Extras, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publish Date: 2007

ISBN: 1416951172

Page #: 432

Reading Level: Young Adult

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Series Title: Uglies Series

Uglies 
Pretties 
Specials 
Extras 

Bogus to Bubbly (Companion)

Mind-Rain (Famous Authors Talk About the Uglies Series-June 2009)

Subjects: Dystopia, Friendship, Plastic Surgery, Fame, Romance

Reader's Annotation: Extras is the unexpected 4th book in the awesome Uglies "trilogy." In another city, also affected by the "Mind-Rain" Tally Youngblood (of the first three Uglies books) induced, Aya Fuse is at the center of a fame-centric universe and all she wants to do is not be an extra.

Synopsis: Aya is a nothing. Her feed shows her fame status at a very high, high level. But high is not good. Your stats are better as you get lower because they signify your level of fame: 1 being the most famous person in the world. Any level of fame Aya has is due to her paparazzi like brother who manufactures fame in a Perez Hilton manner at the expense of others. But suddenly Aya has a chance to be outrageously famous and she plans on doing anything possible to kick her own story, even at the expense of others. But when Aya meets her new love interest and begins to find out more about her feed, things get increasingly dangerous and twisted. Is fame worth all that?

Notes: Another provocative take on a socially conscious issue, Westerfeld makes everybody reflect on the world we live in now. This story could stand alone, but I think it delivers much better having read the Uglies first. A new cast of characters leave you wondering what happened to Tally Youngblood, and when we finally find out it ends to fast. But Westerfeld is the master of topic not the master of giving you what you want, which makes me love him even more. 

Stars: 5

Extras: 

The Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/

Scott Talks Extras:

 

Fan Made Video:

Uglies, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publish Date: February 8, 2005

ISBN: 0689865384

Page #: 448

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Level: Older Teen

Subjects:

Plastic Surgery, Fitting In, Beauty, Adventure, Dystopia

Series Title: The Uglies Series: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras

Reader's Annotation: Tally Youngblood is 15 and can't wait to be pretty like her best friend Peris. While waiting to become "Pretty," she meets and befriends another another "Ugly" named Shay and together they wait to become 16 when everything we become perfect, or will it?

Synopsis: In all the books I read over the past year, this series sticks out the most. Why? Although it's simply written, the ideas are penetrating. The notion that most of us feel on display, varying degrees of ugly, and/or constantly striving to be like someone else, can not possibly be new to any of you. Today's society is obsessive with beauty and face forward. Meet Tally Youngblood, a teenage girl in a not so distant, dystopian future where everyone gets a "pretty" operation when they turn 16. They grind, shave, replace, and manipulate your body until you wake up a new, beautiful, perfect you. In the Uglies, after you complete the change, you are officially a "Pretty." You then get to move into a new world where being pretty is your new and only job. Partying, having everything you need, being popular is the perfect existence right? But, what if comes with a price? Does anyone ever NOT want to become a pretty?

Notes: Books Two and Three follow Tally and the Crims through their twisted fates against the powers that be. All three a mindful feast, but a simple, zippy read. You just can't not read these books. Cut out a day or two. It might make you re-think that rhinoplasty.

Stars: 5

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Extras: Westerfeld Heaven (Are you a bubble head?)

• The Extras, an unexpected fourth book in the series. Meet Aya and find out what her world is like post-Tally. In her world it's all about fame and nobody wants to be the "extra!"

• There is currently a guidebook called From Bogus to Bubbly available. This companion is a spoiler if you have yet to finish the series.

• Mind-Rain:Your Favorite Authors on Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Series (Paperback) DUE JUNE 1st!

• Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog

• Uglies discussion questions for your book group: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/?page_id=172

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Below are some Fan Made Youtubes that caught my attention as being rather well done! Enjoy!

Specials (Uglies Trilogy, Bk.3), By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse 
• Publishing Date: September 11, 2007
• ISBN-10: 0439025664

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Series Title: The Uglies Trilogy

Uglies

Pretties

Specials

Extras 

Subjects: beauty, dystopian society, fitting in, super-heros, body image, love

Reader's Annotation: In book three of the Uglies Trilogy Tally Youngblood returns with a special new purpose. But is this just another doomed twist in her journey for truth or is she finally on top of the game?

Synopsis: After being betrayed in a heartbreaking twist at the end of the Pretties, Tally Youngblood seems to have come out on top. The intended finale to the trilogy, Westerfeld explores the darkest nature of body image and supremacy in this final installment of the adventures of Tally Youngblood. Finally she is the one in charge, and it is clear that her skills are closer to a super hero then the ugly young girl we met in Uglies. But Tally can't let go of the past, even if everything has been rewired for her. Once again Tally follows her inner instinct to take on the powers that be and to reclaim the life that has been stolen from her. And who knows, maybe in the end, she may have some say in the way her world is run. 

Notes: Do not read this book if you haven't read the first two books. This is not a stand alone story. That being said, it is a powerful ending to the Uglies and the Pretties! The issues being raised leave great room for poignant discussion, as all Westerfeld's books do. I think the series as a whole is a strong choice (in line with Little Brother, By Doctorow) for YA in the classroom.

Stars: 5

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1, By: Alan Moore

By: Alan Moore

Illustrated By: Kevin O'Neill

Publisher: America's Best Comics; 1st edition 
Publish Date: October 1, 2002
ISBN: 1563898586
Page #:
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Graphic Novel
Age Level: Older Teen/Adult

Series Title: 

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen VOL. 1

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: VOL. 2

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Black Dossier

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 1910

Subjects: Literary References, 19th Century England, Steampunk, Graphic Novels, Superheros

Reader's Annotation: Introducing Mina Murray and Alan Quatermain and a host of other literary characters as they fight evil in the sky in 19th Century London. Alan Moore, Creator of the Watchmen and Kevin O'Neill illustrating, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen pays tribute to the league of the imagination.

Synopsis:  According to Moore the League is to start a "Justice League of Victorian England" but as his work progressed it became something more. Moore said, in relation to literary characters and the importance of imagination, that "The planet of the imagination is as old as we are. It has been humanity's constant companion with all of its fictional locations, like Mount Olympus and the gods, and since we first came down from the trees, basically. It seems very important, otherwise, we wouldn't have it." In the league of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Moore create an ode to that world. He introduces us to a cast of literary characters/heros. Meet Alan Quatermain, (the main character of H. Rider Haggard's King Solomon's Mines), Mina Murray (the heroine of Stoker's Dracula, now divorced and dishonored by her unfortunate undead adventures with the prince of darkness & now donning her independent unmarried name Murray instead of Harker), Captain Nemo (Captain Nemo from Jules Verne's novels Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island) , Henry Jekyll (and his beastly alter personality) and Hawley Griffin (the Invisible Man), and Professor James Moriarty  the nemesis of  Sherlock Holmes in the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Together they fight the Fu Manchu (threatening a potential evil in the sky as they strive to create the ultimate airship) of which London alone doesn't have the ability to protect itself from. 

Notes: Although not well received, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was made into a film in 2003.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0311429/ 

Stars: 5

Extras: Author Fan Site: http://www.alanmoorefansite.com/

Article on CENTURY: 1910 http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=20197

The Watchmen Movie Official http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/ 

(Extreme Content Warning)

Trailer for LXG movie (For a justice league theme, I don't believe the film does it "justice"):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VS10s8l-Eg

The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, Book 1), By James Patterson

By: James Patterson

Publisher: Little, Brown

Publish Date: April 11, 2005

ISBN: 031615556X

Page #: 432

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction, Fantasy

Age Level: Teen

Series Titles: Maximum Ride

• The Angel Experiment
• School's Out - Forever
• Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports
• The Final Warning
• MAX: A Maximum Ride Novel

Subjects: Thriller, Adventure, Mutants

Reader's Annotation: A group of kids who are the product of genetic mutation have to rescue one of their winged "family" memebers from another group of mutants called erasers.

Synopsis: Maximum Ride (or Max as her mutant family calls her) is one of a small group of kids that survived and escaped an ongoing lab experiment that leaves them into 98% human and 2% bird. They range from child to teen, and though not actually related, live as a family of mutants. Along with wings they have other special gifts that come with the 2% avian DNA that was forced upon them. The thriller starts of fast and thrilling as the youngest of the flock is stolen back to the lab by another cross-mutated group called the erasers. The erasers are designed to hunt and kill with wolf and human DNA. After the youngest is taken Max and her family set out to confront their makers, their prison, and the dreaded erasers. The Angel Experiment is the beginning of the popular series which kids, teens, and adults alike rave about. Patterson creates a world in the tradition of the X-Men that is sure to hook you in from beginning to end. This is a series that gives the imagination "wings."

Notes:  The audio book of The Angel Experiment is read by Evan Rachel Wood. Having read the book and heard the audio which is exceptionally performed, I can say that either is recommended. Great to listen to as a family since its benign nature is ok for the younger kids as well. However, the audio book is abridged.

Manga: The series has been adapted into Manga (official website link): http://www.max-dan-wiz.com/page/excerpts-maximum-ride-manga

Stars: 5

Extras: Series Website: http://www.maximum-x.com/page/max-a-maximum-ride-novel

This just in! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0825283/ 

'Twilight' director Catherine Hardwicke may direct 'Maximum Ride'

Categories: Books, Film, Twilight Three months after Summit Entertainment announced that Catherine Hardwicke will not be filming the Twilight sequel, the director is in talks to helm an adaptation of another young-adult fantasy series, Maximum Ride. Ride is a five-volume series by perennial best-seller list chart-topper James Patterson that follows six genetically altered teenagers known as "the Flock." (The teens are half human, half bird). According to The Hollywood Reporter, Patterson will executive produce the film while screenwriter Don Payne is signed on to pen the script.

Original Unlibrarian Fan Trailer, Little Brother

Little Brother, By Cory Doctorow

The Unlibrarian has created a Book Trailer for Little Brother just for YOU! We hope it inspires you to read the book. Hands down the best read you'll have all year! Check your libraries for available copies, or visit this link:





For a direct link to Little Brother on Indie Bound Cut and Paste the link below:

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780765319852