Extras (Uglies, #4) by Scott Westerfeld

Title: Extras
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Published: October 2007
Pages: 417
ISBN: 9781416951179
Source: Library

Description: 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. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes. Popularity rules.
As if being fifteen doesn't suck enough, Aya Fuse's rank of 451,369 is so low, she's a total nobody. An extra. But that's just until she gets to kick a good story for herself.
Then Aya meets a clique of girls who pull crazy tricks, yet are deeply secretive of it. Aya wants desperately to kick their story, to show everyone how intensely cool the Sly Girls are. But doing so would propel her out of extra-land and into the world of fame, celebrity...and extreme danger. A world she's not prepared for.

I Give This Book 4 Stars!

I wasn't sure of an add on book to a trilogy.  Especially when I didn't think the third books was all that great.  But, the included chapter at the end of Specials had me intrigued.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I ended up liking this way more than the last.  Aya was a refreshing change from Tally.  I even understood her desire to be famous.  But, along the way she found what was important and the fame was just a side effect.  I also enjoyed having Tally included in the story as a side character.  It was interesting to see how she's still struggling with herself.  I wasn't expecting the ending to go the way it did.  But, now the story can end and I don't think there is much to continue on from.

Specials (Uglies #3) by Scott Westerfeld

 

Title: Specials
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Published: April 2006 by Simon Pulse
Pages: 372
ISBN: 9780689865404 

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. 

I Give This Book 3.5 Stars! 

I've really enjoyed this series so far.  But, something happened with Specials.  The story felt very thrown together at times.  The time line was strange.  Sometimes a chapter would cover hours and other times it would cover weeks.  It lacked the intensity the first two books had.  The characters didn't feel the same, and at times it felt like the didn't behave the same as they would have previously.  I didn't really get the ending either.  Very disappointing to a series I was really enjoying.  I will read Extras, but only because it's the last one and I don't want to be left hanging.