Extras

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books

Summary: (inside flap) 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. 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: Scott Westerfeld knows how to write an exciting story with an awesome cast of characters which you get to know like. . .the back of your hand? (I lack creativity) Everytime I read his writing, Scott Westerfeld paints the scene out for me. In a story like this, you absolutely won't feel left out since the feel, the textures, everything, you are also experiencing it. He develops the characters fully in this book because to me the main character is actually normal even with all the abnormality goin' on here.

The book is in third person, which sometimes limits how personal you get to the people in the story, but his descriptions and the way Aya evolves makes it seem as though Aya herself is telling the story. Aya isn't the perfect person, but she is mostly good which is what the usual person is like. I kind of liked that this one wasn't through Tally even though she was the main character in the first three books of this series. Aya was new and I really identified with her personality 'cause the other stuff is just weird. It is a little eyebrow-raising at how good the author is at making a whole different civilization seem real. It all comes back to how detailed the story is. In a lot of books I have found that being too detailed bores the heck outta me, but this book makes everything flow together seamlessly which is good! I recommend everyone read this book and the first three in the series! (Uglies, Pretties, Specials)