Truth (XVI, #2) by Julia Karr

• Title: Truth (XVI, 2)
• Classification: Young Adult Fiction (Ages 14 and up)
• Genre: Dystopia
• Format: 272 pages
• Publisher: Puffin; Original edition (January 19, 2012)
• ISBN-10: 0142417726
• ISBN-13: 978-0142417720

     "What is the importance of the XVI tattoo? And you should know this, since I see you now have yours."...
     "The XVI tattoo is a government-mandated brand designed for easy identification of females who are sixteen and legally old enough to be sexually active. Even though it fades away in about six years, when girls get it they become immediately vulnerable to unwanted sexual advances and easy targets for rape. A crime that is rarely, if ever prosecuted because--"
     Mr, G's mouth dropped open; his glasses flew off his pointy nose and dangled from their silver chain. Slamming his pointer on the desk, he roared, "That is NOT an acceptable answer, Miss Oberon!"...
     Skivs! I clapped a hand over my mouth. What was I thinking? Actually, I wasn't thinking. Because of everything that had happened to me in the past few months, my real feelings were finding their voice--which wasn't necessarily a good thing. 


In XVI, we learned that the world is not as it used to be. Women's rights seem to have taken a huge step backwards and women no longer hold the status they once did. The backward society which promotes woman 16 and up to be sexual active without worrying of birth control hides ugly secrets. Nina's parents tried to unveil some of the dirty little secrets hidden from main stream society with devastating effects. Nina's father had gone into hiding while her mother, who found the most damning of information about the FeLS (Female Liasion) program, lost her life in her endeavors to get to the truth. Now Nina has decided to take up where her mom left off and finish what her mother started. She wants to get the truth out. But the scandal that is uncovered is bigger than anyone would suspect and the corruption is seemingly everywhere. Getting the word out will be difficult if not impossible. Plus, Nina now has to contend with the fact she's 16, that fatal turning point in age which makes everything more complicated and confusing. While the truth may set you free, in Nina's world, it can also get you killed ...

I really enjoyed this sequel to XVI. Nina seems to be coming into her own. She's smart and is determined to make difference. The wisdom in her helping with the cause is questioned by Sal, her boyfriend, who thinks she should stay in the background where she'll be safe. That doesn't really sit well with Nina. While she knows Sal has some role with the Resistance, she still don't know what that role exactly is. He's as mysterious as ever. Plus, another character makes his feelings for Nina known. While Sal seems to be jetting off to mysterious places when she needs him most, the potential new love interest tries to tempt her by declaring he'd be there for her. It makes things a tad more interesting.

There are still a lot of things, we readers, don't know that pertain to a man getting his XVIII year tattoo or how the US became such a backward society. I asked the author if we could expect a sequel and she informed me, "There is not a third book under contract, however, I am working on a third one. So - I am guessing it is not the end." I hope that is the case, as it seems we've only skimmed the surface of the world of XVI with Ms. Karr's first two books. Overall, I gave this book 4 out of 5 roses.

     

Ms. Karr discusses Truth (Part 1) 

(Part 2)

XVI by Julia Karr

Publisher: Speak; Original edition (January 6, 2011)
ISBN-10: 0142417718
ISBN-13: 978-0142417713
Classification: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Format: Paperback, 272 pages
Setting: Chicago

This is a Dystopian novel set in a futuristic Chicago. In this one "Big Brother" is not only listening but dictating how people live. Bombarded by a continuous stream of verts (advertisements), a person has little time to think for themselves. Objection is met with rehabilitation and the person who once was is no more. A shell of their former self. While many in our society consider a 16th birthday to be sweet, in this book 16 means a girl is pretty much fair game to the opposite sex. Girls are taught to be open to the advances of men and taught how to flirt and attract male attention. On their 16th birthday they are branded with the tattoo XVI which let's everyone know they are now available.

This is the story of Nina Oberon, a 15 going on sixteen year old girl. She is one of the few who is not looking forward to her 16th, aka sexteenth, birthday. Her approaching birthday is not the only thing she's dealing with as her parents mysterious past is revealed when her mother is murdered. Now she will find out about things the government would rather she not know and set a course that may just alter her destiny to one she never could have imagined.

This one left me with a lot of questions so I hope there will be a sequel. If not I will probably lower my rating. We got a taste of the world Karr has created but not a full meal of it. Feminists are probably going to cringe at this one. In a world that promotes promiscuity in teens why is no birth control mentioned? A shot for STDs, but no Norplant, pill, or other type of contraception is mentioned. I'm not sure why and you would think in the future that 99 percent effectiveness would become 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Perhaps it was just an oversight or could birthrates have declined and so pregnancy along with promiscuity are promoted? Plus equality seems to be a thing of the past.

Also, I would have liked to have seen more of what kind of effect the information which was obtained (trying to not reveal any spoilers) had at the end. Plus, we waited the whole novel to find out about Nina's father and still really have no clue as to what exactly happened with him. We get a small idea, but the big picture has yet to be revealed.

Decisions, decisions. I'm debating giving this one a 3 or a 4 stars. I guess I'll go in between and rate it a 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. This is one of those books I think the majority of people are either going to love or hate with little middle ground.