Specials (Uglies Trilogy, Book 3)

Book Description

"Special Circumstances":

The words have sent chills down Tally's spine since her days as a repellent, rebellious ugly. Back then Specials were a sinister rumor -- frighteningly beautiful, dangerously strong, breathtakingly fast. Ordinary pretties might live their whole lives without meeting a Special. But Tally's never been ordinary.

And now she's been turned into one of them: a superamped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

The strength, the speed, and the clarity and focus of her thinking feel better than anything Tally can remember. Most of the time. One tiny corner of her heart still remembers something more.

Still, it's easy to tune that out -- until Tally's offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she's programmed to complete. Either way, Tally's world will never be the same.

Customer Reviews:

Fine Ending.......2007-10-15

The Uglies Trilogy was a great set of books. ALl of which built upon eachother to this final book, which did a great job of wraping MOST things up. I found at the end of it I was disheartened and disapointed by the way it ended. I find that westerfield is one for tragedy. In most of his books I have been disappointed and wanting more, feeling like it didn't end quite right. Specials is another addition to this pile. It was very Bittersweet. Sweet to see things finally resolved, but bitter in that someone and something was missing.

Strange fascination, fascinating me / Changes are taking the pace I'm going through.......2007-09-20

This is a review on the audio book version of "Specials" performed brilliantly by Carine Montbertrand.

I will assume that anyone reading this book has read the previous books in this series. If not than stop reading this review and go read them. The last we saw of Tally Youngblood, she had escaped pretty town and on her own made it to the New Smoke ready to reunite with her boyfriend Zane. Poor afflicted Zane, who took the cure with her and started to experience terrible headaches. At the Smoke, Tally is told by her old beau Ugly David that the cure pills were meant to be taken together (although in their directions they never said so!) and Zane got the Nanobytes that apparently lurved to snack on brain matter nonstop, while Tally got the pill that stopped those Nanos from that third trip to the buffet. Tally realizes that she has cured herself of pretty-mindedness. She is sort of like Keanu Reeves in the Matrix but without the leather outfit or Laurence Fishburne.

Tally is soon revisited by her old friend Shay, who is now a Special by her own choice. Shay wants Tally to be Special too, and whisks her back to Pretty town for yet another operation. Specials are like the Men in Black from our society, you hear of them but never see them, yet you fear them anyway. They don't have the brain lesions, so they aren't airheads like the Pretties. Specials have all sorts of add-ons, for sight and stealth and strength. They have "skintennas" built in so they can talk to each other on a network, they can see in the dark, and have tattoos covering their bodies. They also have wolf like features and sharpened teeth, the better to eat you with my dear!

Tally, as a special, is deadly beautiful. Along with Shay and the other Crims they are still cutting themselves to get the most excellent clarity, or to be "Icy" in special-speak. The Cutters are Dr. Cable's elite force. Tally wants to know why Zane isn't a Special also, and her and Shay go visit him in Pretty town, where she realizes that Zane's brain damage couldn't be fixed and he is a shaky mess. She still loves him, but her Special mind is turned off by his flaws. The only way he can become a Special is to pull off a serious trick and lead her and shay to the New Smoke. So they arrange for him to be freed, and follow him.
The rest of the book is built around Tally and Shay causing havoc in a Military building, freeing Zane from his beacon, following him to the New Smoke and discovering a whole new town called Diego where surgeries to enhance oneself have gone awry and Tally has to choose between curing herself, and saving her town from War.

These books, especially this third one, have dealt with so many issues albeit in a different way, that we all have to face. We all have found ourselves looking in the mirror and seeing how much we have changed, either by time or by circumstances. We all must either face those changes, accept them and grow or try to gain back what we have lost ignoring the futility of that action. There comes a point in your life where you must see the scars that life had given you and embrace them. You must take your losses and make them count for something.
That's what these books have spoken to me through Tally and her experiences.

The trilogy comes to a thrilling finale and we get a lot of answers.......2007-09-11

As a 28-year-old woman, I have been surprised and pleased to find myself as engaged by these books as I am. They are well-written, fast-moving and intriguing, and provide a lot of food for thought. The world is so different and vibrant that it feels real to me even after closing the books, which is somewhat rare for me.

This stunning last book in the series features Tally and Shay being "rewarded" for their amazing skill in becoming clear-minded and escaping the shackles of pretty-hood, by being made into Specials, the police force that takes care of "Special Circumstances" in the city and beyond. Shay heads up an elite Special force which is charged with taking down the Smokies, the rebel community that lives from the wild and never turns pretty.

The Smokies are infiltrating the city and curing large numbers of pretties, and only the Specials can stop humanity from reverting to the horrible ways of life previous to having Pretties - when humans burnt and chopped down forests, decimated the wild, killed animals and each other, and generally spoiled the land so badly that many parts are completely ruined.

The Specials embark on a journey to find the New Smoke and destroy it, to preserve their way of life. They follow Tally's old boyfriend Zane, a revolting ordinary pretty, and the Crims, as they try to find the New Smoke. Even with Tally's Special brain, though, she hasn't forgotten what Zane meant to her, and her conflict between who she was and who she is helps drive the story to its ultimate conclusion.

This was an extremely satisfying ending to the trilogy. I can't wait for the new book that is set in the future, with new characters - Extras. Do be sure and read all of these in order, though - they wouldn't make sense otherwise.

My Thoughts.......2007-08-20

I thought Specials was the best so far. SO much action and emotion. Quite beautifully written. Good job mr. westerfield

Slow Starter.......2007-06-01

The first half or so of the book is somewhat clumsy, and rather hard to get into. There is just something off and unconvincing about the attempt to be inside Tally's icy new mindset. These shortcomings are especially notable as the first two books in the trilogy are so cleverly written and the shifts in Tally's mindsets always so seamless and believable. Westerfeld never quite captures Tally's voice in Specials until a little into the second half, when the book really starts to take off. From there to the end, the action is gripping and Tally is once again convincing. Perhaps the author never felt quite comfortable with Tally as a Cutter.

As great as this trilogy is, there is one facet of all three books that stands out. Whether or not it detracts from the series is up for debate, but it is hard not to notice that there is never a single point where Tally does not have a male counterpart with whom she has sexual tension. First, there is Peris. And then David. And then Zane. And even when she is in the middle of a (supposedly) Pre-Rusty civilization deep in the wilderness, leave it to Tally to buddy up with Andrew Simpson Smith. One would assume this is just a typical convention of young adult literature, but it got to be a little trite.

Average customer rating:

Not really ugly....
Wonderful!
the first book in UGLIES
Really good!!!
Uglyville or Realityville?

Uglies (Uglies Trilogy, Book 1)
Scott Westerfeld
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689865384

Amazon.com

Playing on every teen's passionate desire to look as good as everybody else, Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters) projects a future world in which a compulsory operation at sixteen wipes out physical differences and makes everyone pretty by conforming to an ideal standard of beauty. The "New Pretties" are then free to play and party, while the younger "Uglies" look on enviously and spend the time before their own transformations in plotting mischievous tricks against their elders. Tally Youngblood is one of the most daring of the Uglies, and her imaginative tricks have gotten her in trouble with the menacing department of Special Circumstances. She has yearned to be pretty, but since her best friend Shay ran away to the rumored rebel settlement of recalcitrant Uglies called The Smoke, Tally has been troubled. The authorities give her an impossible choice: either she follows Shay's cryptic directions to The Smoke with the purpose of betraying the rebels, or she will never be allowed to become pretty. Hoping to rescue Shay, Tally sets off on the dangerous journey as a spy. But after finally reaching The Smoke she has a change of heart when her new lover David reveals to her the sinister secret behind becoming pretty. The fast-moving story is enlivened by many action sequences in the style of videogames, using intriguing inventions like hoverboards that use the rider's skateboard skills to skim through the air, and bungee jackets that make wild downward plunges survivable -- and fun. Behind all the commotion is the disturbing vision of our own society -- the Rusties -- visible only in rusting ruins after a virus destroyed all petroleum. Teens will be entranced, and the cliffhanger ending will leave them gasping for the sequel. (Ages 12 and up) --Patty Campbell

Book Description

Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Customer Reviews:

Not really ugly...........2007-10-16

I guess I expected a little bit more out of this book. However, I really like the idea of it, and the issues that the author brought to light because they are so relevant to girls today.
There were parts of the book that I thought could have been better, such as the Tally/David romance, or Tally's character development; and I think it would have been helpful to have a little bit more description of the setting and some of the technology used in the futuristic world of this book.
I realize that this book was aimed towards young teen girls though (I'm 22 years old), and keeping that in mind, it was very interesting for light, summer vacation reading. Overall, it's a nice little story and I look forward to reading Pretties. Kudos to Scott Westerfeld for creating a book with a positive message for today's teens.

Wonderful!.......2007-10-15

I'd heard wonderful things about this book, and I finally decided to give in and read it for myself. It was amazing. I loved all the dynamics and characters in this story. It flowed so easily and was easy to keep reading all night long. This is an amazing book.

the first book in UGLIES.......2007-10-07

UGLIES was a good book! the best series of books I've read! book one is about a named Tally who at the beginning all she wants to do is become pretty. See, in her world there's an operation that turns you from a rebellious 15 and under ugly into a wonderful 16 and older pretty. Once you're pretty, however, there IS ONE consequence. Other than that though, it's the most fun life you could have! you can do whatever you want to do. Picture yourself, 16 or older waring beautiful clothes, looking gorgeous, and you have nothing to worry about! now isn't that what anybody would want? then, Tally meets Shay, who doesn't want to be pretty at all. When Shay runs away, Tally is forced by the "police" to find her or not turn pretty. What choice will she make? it shall change her whole world forever.............

Really good!!!.......2007-09-22

I loved this book! I liked the futuristic aspect of it: my favourite part was when Tally and Shay were looking at some 300 year old magazines and saying stuff like "But they're all ugly!" and "Since they didn't have the operation back then, they weren't ashamed of being ugly".
A real must-read (i suggest it for girls, although some boy might like it i guess)!

Uglyville or Realityville?.......2007-09-13

This book may have been a little easier read than most of the other books I read, but it was an overall good book. The story follows the journey of a young girl named Tally who is about to turn sixteen and turn pretty. Instead of getting the anticipated surgery on her birthday, she is faced with the decision to go after her runaway friend Shay and give up the position of The Smoke or never be pretty. She ventures off to find The Smoke and lives there with her friend Shay as well as other new friends. The book follows the struggles she feels with betraying her friends and what she really wants.
The events are easy to follow, but Scott Westerfield fills the book with symbolism. Though the world Tally lives in does not sound too much like the one you and I live in, it symbolizes the ideals in our society.
This book was a fun, easy read and the symbolism was a great addition to the story to make readers think.

Average customer rating:

Excellent
the second book in the UGLIES trilogy
Pretty Special
An exciting sequel to Uglies
great book

Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2)
Scott Westerfeld
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689865392

Book Description

Gorgeous. Popular.
Perfect. Perfectly wrong.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-10-15

What a perfect sequal to the first book The Uglies. I loved Taly and Zane's relaitonship; the fight to overcome the obstacles together. It is such a beautiful story. Well written and completly enveloping. Plus, its not only for the young adults. . . The adults will love this book too. Everyone can relate to it. Simply excellent.

the second book in the UGLIES trilogy.......2007-10-07

Tally, as her name is, is now partying in new pretty town where all of the new pretties live. She has amazing outfits, a wonderful boyfriend, and much more. She's living the dream, or at least, as far as she knows. For there's something from before the pretty operation that is inside her mind somewhere, that she can't remember, but she must figure it out, it's something important. Then, Tally and her boyfriend find a note from before Tally's operation. Once she reads it, her memory of what's wrong with this life becomes clear. Now Tally must try and forget or hide from the authorities what she knows because they don't intend on letting anybody who knows the truth about pretty life survive.

Pretty Special.......2007-09-17

This is a review on the audio book version of "Pretties" written by Scott Westerfeld and performed by the great and talented Carine Montbertrand.

This book, although disguised in Young Adult clothes, makes you think about serious issues in society today. We all watch the news and stare in horror at all the violence, and wars, and economic downfall. We wish there was a cure for disease, and a way to make everyone satisfied with their lives. We buy books on finding our true selves, and spend millions of dollars on makeup and clothes. We have all seen movies like "The Stepford Wives" and watched how dangerous it is to try and make everything "perfect". Most of the time good intentions are plagued with rotten disastrous outcomes. This book takes the "what ifs" and explores their ramifications.

Let's say our government, after looking at the state of the world, comes up with the "ultimate" plan. They want to eradicate poverty, war, disease, pollution, and unhappiness. They see the divide between the rich and poor, beautiful and ugly, privileged and downtrodden. So why not make everyone equal? It would solve everything! If everyone were pretty, and were able to go to parties and wear what they want and just be on permanent vacation than they wouldn't want to take drugs or murder or act like savages. If the government took care of everything like housing, health, and recreation we would have no worries! If we were told that we were ugly from birth and made to live in drab dorms in an even drabbier town all the while observing from arms length the Pretties who live in luxery have gorgeous faces, and are bubbly 24/7....we would count down till that birthday with baited breath.

There are of course, going to be the people who realize that this transformation is wrong. That Ugly isn't Ugly its normal, and the government is so screwed up that they have to escape and live outside the city limits even though it's hard. There are those amongst these outcasts or "smokies" who once worked for the government and they have realized that the citizens aren't being transformed into just the beautiful people; they have been given serious brain lesions to keep them good little automatons forever. But they have a Cure, and someone has to test it.

This is where Tally Youngblood comes in. In the first book she is so desperate to become pretty that she agrees to betray the Smokies, but soon falls in love with one of them and is told about the lesions. After the government's most deadly agents, the Specials, find the smokies anyway Tally has a decision to make. Stay with the Smokies, or make the sacrifice to become pretty and test the cure. The difficulty is that once Tally is Pretty, she will be Pretty-minded, which basically means Air headed. She won't want to be anything but "bubbly" as they put it. She belongs to a clique of pretties called the "Crims" because they play serious tricks, and since Tally once ran away to the smokies she is prime Crim material. Tally is friends again with Shay, who she betrayed in the first book but neither remember that taking place, she also finds a new boyfriend Zane. She and Zane soon realize that deep inside something is different about them and the Crims. They not only play tricks, they are fascinated by the Smokies, and when Tally's promise to test the cure comes back to her, Zane is right beside her to test it.

In "Pretties" we get to experience Tally and Zane and the Crims struggle to overcome their "pretty-mindedness" constantly risking their lives, risking the Specials catching them. Tally has to again choose between Shay and a boyfriend. And Shay starts to follow her own path towards change. The cure works, but something is deadly wrong with Zane and Tally will do anything to save him. I wont give away the ending, but again I zipped out and got the third book because I couldn't wait to find out what happens. I listened to this book, read by Carine Montbertrand, and I cannot recommend it enough. She puts voices to these characters so amazing well and Scott Westerfeld has once again written a book that appeals to all my senses.

An exciting sequel to Uglies.......2007-09-11

This book picks up where Uglies left off - Tally and Shay were caught and made into pretties. While going to all kinds of exciting parties and living an outlandishly fun lifestyle, there are still some memories and nagging doubts in Tally's and Shay's minds about their past experiences with The Smoke.

They hook up with a Pretty clique called The Crims, who are focused (as much as any pretty can be focused!) on becoming "bubbly", or clear-thinking, and do all kinds of stunts for the adrenaline rush that makes them able to think clearly for a few minutes or more at a time.

Tally becomes involved with Zane, the leader of the Crims and the one most obsessed with becoming clear-headed, and when the couple remaining Smokies bring Tally a note from her past Ugly self, and some pills, she and Zane each take one right before getting caught by the city's wardens...

This sequel to Uglies is a bit less action-packed than the first, but has more things to ponder, as we learn more about how their world and community works, the motivations behind the workings of the community, and the ways in which Tally, Zane, Shay, and the rest learn to take power back from the government and learn to think independently, even with the brain changes that are inflicted on pretties.

I was fascinated by the book and it was well worth reading. Definitely don't bother with this if you have not read Uglies yet. You really have to read these in order.

great book.......2007-08-16

This books make you think about a lot about body image and the value we put on beauty in our society.

How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches

Average customer rating:

A Great Read
What a great read!
Game of life
Coaching advise from athletic coaches
Overcome Adversity

How to Succeed in the Game of Life: 34 Interviews with the World's Greatest Coaches
Christian Klemash
Manufacturer: Andrews McMeel Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0740760653

Book Description

What would legendary Boston Celtics coach and 16-time NBA champion Red Auerbach say is the most critical quality for a person to be successful? Would his advice differ from 10-time NCAA championship coach John Wooden's? What would each say to a young person just starting out in pursuit of their dreams? What is the best advice they were ever given?

It took author Christian Klemash more than two years of research, persistence, and original interviews, but now he's ready to pass on the best advice you'll ever get. Only the rare individual has had the opportunity to pick the brain of just one legendary sports coach—let alone thirty-four of the best sports coaches of all time. Klemash gives sports fans a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn valuable life lessons from the most famous, intelligent, and victorious coaches ever. The legends span the sports world, from gold medal-winning gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi and three-time college football championship coach Tom Osborne to four-time World Series-winning baseball manager Joe Torre and hall-of-fame boxing trainer Angelo Dundee.

These coaches know how to teach top athletes about character and winning, how to manage pressure at crunch time, and how to bring out the best in their players when it matters most. How to Succeed in the Game of Life shares their insights into sports, life, and the most vital keys to sustain success.Featuring Exclusive Interviews with:

Red Auerbach, 16-time NBA World Champion

Bobby Bowden, College Football's All-Time Winningest Coach, 2-time National Champion

Scotty Bowman, 9-time Stanley Cup Champion

Bill Cowher, Super Bowl Champion

Tony Dungy, Super Bowl Champion

Dan Gable, 15-time NCCA Champion

April Heinrichs, Gold Medal Winning Coach of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team

Bela Karolyi, The World’s Greatest Gymnastics Coach

Bill Parcells, 2-time Super Bowl Champion

Emanuel Steward, Boxing Trainer of 30 World Champions

Joe Torre, 4-time World Series Champion

Bill Walsh, 3-time Super Bowl Champion

Lenny Wilkens, NBA’s All-Time Winningest Coach, NBA Champion

John Wooden, 10-time NCAA Champion

And More!

Customer Reviews:

A Great Read.......2007-08-26

Wow!Could not put it down.An extraordinay self help book.Gave it to my kids they loved it.Don't miss this one

What a great read!.......2007-07-25

I took it on vacation with me and I couldn't put it down. A great book for aspiring athletes and coaches as well as your average Joe who works 9-5. The coaches discuss a variety of topics from their childhood to how they motivate their players. Any easy read for all ages.

Game of life.......2007-07-24

I've read through Game of Life and I enjoyed it very much. There are so many things to take from this book, not just into sports, but also some reflections on life. I would recommend this book to everybody.

Coaching advise from athletic coaches.......2007-06-27

A fun read, especially if yoiu're a sports fan. I read it in search of things that would help my own ability as a coach in my company. Much of it is light stuff but the easy read makes it fun nonetheless and there are few golden nuggets laced throughout the book.

Overcome Adversity.......2007-04-12

Anyone looking for inspiration, either for their own life or to share with others, will find a gold mine of quotes here. This book isn't just for sports fans.

Average customer rating:

Getting bacvk at the Nigerians
Rude, in the best possible way
FUNNY! FUNNY! FUNNY!
Out of breath funny.
Funny but a little repetitive

The Good the Spam and the Ugly
Steve H. Graham
Manufacturer: Citadel
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806528249

Book Description

Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2005 18:38:09 +0000 (GMT)

To: honbarrsedd4za@yahoo.co.in
PROPOSAL FOR URGENT ASSISTANCE
Dear Sir: I must solicit your confidence in this transaction. I am a high placed official with the Department of Finance Affairs in Lagos, Nigeria. I and two other colleagues are in need of a silent foreign partner whose bank account we can use to transfer the sum of $18,000,000. This are monies left by a barrister who died tragically in a plane crash last year...

Sound familiar? Congratulations. You have been selected to become a mugu, an expression African con artists use to describe the targets of their e-mail scams. But they drew a bead on the wrong guy when they started spamming Steve H. Graham. Like many Internet users, Graham eventually got tired of receiving mugu mail and decided to fire back at his wannabe swindlers.

Armed with a scathing sense of humor, Graham quickly turned the tables on his tormenters--with side-splittingly hilarious results. Whether he's referring to his fictional lawyer Biff Wellington, complaining about the injury he received while milking a lactating sloth, or offering the Preparation H helpline as his phone number, Graham--using aliases such as Wile E. Coyote, Barney Rubble, and Herman Munster--offers proof that spamming the spammers is the best revenge.

Steve H. Graham is a retired attorney. Since childhood, he has been fighting for truth, justice, and free movie passes. For each copy sold of this book, he will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to himself. He is also the author of the cookbook Eat What You Want and Die Like a Man. He lives in Miami.

Customer Reviews:

Getting bacvk at the Nigerians.......2007-05-08

I often play with Nigerian scammers though not to the extent that the author does. Some of his responses to the scammers email are really funny. A lot like the annals of "The Porcine Princess".

Rude, in the best possible way.......2007-04-06

The Publishers Weekly review above is on the money, in that this book is gleefully offensive.

I'm fine with that.

If you're fine with that as well, this book will make you snort with laughter at inappropriate times. Do not read while sitting in bed next to your sleeping spouse. She will eventually punch you in the chest for waking her up.

It'll be worth the bruise.

FUNNY! FUNNY! FUNNY!.......2007-04-06

A laugh-riot from start to finish--the funniest book I've read in years.

Out of breath funny........2007-03-30

This was one of the funniest books I have enjoyed in a long, long time. The content is fun and light and makes for an easy read. There were times I had tears in my eyes and pain in my stomach from laughing so hard. It's an excellent book for when you need a break from this mad, mad, world.

It's one of those purchases you won't regret.

Highly recommended!

Funny but a little repetitive.......2007-03-30

There are some hilarious pages in this book, some that had me crying and unable to speak. If the author had a little more variety it would have been a great book, but it did seem to repeat its formula in the responses to the email scams after a while.

The Ugly Duckling (Caldecott Honor Book)

Average customer rating:

such a deep meaning between its light, childish writings...
Know who you are
The Kind of Hope We All Need to Remember
Honk!
The Ugly Duckling

The Ugly Duckling (Caldecott Honor Book)
Hans Christian Andersen , and Jerry Pinkney
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 068815932X
Release Date: 1999-03-24

Amazon.com

Three-time Caldecott Honor artist and four-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, Jerry Pinkney doesn't disappoint with this lovely, old-fashioned, richly textured watercolor adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Ugly Duckling. The mother duck knew from the very beginning that one of her babies would be different from the rest... the sixth egg was large and oddly shaped. When it finally hatches that summer, she thinks the "monstrous big duckling" must be a turkey chick! Other ducks are appalled by the ugly duckling, and he is chased, pecked, and kicked aside. When he can't stand it anymore, he runs away from the pond, eventually taking refuge in the warm cottage of an old woman with a cat and a hen. Missing the delicious feeling of the water too much to stay, however, he heads out again into the wide, increasingly cold autumn world.

One day, he heard a sound of whirring wings, and up in the air he saw a flock of birds flying high. They were as bright as the snow that had fallen during the night, and their long necks were stretched southward. Oh, if only he could go with them! But what sort of companion could he be to those beautiful beings?"

At last, after a hard, cold winter--and plenty of the kind of adventures no one really wants to have--the duckling sees the same flock of birds he'd seen in the sky so many months ago. He decides he will follow them, somewhat dramatically preferring to be killed by them rather than suffer any more "cold and hunger and cruelty." Much to his surprise, they welcome him! And when he looks for his dull, awkward reflection in the water, he sees a beautiful swan instead. Children who feel ostracized, even for the tiniest of differences, may shed a few sympathetic tears for the ugly duckling. And no doubt, it was Andersen's wish to give them the hope of one day finding their own peaceful place. (Ages 3 to 9) --Karin Snelson

Book Description

For over one hundred years The Ugly Duckling has been a childhood favorite, and Jerry Pinkney's spectacular new adaptation brings it triumphantly to new generations of readers. With keen emotion and fresh vision, the acclaimed artist captures the essence of the tale's timeless appeal: The journey of the awkward little bird -- marching bravely through hecklers, hunters, and cruel seasons -- is an unforgettable survival story; this blooming into a graceful swan is a reminder of the patience often necessary to discover true happiness. Splendid watercolors set in the lush countryside bring drama to life.

Customer Reviews:

such a deep meaning between its light, childish writings..........2007-09-11

(This review is about the story and not about the specific content of the book)

Luis Mejia (son) - As a fan of more classic readings, I personaly got to appreciate Hans Christen Andersen as one of my favourite writters, not only because his beautiful, gorgeous tales are brought up for a sleepy kid who likes to hear a story from his dad, as he finally gets asleep with a smile, its because among all of his works, some may be totally written for putting on paper a story full of fantastic moments but without an implicit meaning, but in its underlying words, it can teach a lot about values, just like The Little Mermaid tales a great value and a deep, underlying meaning of true love, making hard decissions toward the theme, the beauty of love an its unreachable boundaries, but, among all of Andersen's writtigs, The Ugly Duckling is one of his two that makes me cry. Its heartful, touchy story about a little duck, who, like every alive creature in the world, even a real duck, just want to be accepted as a normal duck who wants to learn about the experience of life, even when he doesn't knows that, unfortunately, this doesn't go that way, his brothers and other mates would constantly pick on him, bothering him, making the poor duck cry, even his mother felt embarassed about having such an ugly duck, what's the meaning in this part of the story? When you are an adult, or a mature adolescent one gets it quickly, even its meaning about rejecting/bullying others because of any condition (as this is not focused on beauty, is focused on any aspect that it could be found) can be seen in modern society, and, as it later reflects on the ongoing story, it can have very sad effects. The duck, all alone even at his early life, goes onto a journey of searching his place or at least some love, and he fails a couple of times, here the meaning is another very deep one, life is about risks and chances, and nothing is sure, anyone can make mistakes in any moment of his life, even when they are sadder. And when, finally, he discovers a place where he wished he could live, he felt deeply attracted by this place and its animals, and, when these attractive animals come closer, the little ugly duckling was already been hurted, so he was even more scared, as these animals he was seeing where something really special, to the point of even thinking "It doesn't matter now, I would prefer to dye here, beside this beautiful creatures, even if they kill me, or I dye in the cold, instead of all alone outside" (it really says this) this part really touches my heart. But instead of finding strong rejection, he founds comprehension and acceptance, he is even regarded as one of those beautiful animals which he dreamed about!

For children, there's no way to search for a meaning here, as it may stay as a simple, short story, attractive because of talking animals and light emotions, and a very good one for putting to sleep a children, but for adults, this story is much more than that, the story coul've been made up to even 500 pages, although here the parts are clear, main rejection, something general instead of specific, a search for a true home, a couple of places with searched with failure, and his final transformation. So, the values that this story teaches are amazing and pretty recognizables, values like those of patience, love, comprehension, although the story's main point is clear: even in our hardest situations in life, at any age, at any time, we should always be hopeful and faithful, we'll have to start our journey for finding our place, as the duck did, we shall never give up, don't be the duck that dies in the cold or loses every hope, we'll make a lot of mistakes, go through many situations that gets us down in the road, but without giving up, as the duck who finds two places where he didn't fit as well (as well as it could've been a thousand places), and, even if the road seems eternal and unreachable, even if we've been through a lot of sad stories, even if we're all alone within any situation, we'll find our true home, the true love, our deeply desired place, we'll finally discover ourselves, and have a happy ending, living happy forever.

Plus, the gorgeous illustrations and sensitive way of telling the story in the book, makes it a really fantastic, pretty edition.

Know who you are.......2007-02-09

This book was absolutely wonderful, especially the illustrations. My children loved it. It was not just about being ugly, it was about knowing who you are, your roots, etc - self awareness and self-confidence. The poor duckling "thought" that he was ugly because he didn't know who he really was [a swan]. ...Because he was different from everyone around him, he believed that he was what everyone said he was -- ugly and worthless. The others picked on him because he was different. Once he discovered the truth of who he really was is when he was set free from the bondage of all the untruth that he heard. He discovered who he really was and flourished.

The Kind of Hope We All Need to Remember.......2006-05-12

A beautiful picture book on the Hans Christian Anderson tale. The Ugly Duckling is one of the world's most passionate childrens' stories of becoming. A wonderful book to read to remind a child what's possible no matter what. It's always a good thing to know one really is a swan ...underneath it all.

Honk!.......2005-06-23

"The Ugly Duckling" is one of those rare examples of the triumph of image over story. Anyone who's ever read, heard, or seen performed this story knows that there are elements to it that can make you feel a hair uncomfortable. After all, the moral of the tale is that it doesn't matter how awful your life has been just so long as you're beautiful and look like all the pretty people in the end. Even if we dislike what "The Ugly Duckling" is trying to say, though, it's hard not to be compelled by its striking images. The cygnet amongst the ducklings. The resentment directed at him by both the animal kingdom and humankind. And then, the slow realization that he is in fact the most beautiful creature in the entire world. If this story were a Grimm Brothers tale it would probably end with the duckling rubbing his newfound good looks in his siblings' faces. Fortunately, we're in Hans Christian Andersen territory here, and (more specifically) Jerry Pinkney territory as well. Mr. Pinkney has taken Andersen's original wordy version and pared it down to the point where contemporary children will understand and identify with it better. He's even changed the moral of the tale oh-so-slightly so that it's less lotsa-pain-equals-more-physical-beauty and more hard-work-will-lead-to-happiness-in-the-end. I'm not personally buying it, but that's the fault of Andersen. Not Pinkney.

In case you are not familiar with the original Andersen version (and isn't it remarkable that there isn't a Disney version out there somewhere?) here's the lowdown. One day a mother duck finds that one of her eggs is different from the others. No explanation of this is ever given. Pity. When the eggs hatch the largest/different one takes a long time to crack open and when it does it exhibits a large ugly grey "duckling". Immediately, trouble starts. Other ducks bite the duckling's head and its brothers and sisters join in. It gets so depressed that when a dog passes it over as a meal it can only think, "I am too ugly even for a dog to eat". A woman, a cat, and a chicken all find the duckling to be utterly useless. It freezes in a pond and flees the nice man that frees it. Finally after multiple trials and countless tribulations the duckling turns into a swan, meets up with its brethren, and discovers the beauty of ... um... beauty.

No deep insights in this one. Now normally I don't much care for Jerry Pinkney's illustrations. I found his "John Henry" to be a bit slapdash and his "Noah's Ark" lacking. For some reason though, "The Ugly Duckling" works. When you consider that I don't usually like the story and I don't usually like the illustrator, the fact that I like the two when combined is just plum weird. It's not that the story has improved much. But under Pinkney's hand it becomes tolerable. Sure, it's still mighty depressing to see the poor little duckling bitten, screamed at, and teased. But when he's beautiful, there's no arguing with his looks.

In the end, I tip my hat to Pinkney's guts. Some people will pooh-pooh this review because they feel I'm criticizing the story and not the edition itself. Blarney. You can't separate this book from the tale on which it's based. I'm still not a fan of "The Ugly Duckling". I think it teaches the wrong lessons in a clumsy way. But Jerry Pinkney has given us perhaps the only edition of the original story that's readable in this day and age. For that reason alone the book deserves its Caldecott Honor.

The Ugly Duckling.......2005-06-06

I read the book The Ugly duckling by Jerry Pinkney.
The book is about a ugly duckling,everyone is mean to him. One day he got fed up with them so he ran away to a pond but there was a shoot off . So he immediately ran off. After awhile he came across a old ladies house. Her animals were mean to him so he went to a pond.In the winter he froze and a farmer gets him out.He did not like them either so he ran away. In the spring he finds out he is a wonderful swan.
I enjoyed the book because I never heard the part when he got frozen. The theme is never be down about the way you look because you might look better when you get older. This book didn't have good word choice and all the words were easy I liked that.The conflict is he is ugly and everyone is mean to him.The illustrations were very full. the character is the ugly duckling. There are many different version. The intended audience is kids who are not beautiful so they don't feel bad about themselves.

Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Average customer rating:

Love it and use it
Great Bug Reference Book!
Worthless Reference Book
Not worthy of the trees that had to die.
Bugs at their best

Texas Bug Book: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Howard Garrett , and C. Malcolm Beck
Manufacturer: University of Texas Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0292709374

Book Description

Praise for Texas Bug Book:

"Definitive ...This book is a must-have for any organic library!"

— Texas Organic News

"Overall this [book] is probably the best of its kind. Given the excellent photography and affordability, it is definitely worth the purchase."

— Whole Earth

" Texas Bug Book, unlike many of the characters it describes, is a keeper—highly recommended as a perfect companion volume to set beside your native plant books."

— Native Plant Society of Texas News

"If you plan on ever stepping outside, or staying inside, or going to bed, Texas Bug Book is a wealth of information you can't possibly live without."

— Austin American-Statesman

"This book is recommended essentially to all humans above the age of three. It conveys a wonderful message about our ecology and hope for living within our environment."

— Choice

Texas Bug Book is your complete guide for identifying and organically controlling all of the most common Texas insects. Drawing on years of practical experience and research, organic gardening experts Howard Garrett and Malcolm Beck give detailed instructions on how to identify, understand the life cycle of, and control or protect Texas insects, mites, snails, slugs, nematodes, and other critters. They also include striking color photos and black-and-white drawings to help you identify each bug. Garrett and Beck highlight the many useful roles that bugs play in nature and offer proven organic remedies for infestations of pest insects.

Customer Reviews:

Love it and use it.......2006-08-14

I've been an organic gardener for years and this book is one of my "Bibles". You cannot maintain an organic garden or landscape without knowing the beneficial bugs from the harmful ones. My husband and I really enjoy being able to identify what's in our landscape and seeing them in action. The world around us is a remarkable, complex place and sometimes you have to look at bugs to have it really hit home. This is a great book, along with all of Howard Garrett's others.

Great Bug Reference Book!.......2005-04-13

It is important to know what bugs are beneficial and which are harmful. This book does just that! Not only does this book include many great photos, it also provides wonderful recommendations on how to manage the ones that are pests.
As for the only spiders one should be weary of in North America: the Brown Recluse and the Black Widow, this book has great photos for proper identification. Furthermore, valuable information is included on the nature of these two spiders and has great suggestions on what to do should you happen to encounter one.

Worthless Reference Book.......2003-10-01

My wife and I agree this book is worthless as a reference book, but it does have some pretty pictures. Great as a coffee table book, but you will never use it as a reference book.

Not worthy of the trees that had to die........2003-05-04

This behemothian piece of excrement is a slap in the face of any ligitimate work on insects in general, or growing organic gardens specifically. The book is fraught with inaccuracies and outright misinformation. Case in point, the kissing bug did not get its name from biting people when it accidently flies into your face, it got it from its habit of biting sleeping people on the lips. This information is not critical to the book, but it exemplifies the slothful approach to gathering information the authors obviously used to write this book. The "Stories" are nothing more than opinionted drivel, although some of them are slightly humorous. The authors have no credentials in Entomology (they state that in the Introduction) and although they claim to have consulted "...many other books and research papers..." on the subject, nowhere did I find a reference to such information when something other than common fact was stated (as is necessary in REAL science books), such as aphids "...help to eliminate unfit plants." That is the single most ludicrous thing I have heard in a decade or more! Fortunately for me I didn't buy this waste of sawdust or recycled paper (whatever the case may be), but obviously some did because this "thing" is now in its fourth printing. The one good thing about this book is that the authors advocate the use non-chemical control. Believe me, save your money, you can get much better, less opinionated, advice from a simple Internet search.

Bugs at their best.......2002-09-07

I never knew bugs could abe so interesting. The authors combine factual information on insects with entertaining stories of buggy encounters. This book reaches my kids on a level they can understand (they are 8 - 12 years old), yet provides me with plenty of good factual information that helps with gardening. The kids were thrilled to discover that the funny things they had seen "growing" on the fence were actually lacewing eggs. We are eagerly anticipaing their hatching. I also appreciated the recipes for home-made, natural insecticides.

The Ugly Duckling/El patito feo (Bilingual Fairy Tales)

Average customer rating:

Sad story, but a fine version

The Ugly Duckling/El patito feo (Bilingual Fairy Tales)
Merce Escardo i Bas
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811844552

Book Description

Retold in both Spanish and English, the universally loved story The Ugly Duckling will delight early readers and older learners alike. The striking illustrations give a new look to this classic tale, and the bilingual text makes it perfect for both home and classroom libraries.

Customer Reviews:

Sad story, but a fine version.......2007-07-21

This is an excellent adaptation of the ugly duckling saga, with a crisp, bilingual translation and lovely, cartoonish art. Max, a Barcelona-based comicbook artist uses the tricks of his trade to give the duckling lots of character, and the graphic composition is marvelous, making the most of the modest page size. The story itself is always so sad that I find it hard to get through, but this version was a visual delight. Nice Spanish-English translation, taken from the original Catalan edition, ideal for helping gringo kids learn a little espanol. Recommended!

Average customer rating:

A model story
Ending ruins it all
I wanted to like this more
A Wonderful Twist on an Old Favorite
A Mixed Up Fairy Tales- Funny Fiction!

Sleeping Ugly
Jane Yolen
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0698115600

Customer Reviews:

A model story.......2007-01-22

A well told story, and and a good model for my students' essay writing. It has organization, allusion, "show me" character, smooth seamless transitions between scenes, and a bonus character lesson suitable for both boys & girls. For a longer "chapter book" with the same theme, see M.M. Kaye's The Ordinary Princess.

Ending ruins it all.......2006-06-20

The story starts out well enough, centering around the lovely-but-spoiled Princess Miserella and the sweet-but-ugly Plain Jane. Naturally, the book is filled with the contrasts between their two characters: Miserella makes people miserable while poor Plain Jane's sweetness is overlooked by people who only see her outside.

When the two meet a fairy godmother, things start to look up for Jane when her kindness wins her three wishes. Before she can use them, however, Miserella ticks off the godmother so much that her magic goes bonkers and puts them all to sleep. When a prince comes across the three sleeping women, he falls for Miserella's looks and decides to kiss her awake. Before he does this, however, he decides to "practice" kissing by kissing the godmother and Jane first. It is here that both the prince and the author of the story make their fatal mistakes.

When Jane wakes up and sees the prince (after being kissed by him), she naturally wants him for herself. Rather than taking the golden opportunity of developing a real relationship between the two characters, author Jane Yolen throws it away by having the brainless bimbo of a fairy godmother cast a spell on the prince that magically forces him to love Jane (that godmother's not too smart with a wand, is she?) In just a couple of sentences, Yolen totally ruins what began as a meaningful story.

First of all, I absolutely despise the idea of love spells; love is a wonderful, wild force that cannot possibly be controlled or imitated. Second of all, what's the point of forcing the prince to love Jane? If Yolen doesn't let Jane win the prince's love naturally, then what message does this give girls with low self-esteem? That a guy can't like you without a spell on him? I thought the whole point of the story was that inner beauty and kindness is rewarded, but it hardly counts if the prince had a spell on him; the nasty princess could just as easily have done that. I agree with the reviewer who said that Jane's kindness was ruined when she made Miserella's sleeping body a hat post and forbad anyone to kiss her back to life. It seems to me that was Jane's way of saying, "Well, I got the prince, I guess I don't need to be nice any more". I found myself hoping the prince would find out about the spell and dump Jane like she deserved; I also wouldn't have minded the fairy godmother being turned into the toad she really was. I love most of Yolen's work, but this one is a rare bad egg.

I wanted to like this more.......2005-12-02

I wanted an unconventional tale for my daughter and was dissapointed. Although it tries to be unconventional by having the ugly girl being the good one I think it sells it's self short by still focusing the tale on attractiveness. The Jane character uses one of her magic wishes so that the Prince will love her. I would rather have tale about different forms of attractiveness or one in which the beauty of the characters isn't important. I want my daughter to know that morality is about the choices you make rather than the face you see in the mirror. BTW my husband liked this book so perhaps you will too.

A Wonderful Twist on an Old Favorite.......2005-11-16

In a startlingly funny retelling of the classic Sleeping Beauty tale, Jane Yolan spins a clever and sweet tale in Sleeping Ugly. The ever-beautiful, but horribly spoiled and cruel princess Miserella rushes into the forest during a temper tantrum and soon loses her way. She stumbles (literally) over an old fairy, who grudgingly agrees to help her find a way home. The mismatched couple discover charming Plain Jane's ramshackle home, but when the infuriating princess refuses to behave, the fairy accidentally casts a sleeping spell over the whole house. A poor prince discovers them 100 years later and remembers that his duty is to awaken the princess with a kiss. However, during a practice kiss, the prince falls in love with Jane, with whom he lives happily ever after.
The theme of personality being paramount to beauty is key to this engaging tale. Though the princess' every movement is lovely, Jane's kindness and good-natured behavior win the love of the prince. Morals in society are so often skewed, but Yolan's funny story realigns children's ethics without being overbearing or obvious. Diane Stanley's terrific illustrations are wonderful as well. The cartoon style pen, ink, and paint drawings delightfully enhance the tale. The stunning, but pouting Miserella contrasts wonderfully with the homely, smiling Jane, and the reader cannot help but love Jane more for her cheerful appearance. One should also note Yolan's twist of the traditional Sleeping Beauty story. This ingenuity ought to be highly praised for its attempt to expand children's perspectives on the world. The creativity of Jane Yolan's story Sleeping Ugly combine enchantingly with Diane Stanley's artwork to form a truly memorable story that children are sure to adore.

A Mixed Up Fairy Tales- Funny Fiction!.......2005-05-19

Sleeping Ugly was amazingly funny because it wasn't like any other fairy tale. It was a really good book. I would really like to check it out from the library. I think it was funny because Misrella threw pies in the cook's face. I thought it was sad that Miserella stepped on the dogs and hurt them. I also think it was sad that she kicked the cats.

Average customer rating:

The title maybe Ugly Vegetables, but it's beautiful story
The Ugly Vegetables
Enjoyable
An awesome book and receipe included, how great is that!
Should Be in Every Library!

The Ugly Vegetables
Grace Lin
Manufacturer: Charlesbridge Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0881063363

Book Description

It's easy to appreciate a garden exploding with colorful flowers and fragrances, but what do you do with a patch of ugly vegetables? Author/illustrator Grace Lin recalls such a garden in this charming and eloquent story.

The neighbors' gardens look so much prettier and so much more inviting to the young gardener than the garden of “black-purple-green vines, fuzzy wrinkled leaves, prickly stems, and a few little yellow flowers” that she and her mother grow. Nevertheless, mother assures her that “these are better than flowers.” Come harvest time, everyone agrees as those ugly Chinese vegetables become the tastiest, most aromatic soup they have ever known. As the neighborhood comes together to share flowers and ugly vegetable soup, the young gardener learns that regardless of appearances, everything has its own beauty and purpose.

The Ugly Vegetables springs forth with the bright and cheerful colors of blooming flowers and bumpy, ugly vegetables. Grace Lin's colorful, playful illustrations pour forth with abundant treasures. Complete with a guide to the Chinese pronunciation of the vegetables and the recipe for ugly vegetable soup! Try it . . . you'll love it, too!

Customer Reviews:

The title maybe Ugly Vegetables, but it's beautiful story.......2007-05-13

I was drawn to this book for several reasons. First off, I have a child born in and adopted from China and am naturally drawn to books relating to Chinese people. As much as I want her to understand her birth culture I am also learning at the same time. We have several Grace Lin books in our library at home and have loved everyone of them. What I love about this book is that it illustrates how we all have something to teach one another and that through our sharing and teaching we actually become comfortable with ourselves. This isn't just a book about some unusual vegetables, it's a story about people and what we each have to offer the world.

The Ugly Vegetables.......2006-03-15

One of my two year olds favorite books. Beautiful illustrations and a fun story, especially if coming from a gardening background. My daughter also loves trying to say the Chinese words for the vegetables at the end of the book.

Enjoyable.......2005-10-04

I bought this book for my 3 year old, but I think it's a bit too complicated for her. The story is lovely, and I bought this based on our enjoyment together of several other books illustrated and/or written by Ms. Lin. However, her attention span at 3 is too short to get through all of the narrative, so we just looked at the pictures while I summarized. The pictures, as usual, were colorful and intriguing, but we put this book aside for next Summer, when she'll be closer to 4, and we can read it together as we plan our own "ugly" vegetable garden.

An awesome book and receipe included, how great is that!.......2004-08-22

Each Grace Lin book I get, I am just so impressed by her talent! Every child loves to get their hands into dirt and growing flowers or vegetables is always fun and gives the child great pride to show everyone their hard work and or beautiful flowers!

Every child wants to be just the same as their friends, especially those in the neighborhood. Mom and daughter start in the spring to plant their garden and while everyone else in the neighborhood each have their own way of tending their gardens totally different from how her and her mom garden. When their plants appear they look like grass, where other neighbors' appear they look like normal plants.

The little girl constantly asks questions as all children do, why mommy, why mommy and her mommy patiently answers each of her daughters questions. When others in the neighborhood have beautiful flowersthat smell so good, the little girls garden has what she sees as ugly plants with no beautiful scents. Once the vegetables are ready to be harvested the little girl and mother gather their wheelbarrow with their vegetables. Later that afternoon the daughter is out playing in the yard and smells a wonderful smell and it's coming from her house! Her mom has made soup using their harvest and her mom gives her a bowl..... it tastes so good! Then there comes knocking at their door and it's the little girls neighbors wanting to trade their beautiful flowers for a bowl of soup. The Mom tells the neighbors about each vegetables and the next spring the little girl notices her neighbors growing " Ugly Vegetables" too!

I love that Lin includes a receipe to make using these so called "ugly vegetables" and that she included their names and even sounded them out. Keep up the good work Mrs. Lin and I'll keep on buying your books and singing praises to anyone who'll read my reviews!

Should Be in Every Library!.......2001-06-29

This was a wonderful story that my husband and children just loved. We learned about some new vegetables in the process. As a kid I wasn't fond of bitter melon, but I'm willing to give it a second try after reading the book! My 5 and 6 year old boys are clamoring for us to go out, buy some ugly vegetables, and make the soup! This book appeals to every member of the family and the illustrations are beautiful.

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