Is being Special the best thing?

The world of the Specials by Scott Westerfeld is the same as the others in this series, except that the specials are stronger, faster, and smarter than any other type of human. These "super humans" are kinda like the cars with the expensive stereo system, hands free calling system, and bulletproof windows; they have infrared vision to detect body heat, a skintenna system to talk to other specials in their group, special chips in their fingertips to detect the slightest vibrations, and other super high-tech features that are not human.

In this book of the series, Tally one of these super humans. She is one of Dr. Cable's "very special specials" called The Cutters. The Cutters are led by Tally's best friend, Shay and their mission is to destroy the New Smoke. At their first encounter with the Smokies, the smokies got tricky and won. In their night ambush, the smokies were able to kidnap Shay and Fausto because they wore sneak suits to hide their body temperature, shock-sticks to send electrically shock opponents, and bows with shock-arrows that electrify their target. Shay and Fausto passed out when they were electrified. The smokies were able to acquire the new hoverboards from the specials. Tally was stranded on foot, but by cutting her arm, she was able to clear her mind and think about the board that David (a smokey) must have left behind. David used Shay as a distraction by throwing her unconscious body into the freezing river. Tally rescued Shay instead of pursuing the Smokies. Shay and Tally are now bent on revenge.

So far, the following chapters are about Shay and Tally using their resources to track down the New Smoke. They have talked to uglies and pretties alike. Specifically, they have talked to Zane, a Crim pretty that had most of his brain eaten by nanobots in his attempt to have a lesion-free, ugly mind. Shay and Tally attempt to trick their "employer," Special Circumstances, to consider turning Zane into a special. Their plan involves Zane handing over the New Smoke and then becoming a special. Simple as that, right? Think again. This would not fully fulfill their plans of revenge. They girls also want David to become a pretty and no longer be in their hearts.