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Dark Fusion #3
Duckling Ugly
Cara is so ugly, mirrors would rather break than show her reflection. Not even her own parents can deny her ugliness, and nothing can make up for the cruelty of her schoolmates. Tormented and tortured by the shallow people of Flock’s Rest, Cara’s life is miserable. Then Cara receives a shimmering note from some exotic place suggesting that there’s more to her than meets the eye. Cara wonders if her destiny has something to do with her recurring dreams of a beautiful green valley where the people are so accepting, her ugliness doesn’t matter. Soon, Cara discovers that her valley of dreams is real. It’s a place where the ugliest of ducklings can become swans. A swan, however, can have a serious taste for revenge . . . deadly revenge.
211 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 2, 2006
9 people are currently reading
921 people want to read
About the author
Neal Shusterman
93 books30.3k followersAward-winning author Neal Shusterman grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where he began writing at an early age. After spending his junior and senior years of high school at the American School of Mexico City, Neal went on to UC Irvine, where he made his mark on the UCI swim team, and wrote a successful humor column. Within a year of graduating, he had his first book deal, and was hired to write a movie script.
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
In the years since, Neal has made his mark as a successful novelist, screenwriter, and television writer. As a full-time writer, he claims to be his own hardest task-master, always at work creating new stories to tell. His books have received many awards from organizations such as the International Reading Association, and the American Library Association, as well as garnering a myriad of state and local awards across the country. Neal's talents range from film directing (two short films he directed won him the coveted CINE Golden Eagle Awards) to writing music and stage plays – including book and lyrical contributions to “American Twistory,” which is currently playing in Boston. He has even tried his hand at creating Games, having developed three successful "How to Host a Mystery" game for teens, as well as seven "How to Host a Murder" games.
As a screen and TV writer, Neal has written for the "Goosebumps" and “Animorphs” TV series, and wrote the Disney Channel Original Movie “Pixel Perfect”. Currently Neal is adapting his novel Everlost as a feature film for Universal Studios.
Wherever Neal goes, he quickly earns a reputation as a storyteller and dynamic speaker. Much of his fiction is traceable back to stories he tells to large audiences of children and teenagers -- such as his novel The Eyes of Kid Midas. As a speaker, Neal is in constant demand at schools and conferences. Degrees in both psychology and drama give Neal a unique approach to writing. Neal's novels always deal with topics that appeal to adults as well as teens, weaving true-to-life characters into sensitive and riveting issues, and binding it all together with a unique and entertaining sense of humor.
Of Everlost, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman has reimagined what happens after death and questions power and the meaning of charity. While all this is going on, he has also managed to write a rip-roaring adventure…”
Of What Daddy Did, Voice of Youth Advocates wrote; "This is a compelling, spell-binding story... A stunning novel, impossible to put down once begun.
Of The Schwa Was Here, School Library Journal wrote: “Shusterman's characters–reminiscent of those crafted by E. L. Konigsburg and Jerry Spinelli–are infused with the kind of controlled, precocious improbability that magically vivifies the finest children's classics.
Of Scorpion Shards, Publisher's Weekly wrote: "Shusterman takes an outlandish comic-book concept, and, through the sheer audacity and breadth of his imagination makes it stunningly believable. A spellbinder."
And of The Eyes of Kid Midas, The Midwest Book Review wrote "This wins our vote as one of the best young-adult titles of the year" and was called "Inspired and hypnotically readable" by School Library Journal.
Neal Shusterman lives in Southern California with his children Brendan, Jarrod, Joelle, and Erin, who are a constant source of inspiration!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
September 8, 2015
"They say when you cry for the dead, you're really crying for yourself, and maybe partly I was."
It's difficult for me to review a book from my all-time favorite author that was Neal Shusterman since I'm worried it will came out biased or something. Or the worse is, I won't give enough justice to convince someone that this is a good book.
Anyway, it is my review so Imma do what I want. Hahaha.
Duckling Ugly is the last book in the Dark Fusion series of Shusterman. It's a no-brainer where this book has been based. It is a retelling of Ugly Duckling. Surprise! Ha! To be honest, I didn't remember now what's the story of Ugly Duckling so I can't assessed if this is a good retelling. All I know is I enjoyed reading Duckling Ugly not because it was written by Shusterman but because it was totally enjoyable and engaging, thanks to Shusterman. Lol.
Did you just say predictable? Oh yes, it was predictable. You and I know that when a character is ugly at first, you and I do assume he/she will be beautiful in the end. And that is correct in this book. 10 points for Gryffindor. Lol. But the journey to predictable-ness of this book is worth taking. Duckling Ugly is an enchanting coming-of-age tale of an ugly teenage girl and her life struggles as an ugly person.
A tale with a mystery of its own, magical and surreal events, intriguing characters and life realizations bound together with the great writing style of the author. It had a taste of revenge because that was a default in this kind of story and of course, the consequences after the revenge has been fulfilled. The important thing, however, is I learned. Along the way. And after reading the book. I savored what is there to savor and thought about things that needed to be thought about.
If the orange is the new black; in Duckling Ugly, beautiful is the new ugly.
April 18, 2022
This novel was amazing, but easily the most disturbing in the series, the cruelty... it was a lot. The book had a lot of potential for a 5 stars read. One thing though, I hated the ending, leaves you feeling hopeless.
November 1, 2020
It's official: I have become a total Neal Shusterman addict. If he wrote it, then I need to read it. No one offers more intense, surprising mystery in his or her books than Neal Shusterman; he is a brilliant plot strategist who can maintain a rising level of suspense and storyline intrigue like few other writers of modern times, and it is always a treat to watch how his mind works in the construction of a masterful and psychologically stunning new novel.
As for ranking the three Dark Fusion installments in order of quality, I'd have to put Dread Locks first, followed by this book as the second-best entry in the trilogy. The story turns on a dime and unexpected developments leap out from around every corner, but in my estimation the best thing about Duckling Ugly is the incredible richness of deeper thought that it reveals, touching on all corners of the human experience to create a story to which anyone will be able to relate. Neal Shusterman does a marvelous job of delving into our thoughts, and the thoughts of society as a whole, about what beauty really is, and how our views on it always carry the potential for massive shift as relates to the prism through which we collectively view such matters. What does beauty, and agelessness, and physical perfection actually mean? Is it not reaching for that which will elevate us higher than the endless sea of other human beings also looking for attention? Isn't it our way of finding personal significance amidst the mundaneness of the everyday world, so that we, and the people we know or want to know, will see us as special? Yet, what if the paradigm of beauty and perfection were to shift, and the traits considered now to be indicative of exceptional beauty were to lose value? Would not the entire idea of beauty change like an unstable stock market, raising up new attributes as being desirable to replace the old? At heart, Neal Shusterman is a philosopher of the highest order, and he really spins one's head around in this book. if you always keep an open mind when beginning to read, then you might want to buckle up before cracking the binding on Duckling Ugly.
"Fairytale ugliness", so to speak, is often different from ugliness in real life. For instance, how many times in recorded history has a mirror actually broken because it was presented with a disturbingly marred face that it couldn't even bring itself to reflect? Cara De Fido is exactly that kind of "fairytale ugly", though. She has never seen her image in a mirror, having observed her reflection only for brief moments in the still water of lakes and streams; even then, the water becomes cloudy within seconds, as if rebelling against the ghastly image that nature would force it to show. Cara was never in any kind of an accident, and she wasn't damaged during gestation or birth. She's just...ugly, with no more explanation available than that. And, as the opening sections of the book state, nothing is considered more unforgivable on society's most visceral level than ugliness. A homely person might be able to get by on practiced charm or sheer intelligence, but Cara is far beyond homely, and no combination of talent and wit could ever lift her out of the deficit caused by her external appearance.
Life at school is interminably rough, and Cara has little idea of the fact that she's on the verge of an enormous discovery. It's a secret that could blow all preconceived notions of beauty sky high, a secret that could change Cara forever even before she knows she's a candidate for such dramatic transformation. In the real world it may not be true that all ugly ducklings get their chance to become a swan, but for the girl whose face can shatter mirrors, that chance has really, finally come. All she has to do is take it.
There's much more to the secrets that Cara is catching onto than meets the eye; some grand mysteries are about to be solved, and the answers to Cara's questions will yield at least a few major surprises. Honestly, I was more caught off-guard by the revelations in Duckling Ugly than in most of Neal Shusterman's other novels. He designed some twists that I wouldn't have guessed in a hundred years, yet the clues are all there ahead of time and could conceivably be surmised. Leave it to Neal Shusterman to really rock our world with information that's been under our noses the whole time.
While I might not rate this book up there with the greatest masterpieces that Neal Shusterman has authored, it certainly is an extraordinary novel that shows all the earmarks of the unique and powerful Shusterman style. If Duckling Ugly were solely a suspense story with little deeper value, it would still be very much worth taking the time to read. However, there's so much more than just suspense to be found in these pages. This book reaches into the human heart and mind and comes back with both the repulsive and the quintessentially lovely in hand, offering a balanced philosophical interpretation of the good and bad sides of how human beings treat each other. Duckling Ugly isn't the type of book that one dismisses easily after reading; there's a lot of fuel for further thought here, and it will likely keep the engine of the reader's mind stoked red-hot for a long while. As ever is the case, Neal Shusterman has not disappointed, and I am better off for having read this book.
As for ranking the three Dark Fusion installments in order of quality, I'd have to put Dread Locks first, followed by this book as the second-best entry in the trilogy. The story turns on a dime and unexpected developments leap out from around every corner, but in my estimation the best thing about Duckling Ugly is the incredible richness of deeper thought that it reveals, touching on all corners of the human experience to create a story to which anyone will be able to relate. Neal Shusterman does a marvelous job of delving into our thoughts, and the thoughts of society as a whole, about what beauty really is, and how our views on it always carry the potential for massive shift as relates to the prism through which we collectively view such matters. What does beauty, and agelessness, and physical perfection actually mean? Is it not reaching for that which will elevate us higher than the endless sea of other human beings also looking for attention? Isn't it our way of finding personal significance amidst the mundaneness of the everyday world, so that we, and the people we know or want to know, will see us as special? Yet, what if the paradigm of beauty and perfection were to shift, and the traits considered now to be indicative of exceptional beauty were to lose value? Would not the entire idea of beauty change like an unstable stock market, raising up new attributes as being desirable to replace the old? At heart, Neal Shusterman is a philosopher of the highest order, and he really spins one's head around in this book. if you always keep an open mind when beginning to read, then you might want to buckle up before cracking the binding on Duckling Ugly.
"Fairytale ugliness", so to speak, is often different from ugliness in real life. For instance, how many times in recorded history has a mirror actually broken because it was presented with a disturbingly marred face that it couldn't even bring itself to reflect? Cara De Fido is exactly that kind of "fairytale ugly", though. She has never seen her image in a mirror, having observed her reflection only for brief moments in the still water of lakes and streams; even then, the water becomes cloudy within seconds, as if rebelling against the ghastly image that nature would force it to show. Cara was never in any kind of an accident, and she wasn't damaged during gestation or birth. She's just...ugly, with no more explanation available than that. And, as the opening sections of the book state, nothing is considered more unforgivable on society's most visceral level than ugliness. A homely person might be able to get by on practiced charm or sheer intelligence, but Cara is far beyond homely, and no combination of talent and wit could ever lift her out of the deficit caused by her external appearance.
Life at school is interminably rough, and Cara has little idea of the fact that she's on the verge of an enormous discovery. It's a secret that could blow all preconceived notions of beauty sky high, a secret that could change Cara forever even before she knows she's a candidate for such dramatic transformation. In the real world it may not be true that all ugly ducklings get their chance to become a swan, but for the girl whose face can shatter mirrors, that chance has really, finally come. All she has to do is take it.
There's much more to the secrets that Cara is catching onto than meets the eye; some grand mysteries are about to be solved, and the answers to Cara's questions will yield at least a few major surprises. Honestly, I was more caught off-guard by the revelations in Duckling Ugly than in most of Neal Shusterman's other novels. He designed some twists that I wouldn't have guessed in a hundred years, yet the clues are all there ahead of time and could conceivably be surmised. Leave it to Neal Shusterman to really rock our world with information that's been under our noses the whole time.
While I might not rate this book up there with the greatest masterpieces that Neal Shusterman has authored, it certainly is an extraordinary novel that shows all the earmarks of the unique and powerful Shusterman style. If Duckling Ugly were solely a suspense story with little deeper value, it would still be very much worth taking the time to read. However, there's so much more than just suspense to be found in these pages. This book reaches into the human heart and mind and comes back with both the repulsive and the quintessentially lovely in hand, offering a balanced philosophical interpretation of the good and bad sides of how human beings treat each other. Duckling Ugly isn't the type of book that one dismisses easily after reading; there's a lot of fuel for further thought here, and it will likely keep the engine of the reader's mind stoked red-hot for a long while. As ever is the case, Neal Shusterman has not disappointed, and I am better off for having read this book.
January 10, 2020
I read this book in one sitting. I very much enjoy Shusterman's work and this was no exception. This one left me feeling queasy but captivatingly so.
February 3, 2012
Well... Duckling Ugly... Not bad, not great, just somewhere in the middle for me. Of course, and I think, if you've been reading my reviews, you know I give the opinions of my students. So, this book started out great and when I talked about it to my students it got to the point where they pushed me to keep going - they didn't just want to know what happened, they NEEDED to know.
The book is about an incredibly unattractive girl, and I mean REALLY ugly - so ugly, she aint got no alibi. The story forces the reader to endure the torture that the main character goes through at the hands of her teen peers. Very well done, and to me, right on target for how nasty kids can be at times.
Now you're asking, why is the story only in the middle? Easy, once the reader gets so far into the book it feels like the brakes were slammed down and you're forced to walk through cement. Won't tell you why I feel this way, read it, then let me know what you thought.
As for the other opinions, many of my students loved when I talked about the part that I felt dragged. The ending... no spoiler here, but for Shusterman, well, a little too cliche.
This book will either have you begging for more or, like me, saying "I read it. Not bad. Not Shusterman's best."
The book is about an incredibly unattractive girl, and I mean REALLY ugly - so ugly, she aint got no alibi. The story forces the reader to endure the torture that the main character goes through at the hands of her teen peers. Very well done, and to me, right on target for how nasty kids can be at times.
Now you're asking, why is the story only in the middle? Easy, once the reader gets so far into the book it feels like the brakes were slammed down and you're forced to walk through cement. Won't tell you why I feel this way, read it, then let me know what you thought.
As for the other opinions, many of my students loved when I talked about the part that I felt dragged. The ending... no spoiler here, but for Shusterman, well, a little too cliche.
This book will either have you begging for more or, like me, saying "I read it. Not bad. Not Shusterman's best."
May 11, 2011
I was incredibly disappointed in this. I thought the story had so much potential and there were definitely things I would have changed. First of all, it seemed hastily written. Everything just happened too quickly and I didn't feel there was much resolution for anything. Although I commend him on trying to put a different spin on a classic story without it being too predictable or trite, I didn't like what he did with it. I thought the cruelty was over the top. Not even the nice people were willing to spare her from being told to her face that she's the ugliest person alive. It was almost too much. And, going back to the resolution, it did not redeem itself. This was more like a Goosebumps book. After reading the masterpiece that is "Unwind," I definitely expected more.
January 29, 2018
This series is begging for fresh covers and a grand rerelease. There's such a wave of fairytale retellings making the rounds in YA right now, and these offer a sharply insightful modern day variation with more chilling horror than sparkly princesses which seems like it'd be fresh and well received. They're pretty short reads, borderline novella, so maybe that's holding them back a little (and yeah, those covers *shudder*) but the human, social, and cultural insight explored through a sort of twisted magical frame is spot on.
This one picks up on the ugly duckling primarily, with a dark hook centered around the idea of beauty - or ugliness - being skin deep vs. all the way through, and drawing from or contributing to its surroundings. Not to get too spoilery, but it almost heads into YA paranormal territory; not quite vampires, but shades-of. Murder and abuse and Carrie-like bullying abound in a depressed smalltown (southern?) America setting.
This one picks up on the ugly duckling primarily, with a dark hook centered around the idea of beauty - or ugliness - being skin deep vs. all the way through, and drawing from or contributing to its surroundings. Not to get too spoilery, but it almost heads into YA paranormal territory; not quite vampires, but shades-of. Murder and abuse and Carrie-like bullying abound in a depressed smalltown (southern?) America setting.
April 16, 2017
2017 Book Challenge. Book with a character with my first name
November 12, 2019
Well, I have some very...conflicting emotions about this novel. I want to make it clear that despite my gripes, this was a great story, easily the most disturbing book in the Dark Fusion trilogy, and I sincerely doubt I will be able to get it out of my head anytime soon. And when I mean disturbing, I mean I originally thought this series should be aimed at a middle grade demographic and this book changed my mind on that. The imagery, the trajectory of the story, the final twist, the ending, holy shit all of it was so damn DARK.
One thing I was worried about going into this trilogy was how these stories were going to connect, considering they all featured different people. Now that I've had time to think about it, I think that what connects this trilogy is the idea of karma and/or taking responsibility for your actions. The protagonists in all 3 books do horrific things and the stories all end with them having to take responsibility for their actions in painful or horrible ways. I won't say how because it would spoil the phenomenal endings for all 3 books, but karma didn't bitch slap these kids, she hit them with a FUCKING TRUCK.
That being said, I don't have a lot to say with Duckling Ugly because I'm worried I'll spoil too much of it, so here's how I feel. I think Cara was the perfect protagonist for this particular story, and her transformation throughout the novel was well thought out and executed splendidly. I felt that the storytelling was a little disjointed and the story didn't flow as well as it could have, but the pacing was still spot-on so I can forgive that. I liked the inclusion of spells/spelling and thought that was a neat way to tie everything together, even if it's never really explained. I didn't think the bullying was too over the top, at least not for this kind of story, but I didn't feel like most of the characters outside of Cara and maybe Miss Leticia had any depth. Maybe that was intended, I'm not sure, but it did bother me a bit.
Overall, this was a great ending to a good series. I wouldn't say that this is my favorite series Shusterman has done and I can tell this is one of his earlier works, but it was still entertaining and a quick read. I do recommend this series, just make sure you're prepared for some disturbing shit.
One thing I was worried about going into this trilogy was how these stories were going to connect, considering they all featured different people. Now that I've had time to think about it, I think that what connects this trilogy is the idea of karma and/or taking responsibility for your actions. The protagonists in all 3 books do horrific things and the stories all end with them having to take responsibility for their actions in painful or horrible ways. I won't say how because it would spoil the phenomenal endings for all 3 books, but karma didn't bitch slap these kids, she hit them with a FUCKING TRUCK.
That being said, I don't have a lot to say with Duckling Ugly because I'm worried I'll spoil too much of it, so here's how I feel. I think Cara was the perfect protagonist for this particular story, and her transformation throughout the novel was well thought out and executed splendidly. I felt that the storytelling was a little disjointed and the story didn't flow as well as it could have, but the pacing was still spot-on so I can forgive that. I liked the inclusion of spells/spelling and thought that was a neat way to tie everything together, even if it's never really explained. I didn't think the bullying was too over the top, at least not for this kind of story, but I didn't feel like most of the characters outside of Cara and maybe Miss Leticia had any depth. Maybe that was intended, I'm not sure, but it did bother me a bit.
Overall, this was a great ending to a good series. I wouldn't say that this is my favorite series Shusterman has done and I can tell this is one of his earlier works, but it was still entertaining and a quick read. I do recommend this series, just make sure you're prepared for some disturbing shit.
May 5, 2010
It was a pretty cool read. Not as brilliant and stunning as Unwind but still worth the props. It was quite impressive how dynamic the main character(Cara),you will laugh with her and feel for her at the beginning but towards the end, you will start to hate her. I just find the ending of this book a little unsatisfying. I am now thinking that Neal Shusterman has a thing for open-ended stories. I don't know if its just me though, cause I kinda rushed reading the last parts because I am really excited to read my next book.
And it just unsettles me that one of Cara's love interest is named Aaron. There are cheese lines like "Most of all, I got Aaron...", "My feelings for Aaron is now beyond gratitude and sympathy", etc. I know I am just being narcissistic again, but having a character in a book that shares your name made me feel different(in a weird way) from TV characters(Criminal Minds, Lost, The Fallen). And the crazier thing is, Cara's other love interest is named Gerardo(the name of my boss), and there is this line that really cracked me up: "Gerardo is a flyspeck compared to Aaron.". Waddup!
And it just unsettles me that one of Cara's love interest is named Aaron. There are cheese lines like "Most of all, I got Aaron...", "My feelings for Aaron is now beyond gratitude and sympathy", etc. I know I am just being narcissistic again, but having a character in a book that shares your name made me feel different(in a weird way) from TV characters(Criminal Minds, Lost, The Fallen). And the crazier thing is, Cara's other love interest is named Gerardo(the name of my boss), and there is this line that really cracked me up: "Gerardo is a flyspeck compared to Aaron.". Waddup!
September 20, 2018
“Grotesque,” I said. “G-O...” I leaned closer to the microphone. “T-O...” I
grabbed the microphone stand like a rock star. “H-E...” I looked out over all
those people in the audience. “L-L. Grotesque."
There was Silence in the audience.
"The world can forgive you for being stupid. It can forgive you for being
blind, for being deaf; it can even forgive you for being bad. This world doesn’t
forgive ugliness, though—and if Momma had pretended that I wasn’t, it would
have been a cruelty beyond measure, because how could I ever face the world
without being prepared for the nastiness it would eventually kick back at me?
I knew she couldn’t be too mad at me for what I did at the spelling bee,
because she had raised me not to take any guff for being ugly."
grabbed the microphone stand like a rock star. “H-E...” I looked out over all
those people in the audience. “L-L. Grotesque."
There was Silence in the audience.
"The world can forgive you for being stupid. It can forgive you for being
blind, for being deaf; it can even forgive you for being bad. This world doesn’t
forgive ugliness, though—and if Momma had pretended that I wasn’t, it would
have been a cruelty beyond measure, because how could I ever face the world
without being prepared for the nastiness it would eventually kick back at me?
I knew she couldn’t be too mad at me for what I did at the spelling bee,
because she had raised me not to take any guff for being ugly."
November 15, 2021
Oh, Neal. This is the most tragic of all the books I’ve read of yours. Poor Cara. In seeking her own happiness, she only found devastation. I suppose the lesson is that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder, but Cara wanted more. And when she got the outer beauty she desired, she found it was all consuming. Transforming from inner beauty to outer beauty had horrifying consequences for her and those caught in her wake. When she found herself coming full circle, my heart ached for her. Neal Shusterman, your stories always end in hope, but this one left me feeling like hope was something Cara can only long for, but will never find. 😭😭😭
October 17, 2015
Duckling Ugly is about ‘an ugly duckling’ who ends up taking revenge.
She has a family and goes to school. She’s just regular girl… Well she would be but she’s the town monster. People are disgusted by her looks and treat her horribly. One day she receives a note and her life changes. For better? For worse?
This novel was a short and decent read. Like the other books in the Dark Fusion trilogy it’s disturbing and doesn’t end exactly happy. It was a great way to finish off the series though. This book was my favorite out of the three.
She has a family and goes to school. She’s just regular girl… Well she would be but she’s the town monster. People are disgusted by her looks and treat her horribly. One day she receives a note and her life changes. For better? For worse?
This novel was a short and decent read. Like the other books in the Dark Fusion trilogy it’s disturbing and doesn’t end exactly happy. It was a great way to finish off the series though. This book was my favorite out of the three.
March 19, 2012
I did not like this book very much mostly because I did not like the main character, Cara. I did not feel that she was very lovely on the inside so when she became lovely on the outside, she just used it to hurt others. I wanted her to learn her lesson about beauty before she had obtained it. I just thought it was a bit of a downer book.
August 6, 2009
I personally loved this book, as with all other of Neal Shusterman's books. It kept me gripped and wanting more! I just wish it would have been longer!
December 22, 2019
I am honestly speechless. This book rendered me lost for words.
It is a typical Neal Shusterman book where every single word, every single sentence had a purpose, a meaning. It kept me turning pages continuously. I was so desperate to know what happens. To see how things would turn out. And I was desperate to keep reading what I'm reading and to keep feeling addicted to the story as I was.
I don't think anyone could've written a better retelling of the ugly duckling than Neal. I don't think anyone can write a book concerning appearance and looks better than Neal.
There was so much in this book that left me in awe. It made me feel all kinds of emotions I-
I have read many amazing books this year (many of which were Neal's) but this one hit me differently. It might just be the best book that I have read this year.
It is a typical Neal Shusterman book where every single word, every single sentence had a purpose, a meaning. It kept me turning pages continuously. I was so desperate to know what happens. To see how things would turn out. And I was desperate to keep reading what I'm reading and to keep feeling addicted to the story as I was.
I don't think anyone could've written a better retelling of the ugly duckling than Neal. I don't think anyone can write a book concerning appearance and looks better than Neal.
There was so much in this book that left me in awe. It made me feel all kinds of emotions I-
I have read many amazing books this year (many of which were Neal's) but this one hit me differently. It might just be the best book that I have read this year.
July 28, 2019
What a great fusion story!! The Dark Fusion series has so much to say about choices, consequences, responsibility, and our place in society. This trilogy is aptly named, as the stories, particularly in Dread Locks and Duckling Ugly, had very dark themes.
If you read my review of Red Rider's Hood, you would note that I wasn't a fan. Quite honestly, it almost didn't fit with the other two books because of its lack of sophistication and subtlety. Fortunately, Shusterman was back to his thought provoking style in the third book.
It is actually worth reading all three just to experience the stark difference in his writing.
If you read my review of Red Rider's Hood, you would note that I wasn't a fan. Quite honestly, it almost didn't fit with the other two books because of its lack of sophistication and subtlety. Fortunately, Shusterman was back to his thought provoking style in the third book.
It is actually worth reading all three just to experience the stark difference in his writing.
February 7, 2019
I read this book in middle school and it has stuck out in my mind all these years! I love authors who can put a twist on classic stories or fairy tales and Neal does this so well! A quick and interesting read!
June 17, 2017
This was so much better than I was expecting. So many great ideas, really original twists in old stories, and the pacing was spot on for me.
April 11, 2019
Its good
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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August 20, 2020Just when you think being ugly is bad Shusterman takes it to another level, amazing writer. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and Cara finds that out when it is too late!!
August 14, 2021
Spannend, verrassende wendingen en goede karakteriseringen. Zonder meer het beste deel van de reeks.
December 4, 2021
i had to read this book for school and i rlly didn’t expect to like it at all but it was actually pretty good. the ending was weird but u lowkey liked it
January 1, 2022
This was such a frustrating read because I could tell where it was going the whole time, it just took forever to get there.
January 28, 2023
Took some surprising turns that I was not expecting! What a fun ride!
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February 19, 2023BWJHAEHDJFDK I FINALLY FOUND THE TITLE OF THIS BOOK AFTER 5EVER.
July 13, 2025
sometimes the answer IS magic
August 4, 2019
Creepy Instalment Alert
Twisted and creepy, the ending to this one did not please me. But it was well written, as to be expected from this author, and certainly did make me think about the value of beauty.
Twisted and creepy, the ending to this one did not please me. But it was well written, as to be expected from this author, and certainly did make me think about the value of beauty.
July 31, 2018
Update: Reread from July 14, 2018 - July 31, 2018
It's amazing the things you'll catch while reading a book for the second time. I read this back in 2012 (when I was just starting to get back into reading) so I was 20 at the time. And wow, what a difference 6 years make. I had been wanting to reread this book, but was afraid I wasn't going to love it as much as I did then. And well...I wasn't entirely wrong.
I just want to say that this is still a five star read for me. It's just painfully clear to me that I have a favorite section of this book (when she's in De León, of course) than the others. Upon reading this a second time, I really see the flaws in Cara's character. She was slightly annoying, but could you blame her? After being made to feel ugly your entire life, it can make one bitter.
And Tuddie (aka Aaron) I saw some flaws in him as well, but they were minor. I still have no idea what Cara saw in Gerardo. He was a jerk from beginning to end.
And lastly, I want to touch on the last few chapters of this book. Back in 2012, I couldn't understand why Cara would want to return to Flock's Rest. In De León, she had an amazing guy who loved her, she had friends, and she finally had a community. Why would you ever return to a place that made you feel less than human? It's simple, revenge. Sometimes it feels good to get back at those who have wronged you. But two wrongs don't make a right and unfortunately Cara learned the hard way.
I also didn't realize that Cara was supposed to return to De León in five days and ended up staying in Flock's Rest for six weeks. It was heartbreaking when she read Aaron's letter which stated that in the second week of her being away, the fountain was starting to dry up. And since Cara cleansed her face with water from The Fountain of Youth, she's forever stuck in the body of a teenager, sucking the beauty from everything and everyone around her. Such a heartbreaking tale, but I love it!
(My Original Review)
I adore this book. Once I picked it up it was hard to put down. Actually, it was the first book of Neal Shusterman's that I've read, which needless to say, got me interested in more of his writings. I really admire the way he took the classic story of Ugly Duckling and put his little spin on it. So here's the backstory....
Cara was treated like crap by her family and everyone at school. No one back home thought she was beautiful. She admired a guy who had no interest in her whatsoever, so she finally lands in this beautiful place where she's treated like a princess. Even when she's ugly and is amongst the beautiful people, no one treats her differently. As the story progresses she finally finds a guy who loves her (the guy who brought her to this magical place) and he loves her regardless of what she looks like. He made her feel beautiful and do you know what happens once she is transformed into a Swan (figuratively)? She wants to leave the only place where people genuinely cared for her. She wants to go see the guy who blatantly told her that he wasn't interested. She went back home thinking that she could finally fit in when it was quite the opposite.
In short, I loved this story and yet hated how vengeful Cara became near the end.
Overall, the ending was phenomenal. Very few books can get that type of reaction out of me. I have to hand it to Mr. Shusterman because this book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions.
It's amazing the things you'll catch while reading a book for the second time. I read this back in 2012 (when I was just starting to get back into reading) so I was 20 at the time. And wow, what a difference 6 years make. I had been wanting to reread this book, but was afraid I wasn't going to love it as much as I did then. And well...I wasn't entirely wrong.
I just want to say that this is still a five star read for me. It's just painfully clear to me that I have a favorite section of this book (when she's in De León, of course) than the others. Upon reading this a second time, I really see the flaws in Cara's character. She was slightly annoying, but could you blame her? After being made to feel ugly your entire life, it can make one bitter.
And Tuddie (aka Aaron) I saw some flaws in him as well, but they were minor. I still have no idea what Cara saw in Gerardo. He was a jerk from beginning to end.
And lastly, I want to touch on the last few chapters of this book. Back in 2012, I couldn't understand why Cara would want to return to Flock's Rest. In De León, she had an amazing guy who loved her, she had friends, and she finally had a community. Why would you ever return to a place that made you feel less than human? It's simple, revenge. Sometimes it feels good to get back at those who have wronged you. But two wrongs don't make a right and unfortunately Cara learned the hard way.
I also didn't realize that Cara was supposed to return to De León in five days and ended up staying in Flock's Rest for six weeks. It was heartbreaking when she read Aaron's letter which stated that in the second week of her being away, the fountain was starting to dry up. And since Cara cleansed her face with water from The Fountain of Youth, she's forever stuck in the body of a teenager, sucking the beauty from everything and everyone around her. Such a heartbreaking tale, but I love it!
(My Original Review)
I adore this book. Once I picked it up it was hard to put down. Actually, it was the first book of Neal Shusterman's that I've read, which needless to say, got me interested in more of his writings. I really admire the way he took the classic story of Ugly Duckling and put his little spin on it. So here's the backstory....
Cara was treated like crap by her family and everyone at school. No one back home thought she was beautiful. She admired a guy who had no interest in her whatsoever, so she finally lands in this beautiful place where she's treated like a princess. Even when she's ugly and is amongst the beautiful people, no one treats her differently. As the story progresses she finally finds a guy who loves her (the guy who brought her to this magical place) and he loves her regardless of what she looks like. He made her feel beautiful and do you know what happens once she is transformed into a Swan (figuratively)? She wants to leave the only place where people genuinely cared for her. She wants to go see the guy who blatantly told her that he wasn't interested. She went back home thinking that she could finally fit in when it was quite the opposite.
In short, I loved this story and yet hated how vengeful Cara became near the end.
Overall, the ending was phenomenal. Very few books can get that type of reaction out of me. I have to hand it to Mr. Shusterman because this book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2014
In the novel Duckling Ugly by Neal Shusterman, the author is very descriptive when introducing new scenery, characters, and situations. The author created a main character named Cara, who is unbelievably ugly. I was expecting this novel to be very dull and non explanatory, but it was just the opposite. The author gave many real characteristics to Cara, giving very descriptive words when explaining her looks as well as her personality. The plot of the story is based on Cara, who is constantly tortured at school and even in her home at times, trying to find her place in this world. Her niche. I was very excited when Cara found a place to reside where she was accepted, but I was also a little let down by his description of the place. Cara had dreamed about this perfect place in previous chapters of the book, but when she arrived, the author did not make it seem as beautiful as I had hoped.
Another reason I found this book quite interesting, was the character Gerardo. Gerardo is just a normal teenage boy. Not extraordinary in any way. The author creates a scene where Cara is sitting all alone at the lunch table, and Gerardo decides to join her, which the author makes clear is very significant. Cara and Gerardo befriend one another, and you are privileged to see their relationship develop throughout the book. I love Gerardo’s character because I believe it gives readers hope that there are kind people in this world. Not all of them are cruel. Although I love the plot of this story, I was also somewhat disappointed with the ending. The author constantly giving hints about an approaching climax throughout the story, but once I started reading the conflict, I wish he would have made it lengthier. The whole plot lead up to this moment, and it was rather quick and not as harsh as I was expecting, and unfortunately the author leaves you with a cliffhanger. I hoped the author would have finished the book with an actual resolution, instead of leaving you guessing, and not having enough information to assume what happened to Cara. Overall, I thought this book to be a very interesting read, and would recommend it to young teenage readers such as myself. It just might surprise you.
Another reason I found this book quite interesting, was the character Gerardo. Gerardo is just a normal teenage boy. Not extraordinary in any way. The author creates a scene where Cara is sitting all alone at the lunch table, and Gerardo decides to join her, which the author makes clear is very significant. Cara and Gerardo befriend one another, and you are privileged to see their relationship develop throughout the book. I love Gerardo’s character because I believe it gives readers hope that there are kind people in this world. Not all of them are cruel. Although I love the plot of this story, I was also somewhat disappointed with the ending. The author constantly giving hints about an approaching climax throughout the story, but once I started reading the conflict, I wish he would have made it lengthier. The whole plot lead up to this moment, and it was rather quick and not as harsh as I was expecting, and unfortunately the author leaves you with a cliffhanger. I hoped the author would have finished the book with an actual resolution, instead of leaving you guessing, and not having enough information to assume what happened to Cara. Overall, I thought this book to be a very interesting read, and would recommend it to young teenage readers such as myself. It just might surprise you.
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