20th Century Fox has picked up rights to a young adult fantasy book trilogy beginning with Scott Westerfeld's "Uglies" reports Variety.

Futuristic tale taps into teen angst over conformity and acceptance. Kids are called "Uglies" until they reach 16 and get surgically transformed into the attractive "Pretties," who move to the glamorous part of town. A precocious teen is threatened with being denied the procedure unless she spies on a pal who skipped the operation and joined a rebellious group.

The Murdoch studio has bought the three-book series for a potential franchise, much like its upcoming movie version of "Eragon". The second novel, "Pretties," is near the top of the young adult bestseller lists.