Uglies

A society where people are forced to be pretty via plastic surgery? Potent metaphor, and Westerfeld really makes the most of it, presenting some even-handed reasons why such a society would come about. You know they're wrong, but at the same time you can see their point. At least, before you learn about the secrets that the surgery are meant to hide...

Of course, setting can only take you so far - you have to have a compelling character at the centre of your story, and Tally Youngblood certainly is that - she's faced with some tough choices throughout the book, and despite a couple of missteps she does make the right decisions, no matter how tough it is for her to make them.

The only thing holding this book back from a higher rating? The ending. I really don't like it when books end in massive cliffhangers, especially when it's the first book in a series.