XVI (XVI, #1)

May 21, 2011

Papy rated it

Shelves: dystopian, read-in-2011, young-adult

I’ve felt this book kinda special. I think because it’s like in the real life. Well,maybe today the girls don’t get this tattoos , but they really behave like “sex-teens”.

I wasn’t sure about this book.I think the ideea of teenagers like “sex teens” made me read it, because it’s a near future.In XVI,Media control the teens,and in the real life also.Maybe not so much,but definitely Media have power on them.

Can't say I had big expectations about this book but it surprised m...more

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Jun 05, 2011

Merle rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Oh boy. Where do I even begin with this?

This book was honestly a chore to get through. The writing was nothing special and at times even clunky. At first the world was explained by having characters explain certain parts of their world to each other, otherwise known as the “As you know...” method. It was never introduced naturally; it was all the characters talking about it as if they had just arrived in a new country, instead of having lived in this environment their entire lives. ...more

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Dec 05, 2011

Stella ☢FAYZ☢ Chen rated it

Shelves: gave-up

Weak. This could be something I can write up and man, I cannot write.
The obsession with dystopian novels at the moment is causing "authors" to come up with works that they will regret.

Some of my favourite dystopias are The GONE series by Michael Grant and The Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness.

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Feb 27, 2011

Margo Berendsen rated it

Shelves: 2011-my-reads, ya-science-fiction-dystopian

This book gave me goosebumps at times, because it is just so frighteningly plausible. It's our same culture, just more extreme, with the media more powerful, a 1984-esque world masquerading as fake fun, fashion, flirtation.

There were some cool science fiction features, such as the Infinity Machine. And some very powerful writing:

I sat at the window and drew the shapes of the buildings outside. Rectangles and squares stacked side by side and up to the sky. Neat, orderly,...more

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Mar 19, 2011

slayra rated it

Shelves: 2011-reads, sci-fi-ish, in-english, dystopias, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. RATING: 2.5 stars.

I really, really didn't want to write this review, because I feel like I have been posting a lot of reviews highlighting negative points; I'm not sure if the books are all that bad or if it's just me that can't read a book, like it and write an 100% gushing, glowing review. Maybe I am just one of those grumpy people who likes to find flaws in everything, but I haven't read a book that was 100% perfect... yet.

That said, I liked "XVI". Over...more

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Feb 20, 2011

Hannah rated it

Shelves: 2011

I hate giving a book with such a great idea only one star, but honestly, aside from the idea, there wasn’t a single aspect of the book I liked – it was executed very badly, and the plot was overdramatic and clichéd.

For one thing, there just weren’t enough explanations for the reader to really understand the world Nina lived in – we never find out how it was possible for society to change so drastically. The reader got plenty of information and explanations about minor things like how...moreI hate giving a book with such a great idea only one star, but honestly, aside from the idea, there wasn’t a single aspect of the book I liked – it was executed very badly, and the plot was overdramatic and clichéd.

For one thing, there just weren’t enough explanations for the reader to really understand the world Nina lived in – we never find out how it was possible for society to change so drastically. The reader got plenty of information and explanations about minor things like how they don’t eat meat anymore in the future, but nothing about how it’s possible that society moved backwards so much that people are classified in “tiers” and women have basically no rights.

I was also annoyed by the characters and their relationships. Nina was not a relatable character whatsoever – her emotions switched from sad about her mom’s death to happy to worried to in love with Sal to sad because of Sal way too quickly without any sort of explanation.

Sandy seemed too superficial and selfish – when Nina’s mom died and Nina had to move in with her grandparents, she only thought about herself and how she won’t have a friend living close by anymore. I didn’t understand why Nina would be friends with her, they were just too different. The only explanation about their friendship is that they became friends because they both like animals, which, honestly, is ridiculous.

Nina’s relationship with her mom seemed to perfect – she told her mom everything, which I don’t think is realistic. I didn’t like Dee or her relationship with Nina, either – she was 11 but usually acted like she was 5. The relationship between Nina's grandparents was supposed to be funny, but it was trying to hard and just got annoying.

The dialogue seemed fake; they switched topics way too often, which made it all kind of random, and all the characters, in my opinion, were too open and always said whatever they were thinking. That would be fine if it were used as characterization for one or two characters, but each of her friends spoke like that.

The different storylines were all over the place. Nina’s obsession with Ed and Dee was overdone (I thought that if I had to hear “Cinderella girl” one more time, I’d have to scream), while the plot of finding her father, which I thought would have been much more interesting, wasn’t elaborated on until the very end.

I don’t know whether there will be a sequel for this book, and if there will, I can’t criticize this, but I had the feeling the plot didn’t really pick up until the end. I thought the book would be more about Nina turning sixteen and having to deal with what that entailed in her society, but she didn’t turn sixteen until the last chapter. The ending didn't offer any solutions, but (again), if there will be a sequel, I can't really criticize that.

This novel had great potential but was executed very badly. I did not like the writing and never cared about the characters, and most aspects of the story were lacking. I would not recommend this book, but since it has gotten mainly good reviews, maybe it just didn’t connect with me personally.

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspot.c...(less)

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Jan 15, 2011

Ruth Day rated it

The premise was interesting and characters and plot had potential, but the potential was never reached because the writing was just BAD. About fifty pages in, something awful happened in Nina's life and I should have felt her pain, but I didn't. A lot of it had to do with the way the author worded things. Sometimes I would think, "If only she had worded this sentence this way, then it would have been so much more impactful." Also, she did something that I've been tirelessly teaching my...more

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Dec 11, 2011

Mateja rated it

Shelves: books-i-own

I am now, more than ever, convinced that dystopian is my new favorite genre. I haven't read that many books of this kind, but those that I did managed to wow me. XVI is no different. I was a bit scared to read this book given the touchy subject the author focuses on. Books like that have a tendency to turn ridiculous rather than being deep and thought provoking. Though there were a few silly moments (not the good kind of silly), most of the book was simply amazing and I easily overlooked the not...moreI am now, more than ever, convinced that dystopian is my new favorite genre. I haven't read that many books of this kind, but those that I did managed to wow me. XVI is no different. I was a bit scared to read this book given the touchy subject the author focuses on. Books like that have a tendency to turn ridiculous rather than being deep and thought provoking. Though there were a few silly moments (not the good kind of silly), most of the book was simply amazing and I easily overlooked the not-so-great parts.

The world the author presented in this book is the kind I can't even imagine living in. Just the thought of the government controlling everything, even the most private and intimate aspects of your life, is horrifying. The main character, Nina thanks to her mother and grandparents, never quite bought into what the Media was trying to tell her was expected and good for a teenager. In the course of this book she uncovers all the lies and secrets surrounding her and she handles all the life-altering events beautifully. She’s so brave and prepared to do anything to make her sister’s life easier. She doesn’t even let herself grieve publicly, because she knows it will be difficult for her baby sister to see her like that. She’s truly an admirable person.

Nina doesn’t want a boyfriend and despite what is expected of her, she’s not ready for one. But whenever she’s around Sal those convictions fly through the window. There were quite a few sweet and a little bit sexy moments between them. Luckily for me the romance in XVI developed soon in the story so I didn’t have to wait too long for that much anticipated first kiss. And boy, did I love the kissing scenes. I can’t wait to see how things develop between Sal and Nina in the next installment. I loved the interactions between Nina and her new and old friends, though I didn’t much care for Sandy, Nina’s best friend. To be honest, I found Sandy’s personality insufferable. How on Earth Nina was a best friend with a person like that, remains a mystery to me.(less)

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Mar 14, 2011

Kelly rated it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I really don't know how to feel about this book. I think that the premise is excellent, but there was far too little in terms of explaination, and way too much foreshadowing.

Nina is on the verge of turning sixteen, which means she will be tattooed with an XVI to show that she is legal and available for sex with any male who wants her. Nina is understandably apprehensive, but she tries to hide it because all girls in the future are supposed to LOVE being sluts - the constant media ad...moreI really don't know how to feel about this book. I think that the premise is excellent, but there was far too little in terms of explaination, and way too much foreshadowing.

Nina is on the verge of turning sixteen, which means she will be tattooed with an XVI to show that she is legal and available for sex with any male who wants her. Nina is understandably apprehensive, but she tries to hide it because all girls in the future are supposed to LOVE being sluts - the constant media advertising being blared everywhere tells them so. How society got to believing that women are sex-bots and silence is illegal - Never explained.

Nina is also apparently "Low Tier" - aka "poor" - and one of the few ways out of a low teir is to be Chosen for the FeLS program. Nina's best friend Sandy is desperate to be chosen. What, exactly FeLS is, is not explained until nearly halfway through the book. By that time, we are certain that FeLS is not a good thing to join, but somehow Nina never actually gets around to telling her "best friend" this. Nor does she ever mention that her mother's government boyfriend is an abusive jerk, which is odd because her best friend BEGS Nina to put in a good word with him every time they see each other. Also, Nina's mother buys out her FeLS contract, but Nina is still worried about "someone stealing it." FORESHADOWING, anyone? Actually, since they mention SEVERAL TIMES that FeLS girls have to be VIRGINS, Nina could have just lost her V-card to her boyfriend and been done with it, but that would have been too easy, right?

Another small FeLS note that irritates me - There was ONE LINE that mentions that instead of fossil fuels, people now use some stuff mined from Mars as fuel. That's all. But apparently, FeLS girls are sent to Mars to be used by the miners there (after the government officials deflower them, of course) and many of them end up getting a virus that the miners have that keeps them from being able to return to earth. WTF? Where did the miners and the virus come from?!? What happens when you get the virus? NO EXPLAINATION.

Three-quarters of the way through the book, I was still confused by all the acronyms, the verts, trannies, and everything else that SHOULD have been explained, but wasn't.

The rest of the book is basically Nina running from a green car and acting like an idiot at every possible opportunity. (Oh, Wei's parents offer you a place to keep the super-important item safe? Nahhhh....)

If this turns into a series, I would really like to suggest a prequel. I found the stories about Nina's parents to be MUCH more interesting than anything Nina did.

Overall, the premise was interesting but the book was a difficult read. If you can look past the confusion of the acronyms (and the fact that NOTHING is explained) XVI is definitely a solid addition to the ever-growing teen dystopian genre.(less)

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May 01, 2011

Theresa Milstein rated it

I waffled between a 3 and 4 on this. It was an interesting premise, a world where teenage girls are super-sexualized and women have less power than they do overall in 2011. I would've liked the role of women explored more. And there really was much more thought than action. When something did happen, it was over in a flash. Then back to Nina worrying. Or people talking about what there was to worry about.

Nina is on the verge of turning 16, when girls are free to have sex. Or b...more

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Jun 05, 2011

Bettina Restrepo rated it

The book is described as "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 breath...more

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Jan 02, 2011

Jillian -always aspiring- rated it

Recommends it for: Readers looking for an edgy dystopian that handles real life issues and spins them to extremes

Shelves: dystopian-worlds-hells-and-cesspits, best-characters, couldn-t-stop-reading-it, books-with-a-message, 2011-reads, surprisingly-liked, want-a-sequel, thought-provoking

Dystopians either hook me or leave me hanging. Both The Hunger Games and Unwind terrified me and made my heart ache. The Uglies trilogy irked and annoyed me. Matched bored me. Thus, coming into XVI, I had to wonder: would this be on the high scale of dystopian (a la The Hunger Games) or the low scale (a la Matched)? I'm glad I took the gamble: this book had me hooked and sunk into the depths of its pages and plot.

In the 22nd century, sixteen has become the age of no limits for ...moreDystopians either hook me or leave me hanging. Both The Hunger Games and Unwind terrified me and made my heart ache. The Uglies trilogy irked and annoyed me. Matched bored me. Thus, coming into XVI, I had to wonder: would this be on the high scale of dystopian (a la The Hunger Games) or the low scale (a la Matched)? I'm glad I took the gamble: this book had me hooked and sunk into the depths of its pages and plot.

In the 22nd century, sixteen has become the age of no limits for girls; now popularly known as 'sex-teen,' the age signifies that a girl is free to have sex without repercussions or 'dangers.' However, not everything is as it seems, especially with the dark rumors that girls with XVI tattoos are just better targets for rape, sex trafficking, and other crimes. . . .

That is the standing of the world in which Nina Oberon, our heroine, lives. I couldn't help but empathize with her when it came to her doubts, fears, and resignations. Looking back at how I was at sixteen, I would have been horrified to live in a world like this one. Everything that makes our world so terrible and ambiguous -- the emphasis on body image and sex, the materialism, the live-now-think-later mentality, the state of the governments and their control in people's everyday lives -- are blown to such extreme proportions in this book that, yes, it is scary. I would not want to live in Nina's world. (I felt the same way about the worlds in The Hunger Games and Unwind, and I think that is a necessity to make a dystopian book work well: you must make the reader fear the world and empathize with the characters' plights.)

As a dystopian tale, this book worked for me. It had a steady pace, likable characters, and interesting plot twists; it held my attention in a good way. Were there parts I was annoyed with? Absolutely. There were flaws (the relationship between Nina and Sal didn't work so well for me; I liked them together, but I felt they needed to talk a bit more and get to know each other a bit before they started snogging), but they weren't deal breakers for me. The book was good, I really liked it, and that was that.

I can say with certainty that, if Julia Karr decides to write a sequel, I will be reading it, no doubt. There are enough loose threads and questions for me to say, "Yes, sequel, please!" -- and that, to me, is just yet another sign to show that I was glad to read this book and how relieved I was to enjoy it just as much as I did.

Take it from me: forget Matched. Pick up XVI instead. It's truer to life and real life issues -- and shouldn't dystopian fiction highlight our present world and its flaws above all? If so, then XVI did a fine job, and I applaud it for its truth. Now -- do I really need to do any more convincing that this may be a good dystopian for your reading pleasure?(less)

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Dec 23, 2011

the golden witch. rated it

Shelves: wishlist, 2011, tomorrowland, teenage-shennanigans, dystopia, best-of-11, reviewed

I was born in the 80s, I grew up in the 90s, when the media market image of girls became the most sexualized it’s ever been. Flashbacks of CNN debates about the oversexing of the “desired” female image in the west came to mind when I started reading this book – not that that’s a a bad thing. This book paints a picture of what our future may be if we keep going the way we’re going.

I have to say – for a debut, I was floored by the sheer balls that Karr has for even bringing up this i...moreI was born in the 80s, I grew up in the 90s, when the media market image of girls became the most sexualized it’s ever been. Flashbacks of CNN debates about the oversexing of the “desired” female image in the west came to mind when I started reading this book – not that that’s a a bad thing. This book paints a picture of what our future may be if we keep going the way we’re going.

I have to say – for a debut, I was floored by the sheer balls that Karr has for even bringing up this issue, much less couching it in a future that seems all too plausible as clothing sizes get smaller, more and more skin is bared on primetime television, and kids start having sex at younger and younger ages (not to mention starting puberty at record early ages as well).

I like to think of myself as a sex-positive girl. I believe that as long as everyone has informed consent with their sex, I have no right to intervene or complain. The keywords here are “informed consent” – not just consent, which can be taken advantage of by sex predators in terms of ignorance on the part of the victim, but informed consent – knowing your risks, knowing where you’re safe and where you’re not. This book really hit home with me as I’ve never really felt comfortable about expressing my sexuality (well, that and I have severe intimacy issues, but we won’t get into that now) and the idea of being fair game as soon as you turn sixteen, whether you like it or not, scared the hell out of me.

Which, I think, was one of the points of the book – rethink the current policies and images as projected to us by modern culture in order to keep ourselves safe.

I believe that this book should probably be made mandatory reading by parents to their daughters before they get taken advantage of. Knowledge is power, and we as girls need all the power we can get in order to protect ourselves.

Thank you, Ms. Karr, for writing this book, for urging us not to be complacent and to remind us of the dangers out there that if we leave unchecked, could very well be our future.(less)

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Dec 22, 2010

Princess Bookie rated it

Shelves: read2010

My Thoughts: I have been reading more and more dystopian books lately huh? We are introduced to Nina who is 15 years old and fast approaching her 16 or sex-teen birthday. What does this mean? It means that basically any guy who wants to, can take advantage of her without any real rules or punishment and she can do what she basically wants sexwise. There is no law that says she can't. Most girls are looking forward to turning 16, including her best friend, because it signifies being grown up. The...moreMy Thoughts: I have been reading more and more dystopian books lately huh? We are introduced to Nina who is 15 years old and fast approaching her 16 or sex-teen birthday. What does this mean? It means that basically any guy who wants to, can take advantage of her without any real rules or punishment and she can do what she basically wants sexwise. There is no law that says she can't. Most girls are looking forward to turning 16, including her best friend, because it signifies being grown up. They can go into a program to better themself or just have more rights sexually. Well, Nina wants none of that. She knows what that "program" really is and she does not have any interest in being with a guy either. She's happy to stay 15 forever.

Her mother is brutally murdered and Nina doesn't understand why. Nina and her sister have to move in with her grandparents and she spends most of the book trying to keep her sister safe from her sisters father (her mothers exboyfriend). Keep in mind that they don't have the same father. Nina thinks her father is dead but her moms last words were to find her father and give him a book so Nina is more confused than ever.

Nina also meets a mysterious guy named Sal. They become quick friends and he introduces her to a friend of his and she realizes that they all have more in common than they think.

XVI was a good book. Some parts made me mad because I wanted good things for Nina and I hated the way things were ran around town. I was happy with the outcome and the ending but I felt it was a little rushed and I wanted to see things tied up a bit more slower. I wanted to know more about Sal and I wanted to experience more romance between them. Yes, there was romance but I just wanted more! Haha!

I also liked all the characters. I liked Nina's friends, even the guys! And her best friend was a bit annoying but I wanted her to snap out of wanting to be a sex-teen before it was too late. I kept saying open your eyes, open your eyes!!!

If you want to find out what happens with Nina, read the book! Does she ever find her father? Is her sister safe? What happens when she turns 16? What happens with Sal? Her friends?

Overall: I really enjoyed this one! I didn't love it quite as much as other dystopian's I've read lately but it was still overall an enjoyable read with a new take on becoming 16 or being old enough to have sex.

Cover: I like the cover. It has a dark angle to it. And we can't really see her eyes since its dark and it makes it more mysterious.

What I'd Give It: 4/5 Cupcakes

Taken from Princess Bookie
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Jan 08, 2011

Medeia Sharif rated it

Shelves: read-in-2011, elevensies

Nina is fifteen and dreading her sixteenth birthday. When young women turn sixteen, they get a XVI tattoo on their wrist to announce to the world that they're legal, and that means any man can have them and they can have any man. Nina is determined not to fall for the licentious advertisements glorifying the wonders of being a sex-teen.

Nina's mom is attacked. On her deathbed she lets loose a revelation that Nina is compelled to investigate. Family secrets and a community of nonco...more

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Feb 04, 2012

fennie rated it

Shelves: scifi, things-that-make-you-go-hmm, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. i'm not sure how to feel about this one, most likely because it was horrifyingly real, though satirized. despite the typical dystopian, futuristic aspect of it, there's a lot of deranged, twisted thinking that made me second-guess humanity and its goodness. (and the fact that FELS is a cover for sex trafficking...makes me want to vomit.) overall, this book had a lot of interesting ideas about self-awareness, self-worth, loyalties and familial relationships, among others. i definitely am looking ...more

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Feb 01, 2012

BAYA Librarian rated it

Shelves: dystopia

Nina’s sixteenth birthday or sex-teenth is quickly approaching. This mean she will be tattooed with the number XVI, there by identifying her as available to anyone who might be interested. If the general propaganda is to be believed any girl with such a tattoo is ready and willing to have sex. In fact they are not even allowed to say no, but why would they want too they are sex-teen after all. To make matters worse Nina’s mother is brutally attacked in a deserted alley. Her dying instructions ...more

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Jan 25, 2012

Anna Jade rated it

This book caught my attention with the talk of sex. But it was a science fiction book, so I was curious. When I picked this book up I had no idea what I was in store for. It was in a future world, much like the Hunger Games, and it was full of action and dealt with a lot of issues that modern teens work with, such as peer pressure, the media, and family issues. This book aslo had some romance in it, to fulfill my teenage romance need that I have. The author made sex the main concern of the chara...more

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Jan 21, 2012

Miri rated it

· review of another edition

Nina fürchtet sich vor ihrem 16ten Geburtstag, denn nichts liegt ihr ferner als wie ihre Freundin Sandy zum Sex-Teen zu motieren. Als ihre Mutter umgebracht wird, sieht sie sich plötzlich einer Menge Problemen gegenüber. Geldsorgen, Verantwortung, ihr verschwundener wels-Vertrag, Dees vermeintlicher Vater... Und zu allem Überfluss begegnet sie auch noch Sal, der sich als Obdachloser verkleidet, und fühlt sich stark zu ihm hingezogen. Motiert sie etwa doch zum Sex-Teen?

Eine Geschichte...more

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Jan 07, 2012

Cristy rated it

Shelves: dystopian-post-apocalyptic, series

Well…. I’ve been sitting here for quite a time now, not sure how I want to review XVI, because I ‘m not sure how I feel about the book. Hmm, ok so let’s see, well I guess this review will just have to go a bit different then how’d I usually go about expressing my views on a read… a bit more simplistic, to the point, shall we say blunt? Ok, here it goes…

Liked:
First, I actually did like the main focus characters. Protagonist, Nina is a strong and smart leading female, even at a...more

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Jan 06, 2012

Misty Baker rated it

Dystopian novels. Oh, what a beautifully messed up breed of books you are.

For those of you that have been living under a rock for the last 2 or so years, let me explain to you what Dytopian literature actually is.

“Dystopia” is (often not always) a futuristic society that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state, usually under the guise of being utopian.

Got that? Great… we shall now continue.

Over the last 2 years there have been a rash of Dystopi...moreDystopian novels. Oh, what a beautifully messed up breed of books you are.

For those of you that have been living under a rock for the last 2 or so years, let me explain to you what Dytopian literature actually is.

“Dystopia” is (often not always) a futuristic society that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state, usually under the guise of being utopian.

Got that? Great… we shall now continue.

Over the last 2 years there have been a rash of Dystopian novels, (The Uglies, Matched & in a weird way The Hunger Games) so stumbling into another was not all that far fetched. Segregation of cultures, extreme governments and oppression are hot topics, and (as an added bonus) fascinating to read, but what really makes these novels the “icing” on the metaphorical cake is the interruption of free will.

Free will is the one thing that makes people who they are; it defines us. We choose our own paths, and ultimately control our own futures, in Dystopian writing…all of that is threatened. You do what you are told, when you are told, and if you disagree you are reprimanded, jailed, and in some extreme cases “extinguished”

Nina is a product of a Dystopian society. She lives in her assigned community. She buys the clothes only her “tier” would buy, and on really good days she DOESN’T have to watch her mother get the snot beat out of her. But none of these things keep her up at night… the thing Nina fears most is turning 16. At 16 she will be branded; a big fat XVI, in jet black ink, on the inside of her wrist announcing that she is ready. Ready for what exactly? Ready for sex. “XVI” in Nina’s world means she is now fair game to every creep, cretan, and (for a lack of a better term) pervert that crosses her path. And, as if the pressure of being a “sex-teen” wasn’t bad enough, her mother was just murder. Is Nina really as alone as she thinks she is? Who is the “Resistance,” and why after everything that has happened, would her mother be so hell bent on her hiding her little sister’s baby book?

I will admit that the first 2 chapters of this book made me cringe. In author-created societies “establishment” is crucial. We (as readers) want to know what TIME we are in, and WHERE exactly we are. Without these critical details, it is hard to form the STORY in our heads. The problem comes, however, when the author (in either desperation or excitement) tries to shove a “new” and complicated society (complete with their own slang) into 8 or 9 very long, and very run together paragraphs. This was the case is Julia Karr’s XVI. Luckily… after Karr’s “flash fiction” the novel leveled off and developed into a well rounded read. Nina was just 1 personality in a whole cast of very interesting characters and while, yes, this book is slated as YA, I found the “parental” story line outshining the… always predictable, never absent, teen angst.

Is this the BEST Dystopian I have ever read? No, of course not, but an enjoyable read? Yes… absolutely.

My advice? Get it, Live it, Love it… pass it on.

Happy Reading my fellow Kindle-ites and remember: having a GPS implanted in your arm is NOT normal. Question everything!(less)

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Dec 26, 2011

Hilary rated it

XVI is a page-turner! This dystopian story is set in Chicago in the 2100's, where the Governing Committee controls everything -- or so it seems. Nina and her best friend Sandy are about to turn 16, which means adulthood and sex, if all the "adverts" that constantly bombard them are to be believed. Sandy can't wait, eagerly dressing and acting like a "sex-teener," but Nina's not so sure.

In the background, there is a secret group trying to undermine the Governing...more

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Dec 15, 2011

Jonathan rated it

To put this plain and simple, Julia Karr's XVI did not meet up to my expectations.

There were many issues in this book, from the boring thoughts coming from Nina Oberon's head to the hidden lecture we get from Julia Karr herself. I'm not an avid reader, but it doesn't take one to recognize that there was something wrong with this novel.

First off, the story starts for about half the book, just listening to Nina's messed up life from her own perspective. Her father, her moth...moreTo put this plain and simple, Julia Karr's XVI did not meet up to my expectations.

There were many issues in this book, from the boring thoughts coming from Nina Oberon's head to the hidden lecture we get from Julia Karr herself. I'm not an avid reader, but it doesn't take one to recognize that there was something wrong with this novel.

First off, the story starts for about half the book, just listening to Nina's messed up life from her own perspective. Her father, her mother, Ginny, a mysterious character named Ed, and her sister, Dee are introduced indirectly but we hardly get to meet them. How do we know how bad Ed beats Ginny if we never see it happen? How are we supposed to be connected to any other character other than Nina without being able to interact with them in the book? I was very tired of Nina droning on and on about 50 pages into the novel.

At about halfway through, the tone takes a completely different flip and now these unrealistic action scenes are being thrown at us every which way we turn. Ed, the evil Choser bent on finding information about Nina's father, was practically everywhere. There were about six scenes where either Ed miraculously showed up or there was a false alarm. There has to be a better choice of storyline than having everyone freak out every ten pages about whether Ed was listening or if Ed was here to kidnap Nina.

One of the things that may not be mutual but it didn't really make sense to me was the idea of XVI. The title is Sixteen, the descriptions point to sixteen, the book even talks about sixteen, but what does anything have to do with sixteen? We know from reading the novel that when you turn sixteen, you are completely vulnerable to sex and rape. The entire book I was waiting for a turn of events to happen about Nina turning sixteen and figuring out what will happen. I predicted that she was going to be put in a position of rape, since she strongly opposes sex, and would have to deal with it after and maybe get revenge. But no, there is nothing that has anything to do with sex and anyone having it. If you are a teen, and you pick up a book thinking it's going to be about sex, wouldn't you be disappointed when the plot line is about finding your long-lost father and the sex idea is only there as a warning?

This leads me to my next problem. Why did Julia Karr include the idea of sex-teens when the story has nothing to do with it? It's because she has a clear and specific opinion just like everyone else. Julia Karr does not believe in teen sex. Period. Julia Karr is Nina Oberon. She uses her character to let people know about her beliefs and views on this type of issue. Nina is a calm, quiet girl who does not want to have sex in any way or sort. Sandy, her best friend, however, is a wild, party girl who flirts with guys, dresses like a slut, and can't wait until she's sixteen so she can legally have sex. How do we know that Julia Karr doesn't like this? Sandy dies. In her mind, girls should never have sex before they're ready because it leads to bad things. I can't say I completely disagree with her, but don't write an entire novel trashing this behavior and then killing off the slutty girl just to prove a point on how girls should present themselves.

I did not like this novel. I had some major issues with the plot and theme of XVI. If I had this idea and wrote a book about it, the entire idea of Nina's father would be trashed, the horrible thoughts inside Nina's mind would turn to dialogue and actually meeting characters like Ginny, and most importantly, the book would be about women rising up and becoming more than just sex tools. As most reviews will tell you, the idea had potential to take off but it never made it off the ground.
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Dec 09, 2011

Kendaleehs rated it

Imagine your life is set in the future. You are a fifteen year old girl and your birthday is right around the corner. When you turn sixteen you will be getting the XVI tattoo on your wrist. Turning sixteen for most girls are an exciting time, it’s a time when all the boys will want you, especially if you follow the Sixteen Ways. Unlike most girls your age you are not very excited. You see the bad things that happen to girls, and how they are treated. You don’t want to be like the rest of the “s...moreImagine your life is set in the future. You are a fifteen year old girl and your birthday is right around the corner. When you turn sixteen you will be getting the XVI tattoo on your wrist. Turning sixteen for most girls are an exciting time, it’s a time when all the boys will want you, especially if you follow the Sixteen Ways. Unlike most girls your age you are not very excited. You see the bad things that happen to girls, and how they are treated. You don’t want to be like the rest of the “sex-teens”. Even though you are about to turn sixteen you have a lot more things to worry about in your life, like giving something important to somebody that you thought was dead dead, people that you are close to dying, and trying to protect yourself and your sister from being hurt. That is a lot for a fifteen year old girl, but that is exactly how life is for Nina. Although Nina’s life is quite crazy, she doesn’t do it all alone. With help with her family and friends she manages to stay strong and is up to the challenge her life has given her. Will she be able to beat the challenge? Stay safe from Ed? Keep herself from becoming a typical “sex-teen”?
I really liked the book XVI by Julia Karr. Although the book is set in a futuristic setting I think the characters are very realistic and could resemble any group of friends. The main character is a very strong character and is very brave. Even with a lot of tragic things happening around her she is still able to do what she has to do. The plot was a little bizarre, but the book was pretty intense. When reading you will always be wondering what will happen next. I don’t think the Karr’s writing was to simple or two wordy. I think she wrote the book exactly how somebody in that situation would think. I think one of the main points was never give up. I think the book also teaches to stand up against the government when you know they’re wrong, and too always stand up in what you believe. Another theme I think the book has is love; there are a lot of things about love in this story. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories about adventurous teens and like very intense books that keep you on the edge of your seat.
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Nov 27, 2011

Amanda Welling rated it

See My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy.com...

First Impressions: I don’t know how I missed this one when it was released earlier this year! I love dystopian books and when I found out about XVI’s sequel, Truth, I knew I wanted to read this book first so I could read Truth. The premise of this book is what really drew me in and I was curious to how well the author would handle such a huge concept.

First 50 Pages: The story is told from the first-person ...moreSee My Full Review Here: http://www.hippiesbeautyandbooksohmy.com...

First Impressions: I don’t know how I missed this one when it was released earlier this year! I love dystopian books and when I found out about XVI’s sequel, Truth, I knew I wanted to read this book first so I could read Truth. The premise of this book is what really drew me in and I was curious to how well the author would handle such a huge concept.

First 50 Pages: The story is told from the first-person perspective of Nina, the main female protagonist. I use to really despise first-person perspective but it is actually starting to grow on me a bit, especially with the dystopian books. The first part of the story was pretty interesting although I think it took me a while to really get into the book. I found some flaws along the way that were irritating, but not large enough to give me this book a bad review. I’ll get into what they annoyances were in a minute.

Characters & Plot: My largest issue with this book was it had the habit of repeating the same things over and over. We start the book by being introduced to Nina and her best friend Sandy, who are on their way to visit Nina’s grandparents. Nina and Sandy live in a world where the Media is the government, where there are no personally freedoms, and women are ready and available for sex by the age of sixteen. Once a girl is sixteen, she is branded like a cow with a tattoo on her wrist to show all of the world that she is ready for sex.

Nina isn’t sure what to make of everything that is going on around her. Her mother seems anti-government, as do her grandparents, but Sandy can’t wait to be sixteen and to hopefully be chosen for FeLs, an elite groups of citizens that could be Sandy’s ticket out of her lower tier classification. Everything in their world tells them that this is normal and even encourages young women to flirt and be attractive for men. Sounds a little crazy right? It was also confusing. There are so many new things I was introduced to that it took me a while for everything to sink in. The author is very detailed and describes everything in this world in a very intricate manner. That is all fine and good, but it did make for a kind of slow plot because she has to lay all of the foundation work for this world. I have a feeling that the second book will contain a lot more action then the first. A series of events happen and things are discovered that makes Nina’s world flip upside down. There is also a tiny bit of romance found in this crazy society between Nina and this sort of mysterious young boy named Sal.

As far as the character go, I thought Nina was a little bland. She was naïve throughout most of the story and she was just starting to “grow a pair” when the book ended. She was timid and she was also extremely self-conscience. She was constantly putting herself down and had a kind of negative outlook on life, not that I can blame her, because the world she lives in basically sucks.

Sandy was laughable. She is describes as an airhead who is pretty much plain old stupid. She is a nice girl who believes anything the Media tells her, which her mother encourages. She doesn’t think before she speaks and it has the tendency to get her into a lot of trouble. I actually felt bad for what happened to her in this story because she was likeable, despite her horny teenagerish ways.

The other characters I couldn’t really connect with. They are quite a few supporting characters who are just sort of floating around but don’t get enough time in the book to make them feel very real. I would have liked to learn more about Sal in particular, and I don’t think his relationship with Nina felt very realistic. I did like Nina’s grandparents though! They were kind of like the comic relief in this story, especially when the author would describe Nina’s grandfather’s fake leg. I thought they were pretty entertaining. Other than that, I wish the author would have expanded certain characters like Sal, Ed, Dee and the rest of Nina’s friends in the story. The character development could have been much better.

Final Thoughts: The book ended just when I thought it was starting to get much more interesting. I feel like this first book was setting up for the second, which I don’t really mind. I have heard from early reviewers that Truth is much better then XVI so I will definitely be picking up it up when it is released.

I really liked the themes in this book even though I didn’t think the characters were all that wonderful. The world they live in is really frightening, especially because everything seemed so plausible. This is stuff that could actually happen and nothing felt far-fetched. I would recommend this book to an older teen because it is highly sexual and I don’t think it is ideal for someone younger. It also has some graphic scenes that include beatings and a talk of rape. This book series isn’t going to be for everyone. Even with its flaws I had a difficult time putting the book down.(less)

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Nov 06, 2011

Lucie added it

Impressions:
By starting this book, I admit I was afraid of falling into a story full of sex-teens. As a result of the first passages, I've feared the worst. Yet, without habing a blind eye, you have to admitt that at sixteen and long before that, sex is in everyone's mind. No reason then to play the prudes, this is a reality that Julia Karr talk about with rightness.

By continuing the reading, it opens to a dystopia close to "1984" by George Orwell, whose book is menti...moreImpressions:
By starting this book, I admit I was afraid of falling into a story full of sex-teens. As a result of the first passages, I've feared the worst. Yet, without habing a blind eye, you have to admitt that at sixteen and long before that, sex is in everyone's mind. No reason then to play the prudes, this is a reality that Julia Karr talk about with rightness.

By continuing the reading, it opens to a dystopia close to "1984" by George Orwell, whose book is mentioned several times. A "Big Brother", able to track people through GPS implanted, listen to your private conversations and an obligation to tattooed women from 16 to guarantee their safety. A world where thinking and silence are prohibited. A state where the brains are appropriately handled through commercial advertising.
Lack of consideration for women, the poor and homeless. But with a core group of rebels, working in the shadows, refusing to believe all the lies and hoping for a better world.

I love dystopias for the reassuring feelings they give you. You can always close the book by saying it's a fantasy straight out of the mind of the author, if reading bothers us.
Also a view of the world much scarier because the one offered to our reading is always much closer to the real world in which we live than you want to believe.

When you see the addiction to smart phones of all the population nowadays who can not do without a phone even in the most unexpected places...Do they remember that there are about twenty of years ago, we knew how to live a peacefully life without all these technologies ... That our privacy was not polluted by calls or inconsistent text ?

When looking closely at the information given by the television that direct broadcast topics, don't you feel to live your life on a roller coaster? We move from environmental disasters to the end of the economic world in less than seven days. These atrocities ever detailed to satisfy the bloodthirsty fans of TV reality.
But what happened to the background emission, the debates? Is it really crucial for us to watch a debate about the importance for Santa Claus to lose weight ?

Are diehards who read and think still alive in a society based on instant gratification and mass consumption? Is it possible to raise our children with values in a society regimented by advertising and fast-food informations ?
We need to take advantage of modernity without forgetting the lessons of the past and history.

That's why I like dystopias! Science Fiction more real than it seems, with plausible monsters. "XVI" is interesting, scary and dark. Far from the fairies, vampires and gargoyles, it reminds us that we can sink easily and it is easier to follow the crowd than to follow his own path.
I look forward to the further adventures of Nina and her friends in "Truth" released in January 2012.

Read more about this book directly on my blog: http://newbooksonmyselves.blogspot.com/2...

Lucie(less)

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Oct 29, 2011

Andy Gavin rated it

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise is fine, set in a dystopian 2150 where teens are branded at 16 as"legal for sex." Nina is almost 16, and is dealing with not only the stress of this oncoming rite of passage, but boys, the death of her mother, and a bigger conspiracy.

But where to begin with the problems. The protagonist is okay, and there isn't anything wrong with the prose, but fundamentally this book stands out as an example of premise over pl...more

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Sep 19, 2011

Allisyn rated it

I enjoyed the premise of XVI a lot. I love the Dystopian exaggeration of modern trends that occurs in the novel- the sexualization at young age, the strictly tiered social classes and the hyper-present advertising. While the threads of the dystopian themes were presented in an interesting fashion, I would have liked to see more tension between the goals of Nina and the structure of her society especially with regards to the class tensions.

I really enjoyed the developing relationship ...more

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Aug 17, 2011

Emma rated it

Shelves: authoral-fail, disappointing, do-not-read, sci-fi, series, ya, weird

I read this one because I thought the premise looked… original, which is something I haven’t been seeing much of in the much diluted world of dystopian sci-fi (honestly, it’s like right after Twilight was published, when everything was vampires. But now it’s bad government systems). It was a dystopia about the sexual exploitation of women. There is so much that could be done here, considering this is actually a legitimate issue in today’s world.

Unfortunately, the execution was bad....more

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Aug 08, 2011

Marybeth P. rated it

I have to say, the 2011 line up of books is just amazing. XVI I specifically pick because I am a feminist through and through, and anything that deals with objecting women is something I would want to read.

I just have to say, that the world Nina lives in I would most likely just end up shooting myself before turning into a walking sex toy for any man, so you can imagine that the character Sandy just drove me up the wall. And the worst part is that girl's are portrayed in this way even ...moreI have to say, the 2011 line up of books is just amazing. XVI I specifically pick because I am a feminist through and through, and anything that deals with objecting women is something I would want to read.

I just have to say, that the world Nina lives in I would most likely just end up shooting myself before turning into a walking sex toy for any man, so you can imagine that the character Sandy just drove me up the wall. And the worst part is that girl's are portrayed in this way even today. Sure, if a girl get's gang raped she can easily go to court and most likely win if it's how it happened, but the way females dress today and the way they act, and even the TV shows just show the worst portrayal of women and those who are politicians or in some shape or form independent are seen as stupid, incompetent, or just not accepted my society.

This novel hit home in many places, especially since if I did live in this world then I don't think I could live having people think I "asked for it" because I'm a woman. It was just something that no female should go through, and Sandy just didn't understand. I felt bad in the end, but I was almost glad for the way things ended for her. It was wrong of me to think of that, but if the things that Nina and her friends described is the fate of women and Sandy was in no shape to fight against the system then I guess things ended for her the best way they could, because at least now no harm can come to her.

But if I did live in this world, I would have to find the courage to fight, even in this one.

Why did I give this book a four? I really wish they had described how things got to where they were in this book. I wish we got some more background information on how the government practically telling men to just rape women. I like how most of the character's developed, I liked how Nina grew, but I wish that at the very least Nina got to see her father.

I did like the pace of the book. Everything didn't just happen at once and things were spread out. I also liked the way the world was well developed in many cases. At lot of Nina's fear and doubts were well founded and I liked how she stayed consistent the entire novel.

I would definitely recommend this book. I think that Nina made some good friends and that the sequel TRUTH will hopefully give some insight to the history and that the entire rebel movement will go into full effect, because in this novel I felt like they were adding fuel to a car, and now this car needs to take off. I will be keeping an out for the next book and can't wait to read.

Realistic is really the only word to describe it because it's practically happening today. Sad, but still hopeful. I can see this book as a movie too. And it's also original, very original.(less)

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title link	preview: XVI
avg rating	preview: XVI Goodreads rating: 3.47 (2538 ratings)
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XVI (XVI #1)

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