This week I finished Uglies. I think that it was a very predictable and unpredictable ending. It was predictable like when Tally becomes pretty in the very end. It was unpredictable when Shay becomes pretty, because Shay ran away because she didn't want to become pretty. I really liked the book, and I would definitely recommend this book to someone, or recommend it to a teacher for next years summer reading list, because it helps kids get a great idea on what middle school will be like.

Scott Westerfeld's discussion questions

Jack, here's the link to the author's 10 discussion questions:

http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/books/uglies/uglies-discussion-questions/

I'm interested to see which one you pick! -Tegan

This week I read through page 339. In this part of the book, Tally

went into the smoke to try to find Shay and turn her in. In the smoke, Tally met David. Shay got mad at Tally when she activated the locket. then Tally hid the locket, and was ordered to go get it. But instead of getting the locket, Tally stole and escaped on a hoverboard.

This week I read to page 186 in Uglies by Scott Westerfeld. The book so far was very exciting. Tally's friend Shay ran away, and the doctors told Tally that if she didn't go look for Shay then she would never become pretty. So then Tally went to find Shay. Shay is in a place called "The Smoke", and Tally is looking for her. I think it was a little greedy for Tally to go find Shay on Tally's part because then she is betraying Shay to get something she wants. I was left in the same situation one time. I had to sacrifice one friendship to do the right thing. but in the end, I think that Tally and Shay will be friends again, like me and my friend.

Started Uglies

Jack-- feel free to edit this post so it is in your own words! I wanted to make sure we don't lose what you told me about your reading, so I am posting what we discussed.

You read Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" through page 84. So far, you're really liking the book. We have met main characters Tally and Shay, and we have determined that the book is set in the future (at least 100 years in the future, according to the time clue on page 13).

Last week, I asked you to pay particular attention to page 42 and the chapter "Facing the Future." You made the connection to the special effects photos you took using the photo booth on your computer. In the book, Tally and Shay use a mirror special effect to create a perfectly symmetrical face for Shay. This perfect symmetry is part of what makes all the post-operation pretties so "pretty." Tally and Shay's experimentation with technology kind of worked like yours did-- but Tally was using it to see what Shay might actually look like after the operation. I think it's a relief that there are no cyclops Jack, big-eyed Jack, perfectly symmetrical Jack, or conjoined twin Jacks in our future! -Tegan

This week read he first 84 pages of Uglies. I am really enjoying it. So far, my favorite part of the book was when Tally and Shay were trying on their pretty faces using a mirror. I was taking pictures of myself like that on my computer the other day and I turned on the mirror effect so I looked like the people in the book.

This week I finished Where the Red Fern Grows. The last couple of chapters are very sad and suspenseful. Billy and his dogs made a very big accomplishment, but in the end it was very sad, but I would still recommend it.