Episode 284: Uglies

Uglies

By popular demand, we are finally covering Scott Westerfeld's Uglies! Alli and her guests talk about the book's unique place in the broader dystopian genre, consider its lack of diversity, and analyze the many messages it sends about everything from body image and aging to beauty standards and friendship.

This week's guests are Neha and Shruti, the co-hosts of The Novel Tea podcast. They bonded over their love of books in middle school, became best friends, and have been reading together ever since. They started their podcast to diversify and deepen their reading lives and to expand what we all think of as "classics." Listen to Novel Tea wherever you find your favorite pods and follow the show on Instagram (@thenoveltea.pod).

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CHECK OUT NEHA AND SHRUTI’S BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS:

Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

MORE READING:

“Uglies” (Publishers Weekly, 2005)

“Uglies” (Kirkus, 2005)

“Uglies by Scott Westerfeld: Paradise vs. Freedom” (Lisa’s Odd Thoughts)

“Uglies - Scott Westerfeld” (Riley Reads YA, 2019)

“The Uglies Trilogy and its messy legacy” (Crow Defeats Books, 2023)

“The Match That Lit the Barrels: UGLIES, 15 Years Later” (Book Riot, 2020)

“Uglies: See what we know about Joey King’s Netflix movie” (Economic Times, 2024)

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