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Extras
by Scott Westerfeld
Even though Aya doesn't live in the Pretty Time, there are still evil forces to be reckoned with.
In the final installment of Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" series, "Extras," the focus switches from the heroine of the first the books, Tally Youngblood, to Aya Fuse. Aya lives in a different world than the world of the Pretties, thanks to Tally. Now, instead of beauty being the focus of day to day life, people in Aya's world vie for popularity. Each person in this new world has their own newsfeed where they post stories. The more people talk about them, the more popular, and consequently more powerful, a person becomes. Unfortunately, Aya is young and not very popular, but it's not for lack of trying. She always has her video camera with her, recording everything she thinks might possibly gain her fame.
So far, she hasn't had much luck, but one night she sees a group of girls mag-lev surfing a dangerous game involving the futuristic version of a train that levitates in the sky. Aya thinks she can use this story to finally become famous, but the surfers, called the Sly Girls, aren't having that. They give Aya an ultimatum. Give up her beloved video camera and join them or take the camera and leave for good. Aya chooses to pretend to give up her camera, but resolves to secretly gather enough footage to break the story. One night, when she's out with the Sly Girls, they happen across an even bigger story. Alien creatures transporting giant metal cylinders out of a secret mountain cave. When Aya realizes what this means and releases the story, she instantly becomes famous. She also receives a ping, or message, from the one and only Tally Youngblood herself. Tally picks up Aya and her friends and the girls set off to save the world yet again.
While readers might initially be dismayed to discover that Tally is no longer the main heroine, they will quickly take to Aya and become engrossed in her unusual story. This novel is set in Japan and the eastern atmosphere adds an extra level of mystique to the already enigmatic story. Westerfeld creates a whole new world while still making it believable as the natural extension of the world he created in the first 3 novels. He also creates a natural link to the first books in the series by introducing Tally as the established superhero who has come to save Aya's world.
Readers will eagerly devour the book, anxious to solve the mystery of the aliens and their mysterious mountain cave. The suspense and action are intense, causing readers' hearts to pound and adrenaline to rush through their veins. Westerfeld's new heroine will charm readers and leading man Frizz will win their hearts, while his physical inability to tell a lie will both entertain readers and complicate the plot. The final installment of the Uglies saga is thoroughly unique and will capture readers' imaginations from the very first page.
Title: Extras
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
ISBN: 9781416971214
Review written by: Casey Blackwell
Reviewer's Rating:9
Reader's Rating: 0
Reader's Votes: 0
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