Uglies

According to the futuristic society in Uglies, what does it mean to be beautiful? How do the Smokies view beauty? Over the course of the novel, how does beauty go from being something desirable to being something frightening? How does the city use beauty to enforce regulations? How do these details support the themes that Beauty Isn’t Everything and The Importance of Knowledge?

Teaching Suggestion:  This may be an appropriate time to recall the earlier lesson about dystopias and utopias. As a class, students might note characteristics that Westerfeld’s world shares with either dystopias or utopias and use this as a reference point in discussing the questions above.

Differentiation Suggestion:  For English Language Learners or students who struggle with oral instruction/discussion, provide a Venn Diagram with the city on one side and Smoke on the other. Ask students to fill this out, finding similarities and differences. Invite students to examine how the characteristics of each group are utopian or dystopian.