to say, though, that "littlies" is the most adorable term ever.

I agree - Uglies was a much more consistent and believable world. It just didn't have the same drive for me. I never read the last one.

Extras explores more of the world.

Westerfeld's scope is a little narrower, but I think it works for him, and it makes any holes in the world-building less obvious. And, frankly, I think he's just generally better with narrative, although he doesn't have that ability Collins has, to make you absolutely desperate to find out what happens next.

If she could bottle and sell it, I would be first in line.

I liked the Uglies, but I really loved the Pretties even more. Watching the beige people of the world wake is is very interesting. In the end I liked the Extras , best because it did explore more of the world.

Of all the westerfeld books I never finished Leviathan. I didn't hate it , but it didn't grab me enough to keep me from the other 20 books I had to read

My response to Meghan Cox Gurdon's latest rebuttal of criticism of her article on Dark YA in the WSJ: [link]