Uglies by Scott Westerfield

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. In just a few weeks she'll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunning pretty. And as a pretty, she'll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.
But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world-- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally's choice will change her world forever..

This book is WOW! It has so many themes in it!  Ultimately this novel is a coming of age story, but set in the future. Young adults are always obsessed with how they look on the outside, in this book Westerfield forces his protagonist to deal with hard decisions beyond hair style and what party to go to. She had to make choices that impacted not only the rest of her life, but the lives of others. Reality check, I think so. Some of the writing was simplistic, but this book was for a younger audience. Overall I enjoyed the world building and the character development in this novel. 

4 out of 5 stars for Uglies
4 out of 5 stars for the audio performance 

Zeroes by Scott Westerfield, Margo Langan, and Deborah Biancotti

Don't call them heroes, but each of these 6 teens has a power that ordinary people just do not have. That sets them apart, but it can also get them into a lot of dangerous situations because every power has its price.

I found this book interesting. It mixed up the normal Young Adult writing, none of the normal powers here. These kids have powers you have probably never even considered before. Originality meets creativity! What a way to write a book! Whats more these kids have no big plans, they are just there for each other. No get rich schemes, no world domination, they just want to learn more about themselves and be there for each other in the process. Isn't that what we all want? To know ourselves and friends to be with us along this  journey called life. Excellent writing and world building. Awesome, Terrific, Fantastic,  character development.  Great book, and there is a sequel.

I give Zeroes 5 out of 5 stars
I give the audio contend 4 out of 5 stars