Uglies: Pretty Boring Summary & Analysis

Tally and Shay let the breeze carry them along as they hoverboard at the treetop level at the edge of town. From there, they can see New Pretty Town behind them as well as the greenbelt, which separates the new pretties from the older pretties in the suburbs. Shay says that Tally is ready for a night ride outside the city. Tally replies that there’s nothing out there, but Shay says there are trees, mountains, and the Rusty Ruins, which are the remains of an old city full of too many unintelligent, ugly people. Tally refuses and is shocked when Shay says she’s been before. Shay says there’s nothing out there to catch them, and it’s easy to get out of town using the river.

Shay says she’s been wanting to show Tally the ruins since Tally told her daring story of crashing the party, and Tally regrets not telling the whole truth—now, Shay seems to think she’s a daredevil. Tally suggests they wait the few months until their operations, but Shay insists that being pretty and being required to have fun is boring; this is their last chance to be themselves. Tally says that they can still do stuff like this after they “turn,” but Shay points out that pretties never do. Tally suggests that maybe this is because partying is better than tricks, but Shay thinks that people just don’t seem interested after the gruesome operation. Her description makes Tally flinch. Shay pulls off her interface ring and promises to show Tally a roller coaster.

Shay says that she wants to do something she thinks is fun, before they have to do what everyone else thinks is fun for the rest of their lives. Tally wants to tell Shay that she already feels like Tally’s best friend and that hoverboarding is the coolest thing she’s ever learned. Tally agrees to go, and Shay swoops in beside Tally to hug her.