Truth

Truth by Julia Karr was an okay sequel to XVI. A lot happened that I didn't expect and some things happened that I predicted.

The story picks up a few days or weeks after the first book ended, with Nina still sad about her friend Sandy dying, and her killing her step father, Ed, in defense. To make her situation worse, her grandfather gets arrested for being a Non-Con sympathizer, her grandmother suffers a heart attack and Nina and her sister get evicted from their apartment.

Some pretty predictable stuff happens like Nina and Sal getting into a fight, Nina meeting someone new and she becomes conflicted about her feelings.

Some not so predictable things also happen, but I won't spoil those.

Overall, it's a good read, a lot happens which keeps the story fast paced. What makes this series great is the message behind it; girls are just as strong as boys and don't have to conform to what society thinks they should be.

Once again, it ends with a cliff hanger, leaving the reader to anticipate the third installment! 

XVI

XVI by Julia Karr was fantastic! It has renewed my faith in teen dystopia novels.

It's the year 2150 and the world is completely different, at least in the way that women are treated. On a girls 16th birthday she is required to get a tattoo on her wrist, a XVI, to let people around her know that she is "legal". Originally, this law was passed to protect girls but now the tattoo is a free pass for men to do what they want to these girls, no matter what the girl wants.

Nina, a 15 year old girl, is dead nervous about turning sixteen, or as the other teens call it, sexteen. But, with her birthday looming, it's not the only thing she has to worry about. Tragedy strikes her family and as she slowly begins to discover family secrets she realizes her life is in danger.

What I absolutely love about this book is how SMART Nina is. Unlike other female protagonists in dytopia novels, Nina isn't convinced she needs to deal with all of her troubles on her own. She seeks the help of her friends and family, making sure they know what's going on. Also, even though she does have a love interest in this book, Nina doesn't drop her entire life to be with this guy, she doesn't even drop her less than sensible best friend. This is the strong heroine that's been missing from the last few books I've read.

Great book. Great characters. Ending leaves a little to be desired. But, of course, there is a sequel.