Extras by Scott Westerfeld

January 7th, 2008 at 9:23am |

Uglies: Book 4

Audience: 11 and up (limited mature content)

Rating: B+

Synopsis:

This book is the continuation of the Uglies series, but from a different character’s point of view, and in a different setting. Extras takes place a few years after the mind rain and while Tally Youngblood appears in the book, she is not the main character. Aya Fuse, our new narrator, is part of a new society, one based on drawing attention to yourself through showy tricks or crazy ideas. Everything in her society is based on a person’s “face rank” – a number that shows how interested (or uninterested) people are in you. In this city, to be an ‘extra’ means that you’re not noticed… for Aya, this is the worst possible fate, and she is always scheming for ways to become famous. Unfortunately for Aya, fame and danger are intertwined when she uncovers a mysterious plot.

Chatter:

(Spoiler Alerts! ) Of all of the books in the Uglies series (more posts coming about the other books), Extras was my least favorite. I didn’t find Aya’s city to be any more evolved than Diego or Prettyville, did you?

I hate Aya’s idea that if no one is watching you, then you don’t matter. Imagine what it would be like to be an introvert in that town! You’d be stuck in a shoebox sized apartment with no possessions and ratty old clothing because you didn’t have a high-enough ‘face rank’ to “earn” better!

I was intrigued by the idea of Frizz’s “radical honesty” – imagine how different your day would be if you couldn’t lie… or even avoid telling the truth! I wonder how this would change people’s relationships…

I also felt that Tally seemed different in this book. Her personality was harsher and less likeable. Maybe this was just because we couldn’t see inside her head and uncover the thoughts behind her actions. I was bothered that she seemed so destroyed by her ‘special’ abilities and that she still hadn’t gotten over Zane. (Although, I must admit I’d take Zane over David any day!)