Book Review: XVI and Truth

Title:  XVI and Truth
Author:  Julia Karr
Where I got them:  I bought ‘em!

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world - even the most predatory of men - that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past - one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer. 

Nina Oberon's life has changed enormously in the last few months. When her mother was killed, Nina discovered the truth about her father, the leader of the Resistance. And now she sports the same Governing Council–ordered tattoo of XVI on her wrist that all sixteen-year-old girls have. The one that announces to the world that she is easy prey to predators. But Nina won't be anyone's stereotype. And when she joins an organization of girls working within the Resistance, she knows that they can put an end to one of the most terrifying secret programs the GC has ever conceived. Because the truth always comes out . . . and the consequences can be deadly.

My Thoughts:

I picked up XVI last year because I heard awesome thing about it, and then it languished on my bookshelf (ok, my office floor, let’s be honest) until just recently, when I came across Truth at the used book store and picked that up too.  Then I had to read them both.  And while I’m kind of kicking myself for waiting to read XVI, because I loved it, I’m halfway glad I did because I would have absolutely died waiting for the sequel. 

The entire world is run by PAV devices and the government monitors everything.  When Nina’s world is shattered just before her 16th birthday, when she’ll have to get her XVI tattoo and be considered fair game for guys, she has to deal with moving in with her grandparents, protecting her little sister from her abusive father, and staying under the radar as the child of a notorious resistance member. 

Probably the freakiest thing about XVI and Truth for me was the societal giddiness about girls having sex.  I mean really?!  It was completely refreshing, especially in this environment, to have a protagonist who thought about sex in a reasonable, intelligent manner, rather than as something awesome and without consequences.  The dichotomy in this and other societal norms made the books possibly a little too obvious, but the ideas and impressions behind them still are relevant.

Full of mystery, danger, and creepy weird technology, this duo will definitely keep you entertained.  This is a very well done dystopian duo.  And, because I liked the books so much, I’m sharing the fun with one lucky reader!  Please use the Rafflecopter form below to enter to win my gently used copies of XVI and Truth!

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