Mini Review: Uglies: Cutters (Uglies Graphic Novel #2) by Scott Westerfeld
Title: Uglies: CuttersAuthor: Scott Westerfeld, Devin Grayson, Steven Cummings
Series: Uglies Graphic Novel #2
Publisher: Del Rey, an imprint of Random House, Inc.
Publication Date: December 4, 2012
Pages: 165
Format/Source: Paperback/Purchased
The second novel in the Uglies Manga series, featuring Shay’s point of view and set in the world of Uglies.
Experience the riveting, dystopian Uglies series seen as never before—through the eyes of Shay, Tally Youngblood’s closest and bravest friend, who refuses to take anything about society at face value.
“From the moment we are born, we are considered threats in need of ‘special’ management. We are watched and shaped and exploited by a force most of us never see. . . . All to keep us safe. . . . Do you feel safe?! Or do you feel like you’re in a cage?”—Shay
In Pretties, Tally Youngblood and her daring best friend, Shay, both underwent the operation that turned them from ordinary Uglies into stunning beauties. Now this thrilling new graphic novel reveals Shay’s perspective on living in New Pretty Town . . . and the way she sees it, there’s more to this so-called paradise than meets the eye.
With the endless parties and custom-made clothes, life as a Pretty should be perfect. Yet Shay doesn’t feel quite right. She has little to no memory of her past; it’s as if something in her brain has inexplicably changed. When she reunites with Tally and the Crims—her rebellious group of friends from Uglyville—she begins to recall their last departure to the wild, and the headstrong leader she used to be. And as she remembers the truth about what doomed their escape, Shay decides to fight back—against the status quo, against the mysterious Special Circumstances, even against her own best friend. (Cover and synopsis from Goodreads)
This is the second book in a series, and actually it’s the graphic novel adaptation of Pretties, which is the second book in the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, as told from Shay’s point of view instead of Tally’s. So since it’s a sequel, and since I flew through this book without writing many notes, I’m going to go ahead and just write a mini review, highlighting the things I liked and the things I didn’t like.
What I Liked:
- The artwork. So fantastic. Steven Cummings has created a beautiful Shay, and I think she’s much more beautiful than Tally, who’s the one everyone is attracted to in the original series. And the world is just so much like I pictured it in my head, plus so much more.
- The ice rink scene. This was one of my favorite scenes in Pretties and I was so happy to find it here.
- Dr. Cable. She’s not exactly how I pictured her, but she looks great, and her power and crazy personality just leap right off the page.
- I was a bit confused in this one, simply because I think I remembered Pretties the least of all the other books. So it took me a bit to remember what was going on in the original story at this point, and I still don’t feel like I really know what Tally was doing in the meantime. But then again, that could just be my bad memory.
- The cutting. I know that’s a big part of this story, but it’s the one thing I’m uncomfortable with in this series. I know Scott Westerfeld is not promoting cutting when he makes his characters cut themselves to remain aware of what is happening to them, but I still just don’t like it.
- The little parts about Shay being a Ranger and Tally being a Princess. I really don’t know how to describe these parts so if you haven’t read it, I apologize. But I really don’t know how I feel about them. I think the artwork was beautiful in these parts, but I don’t know if they’re supposed to be Shay’s thoughts or what, and I’m not really sure they added much to the story.
My review of Uglies: Shay’s Story (Uglies Graphic Novel #1) by Scott Westerfeld
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Brandi Kosiner
May 9, 2013 at 9:04 pmGlad you enjoyed for the most part and the artwork is good. I am just not into graphic novels, but I do like seeing books I have enjoyed put into other formats for others to love.