*Review* : XVI - Julia Karr

Book Review of XVI by Julia Karr
Released :6th January 2011

Finished : 11th February
Series : Stand alone 
Source : My Copy
Plot : 5/5
Cover : 3.5/5
Page Turner : 4.5/5
Characters : 4.5/5
Ending : 4.5/5
Over-all Rating -


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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.
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I SO wanted to read this and after winning £7 to spend at book depository l chose this straight away. I loved the concept behind it, l knew it would be a bit like other books such as Delirium in the sense where it’s in the future and the government strongly control things but l felt it could stand out as a great story by itself. It did.

I wouldn’t say this book is perfect but it is a GREAT read, it was never either 4.5 or 5 but instead either 4/5 or 4.5/5 just because of a few things mentioned here. The concept behind it is a very strong one and like Delirium quite a thought provoking book. The only reason l would say it isn’t perfect is because l feel like it started slow although not in a boring way at all. It pretty much explains Nina’s situation and introduces the people around her. Although l didn’t find this boring,for some reason l didn’t connect with the characters straight away. I don’t know if it’s because the story needs to get going before l do start to connect with them. This may have been the case because after around 50 pages l started to really like this story and connected with the characters.
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Nina has a really hard life in many ways and has a lot of things going on around her which she is unsure about. I felt sorry for her as she finds herself in hard situations but always has someone else to think of. After saying that and taking into consideration her problems in life l still felt in some ways she quite randomly would go in a ‘mood’ with the guy and l was kind of confused as to why once or twice and wanted to say to her to stop being silly.. its more her fault! 
I think the blurb is a good one for this story, it doesn’t mention the guys name which could change things for her or even hint towards how he could do this and l really enjoyed this. Being a bit unsure as to who the guy is, although l don’t think it’s the hardest thing to guess but l liked the mystery for a while. Although l am glad l never read this blurb as its different from the one on the book because of how it mentions about her mum.
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One of the only things which didn't work for me was her calling her mum by her name, Ginnie. I was a bit confused as to why but then in the middle of the book it does state why but considering calling your mum 'mum' is the only thing l know l just felt it didn’t work for me, the connection between them was lost in my eyes.
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Overall this book is one which stands out by itself without resembling that much to the other sort of books out like this. The world which Nina lives in felt real and l could actually link it back to now and how things are, l think that makes it feel more real. XVI was rounded up nicely but it could easily also be part of a series because of how it ends.
Julia definitely has the right ideas with how to write a great book and l would recommend this!!
 l work hard to make my reviews non spoiler reviews. Please email/comment me if you feel a review has a spoiler in it.
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My Next Read :

Memento Nora - Angie Simbert
Other reviews :

0.4 - Mike Lancaster (The Slowest Bookworm)

Just Listen - Sarah Dessen (For The Love Of Reading)