Uglies: Burning Bridges Summary & Analysis

Tally, David, Maddy, and Az stay up late talking about the Smoke. Finally, Tally asks how Az and Maddy changed back into uglies. Az explains that pretties’ faces are sculpted with “smart plastic,” and how by using a pill made from a chemical that softens the plastic, they were able to make the plastic in their bodies dissolve. The pretties still have all the non-cosmetic benefits of the operation, like good teeth and perfect vision. Tally asks Maddy and Az why they felt the need to be ugly, since they were doctors and didn’t have the brain lesions. Maddy answers that they wanted to form a community of people without lesions, so they needed to look trustworthy. Tally asks if they made a pill to cure the lesions, but Maddy says that Special Circumstances stepped in before they figured anything out. They know there’s a cure, though, because pretties with challenging jobs don’t have the lesions.

When Tally asks if Maddy and Az realized they were changing when they became doctors, Maddy shares that it felt more like growing up. Az notes that it seemed like their colleagues were different, but historically speaking, most people are “sheep” and so pretties with lesions really aren’t too different from the Rusties—they’re just more manageable. Tally remembers how Sol and Ellie seem simultaneously sure and clueless, just like how parents are supposed to be. She also thinks that new pretties are supposed to be shallow and self-centered, and she remembers that Peris once mocked the new pretties but he wasted no time joining them. Tally realizes that the only way to figure out how much the operation really does is to create a new world, like the Smoke.

Tally wonders if the lesions or the pretty operation came first. Then, David and Tally leave Maddy and Az’s house. As David and Tally hike, David says he couldn’t stand Tally returning to the city without knowing the truth. He says that some uglies return without knowing what it all means. When Tally seems surprised by this, David says that if they tell people the truth about the pretty surgery, the cities will find out and try harder to discover the Smoke. Tally wonders how many other people Special Circumstances have blackmailed into infiltrating the Smoke. She wants to tell David the truth, but she can’t figure out how and doesn’t feel brave enough. David compliments Tally on how well she did with the information and how seriously she takes the Smoke. This, he says, is what makes Tally beautiful.

Tally is shocked and lists all of her facial features that are ugly. David runs his finger over her cheek, and even though the finger is callused, it feels soft. He says the worst thing the cities do is convince people they’re ugly. Tally points out that everyone’s ugly, but won’t say if she thinks David is. She begins to talk about the science of beauty, but she asks if David really thinks she’s beautiful, more beautiful than Shay. Quietly, David admits that he does. Tally feels awful and thinks of growing up in a culture where all uglies insult each other because everyone is equally ugly. This doesn’t feel fair. Tally and David argue over whether beauty is cultural or evolutionary, and then David surprises Tally by saying he was attracted to her initially because of the scratches on her face— these imperfections signaled to him that Tally had a good story to tell.

Tally steps up on a stone so she’s at David’s eye level, asks again if he thinks she’s beautiful, and then surprises herself by saying that she’d be sad if they did the operation on him. They kiss, and though kisses between uglies normally don’t count, this feels real to Tally. David touches Tally’s pendant and Tally pulls away, sure of what to do. She leads him back to the Smoke, feeling warm and sure, and throws the pendant into the fire. Tally assures David that no one’s coming for her. She knows that she’ll have to face Shay tomorrow, but she feels free knowing that Dr. Cable won’t ruin the Smoke. Crying, Tally walks to her bunkhouse. David kisses her and says he’s going for a walk. Tally falls asleep instantly and awakes to screams: Special Circumstances is in the Smoke.