Extras by Scott Westerfeld

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Pages: 417
Genre: Young Adult
Series: Uglies Trilogy (Book 4 out of 4)
Publication Date: 2007

Synopsis (From Inside Cover):

It's a few years after rebel Tally Youngblood took down the uglies/pretties/specials regime. Without those strict roles and rules, the world is in a complete cultural renaissance. "Tech-heads" flaunt their latest gadgets, "kickers" spread gossip and trends, and "surge monkeys" are hooked on extreme plastic surgery. And it's all monitored on a bazillion different cameras. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Who ever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.

As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rand of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. Her only chance to escape extra-land is to find a big story to kick - something wild and unexpected.

Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. But the Sly Girls are hiding something bigger - an explosive discovery that may change the face of the brave new world forever. If Aya kicks this story, she'll be propelled into the world of fame, celebrity... and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for.

Review:

This is the last book in the Uglies Trilogy. While the other three books dealt with Tally Youngblood and her fight to save the world from "bubbleheadness", this book deals with the aftermath. As the description states the main character in this book is Aya, a fifteen year old year. And just like Tally, Aya is bored and waiting to be able to get her surgery. Just like the other books, the idleness, boredom and need to belong propelled the teen into an adventure (except replace Tally with Aya).

I think that I should first start off by saying that this is my most favorite book in the "trilogy". Westerfeld uses the same formula as before but I think the cast of character introduced in this installment were more well rounded and thought out. I like Aya a little more than I like Tally. I think that was because she was a little more independent. While she did follow the larger crowd, she wasn't somebodies sidekick (I think Tally was more like Shay's sidekick). I also think that the other more minor character were more three demoniacal than in the other three books.

What made me really enjoy this books was that it was that I liked the action much more than the first three. It seemed from the start that something was happening. It made the book an enjoyable fast read. I hated to put it down at some points because I wanted to see what was going to happen.

One of the main short falls was that there was no clear indication of location. At the start of the book you are made to feel that Aya is in the same "Prettytown" environment that Tally was in the first three books. But then there are little hints that contradict this. Later, in the novel you find out that Aya is actually in Japan, a completely different country than in the first books. While this might seem like a minor thing, it does mess with the story a little and is confusing. In the first books, I felt like the appearance was given that the worlds population had dwindled to the point were same groups of people were living in a set region (North America) and the rest of the world had effective been destroyed. The survivors were scattered into cities (communities) across North America and were governed by one body. That turns out not to be the case. Instead, some nations did survive and they all somehow were able to develop together (ie, share technology). But the first books gives the impression that present day technology was completed destroyed and the world had to start over. Just a little confusing, but not a major part of the story. Until language barriers come into play, when Tally and Aya meet for the first time.

Another problem that I had and this is with might be a problem in a lot of young adult books is with romantic relationships. They seem to happen so fast and become very intense in a short amount of time. Aya meets her love interest at a party. She sees him only one additional time before they have an altercation and he claims that he feels like he doesn't really know who she is. Of course, he doesn't know who she is they have only spoken twice to each other. The relationship went from 0 to 60 in two encounters (not dates, but somewhat random meetings). I don't think it is realistic.

Westerfeld, also, continued with the annoying slang usage. It is not as pronounced in this book as in the others. But it is there and nerve wracking. It also leaves the impression that Aya and Tally are from the same place and culture.

I am going to stop here. Because I am finding myself about to pick apart a book that I enjoyed overall. As I am writing this I am finding more and more flaws. And I keep forgetting that this is a "young adult" novel. And probably appears to the "tween" age group. Not old ladies in their late twenties.

Pros: Action, Characters, Plot
Cons: Romantic Relationship , Location Confusion, Slang

Overall Recommendation:

Only read if you have read the other books in the series. The background is very helpful to understand what is going on in the story. There is a little of a refresher in the novel as it progresses but not enough to make everything clear. It is also really easy, light, enjoyable fast pace read.

Challenges:
Library Challenge (14 out of 25 Books)

Series Challenge (8 out of 15 Books)

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