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electraheart's review against another edition
3.0
As a dystopian novel, this book was a little disappointing. Like other people have said, the idea has so much potential, but it falls short in the writing.
I understand Nina grew up in a family who were against the media/government, but there was so much of the "sex-teen" issue being shoved down my throat the entire time. Her constant worry seemed to be that she didn't want to turn sixteen because she didn't want to have sex. It was constantly coming up in the story, and I think if it had been taken out (thus probably eliminating the dystopia theme), it would have been a better novel. Even the summary of the book is about Nina dreading her sixteenth birthday, but there is so much more to the book than that. At times I felt there was even too much going on. I liked the plot twists and aside from Sandy, I enjoyed most of the characters, especially Wei. It was frustrating at times to have to stick the book out with Nina, because although it's understandable, her paranoia of everyone got a little annoying at times. She wasn't the best protagonist, but rather, she was tolerable.
I liked this book, but I don't think there was anything very special to it.
I understand Nina grew up in a family who were against the media/government, but there was so much of the "sex-teen" issue being shoved down my throat the entire time. Her constant worry seemed to be that she didn't want to turn sixteen because she didn't want to have sex. It was constantly coming up in the story, and I think if it had been taken out (thus probably eliminating the dystopia theme), it would have been a better novel. Even the summary of the book is about Nina dreading her sixteenth birthday, but there is so much more to the book than that. At times I felt there was even too much going on. I liked the plot twists and aside from Sandy, I enjoyed most of the characters, especially Wei. It was frustrating at times to have to stick the book out with Nina, because although it's understandable, her paranoia of everyone got a little annoying at times. She wasn't the best protagonist, but rather, she was tolerable.
I liked this book, but I don't think there was anything very special to it.
smashattackash's review against another edition
Read over at Smash Attack Reads! http://www.smashattackreads.com/2011/05/review-xvi-by-julia-karr.html
I love a good dystopian book that brings ugly socio-political issues to light. XVI does just that, as the premise of this book is horrifying. On their 16th birthday, teen girls are branded with a tattoo on their wrist: XVI. This announces to the world that they are now sexteens and ready and willing to pleasure you. Predatory men await the day that tattoos appear on the wrists of teenage girls so that they can have their way with them, regardless of the girl’s consent. Big Brother was in full effect in this novel. The Media has constant verts talking in your ear, which doesn’t give you a moment to think for yourself. You can’t talk freely lest the big ears in the sky pick up your Non-Con speak. Society is also now a caste system. The lower the tier, the lower the class, and thus, the lower opportunities you have and the bigger chance you have of being royally screwed.
All of the above creates a terrifying world that really makes your skin crawl, and we are presented with this ugly, disgusting society…with no explanation. We get no history on how the world came to be as such, and while that isn’t a required component for dystopian novels, it sure as hell helps. I think that history assists the reader in absorbing why society has become Hell on Earth, and not just accepting it as is. I need cause and effect!
Nina was forgettable to me and was not the standout in this book. While her character seemed to have the right combination of substance and mindlessness only a teenager can possess, I did not find myself connecting with her. I loved her relationship with Sal, but it was mainly because of Sal. He was an enjoyable character, providing me with my much needed witty sarcasm and vulnerability. Nina’s grandparents were amazing too, as was Wei, Nina’s upper tier friend. Nina’s grandparents were so realistic and endearing. I felt so much love between those pages. Wei was a very interesting character. She has already turned 16 and thus, has the tattoo. However, she is strong-minded and confident in herself and does not worry about what the tattoo means for her. She shows much concern for her friends and sticks her neck out to keep them safe.
Slang can be hit or miss with me. The slang in this book did not annoy me as it was not overused and it was easy to figure out the meaning. Ultrayums is about the best word ever. And while Nina’s best friend, Sandy, was as close to getting bitch slapped as a fictional character can get, her use of the world ultra was too fun. Domestic violence was integrated into the story, although it takes a backseat to the main plot. Nina’s mom endured years of abuse to keep Nina safe. You will have to read the book in order to find out the story there. The ending was way too abrupt. It was anticlimactic and a tad disappointing. However, this is a series so it was likely written that way on purpose. I am glad that is continuing. These kids must make it out of the grips of this horrific society!
I love a good dystopian book that brings ugly socio-political issues to light. XVI does just that, as the premise of this book is horrifying. On their 16th birthday, teen girls are branded with a tattoo on their wrist: XVI. This announces to the world that they are now sexteens and ready and willing to pleasure you. Predatory men await the day that tattoos appear on the wrists of teenage girls so that they can have their way with them, regardless of the girl’s consent. Big Brother was in full effect in this novel. The Media has constant verts talking in your ear, which doesn’t give you a moment to think for yourself. You can’t talk freely lest the big ears in the sky pick up your Non-Con speak. Society is also now a caste system. The lower the tier, the lower the class, and thus, the lower opportunities you have and the bigger chance you have of being royally screwed.
All of the above creates a terrifying world that really makes your skin crawl, and we are presented with this ugly, disgusting society…with no explanation. We get no history on how the world came to be as such, and while that isn’t a required component for dystopian novels, it sure as hell helps. I think that history assists the reader in absorbing why society has become Hell on Earth, and not just accepting it as is. I need cause and effect!
Nina was forgettable to me and was not the standout in this book. While her character seemed to have the right combination of substance and mindlessness only a teenager can possess, I did not find myself connecting with her. I loved her relationship with Sal, but it was mainly because of Sal. He was an enjoyable character, providing me with my much needed witty sarcasm and vulnerability. Nina’s grandparents were amazing too, as was Wei, Nina’s upper tier friend. Nina’s grandparents were so realistic and endearing. I felt so much love between those pages. Wei was a very interesting character. She has already turned 16 and thus, has the tattoo. However, she is strong-minded and confident in herself and does not worry about what the tattoo means for her. She shows much concern for her friends and sticks her neck out to keep them safe.
Slang can be hit or miss with me. The slang in this book did not annoy me as it was not overused and it was easy to figure out the meaning. Ultrayums is about the best word ever. And while Nina’s best friend, Sandy, was as close to getting bitch slapped as a fictional character can get, her use of the world ultra was too fun. Domestic violence was integrated into the story, although it takes a backseat to the main plot. Nina’s mom endured years of abuse to keep Nina safe. You will have to read the book in order to find out the story there. The ending was way too abrupt. It was anticlimactic and a tad disappointing. However, this is a series so it was likely written that way on purpose. I am glad that is continuing. These kids must make it out of the grips of this horrific society!
rach's review against another edition
2.0
For someone who says they don't want anything to do with sex, Nina sure talked and obsessed about it a lot. I wanted to like this book - dystopian worlds can be really fascinating, and I think there's a good message in not allowing the media to dictate what we believe and say, but the characters were inconsistent and unengaging, and the plot was overly complicated. I couldn't figure out why Nina was worried about whether a boy liked her when she was supposedly dealing with the deal of her mother. I know everyone grieves differently, and Nina has a lot of stuff going on regarding her sister's safety and her dad, but as someone who has recently lost a parent, her reactions and thoughts seemed entirely out of place. When those basic details felt wrong to me, I wasn't able to connect to the story, and I spent most of the time wishing it would speed up the pace.
pegahe's review against another edition
4.0
XVI was a really cool book. The dystopian premise was interesting with the world building and the characters and their experiences were readable.
Nina dreads her 16th birthday where she will get a tattoo on the wrist proclaiming that she is legal for sex. She lives in a terrifying society where girls are taught that being a "sex-teen" is the way to be. These girls will go as far as the guy wants them to. They don't have a very big choice. Nina of course isn't like that- she thinks outside the box. Her mom taught her differently. I liked Nina. She was an obvious independent thinker but she didn't know what to do about the problems in her society. She focused instead on keeping her friends and family safe. Nina is a great character- strong but not a superhero, she has doubts and weaknesses too.
Nina's relationships with the other characters helped shape XVI's world and made it more real for the reader. You meet Sandy, typically wannabe sex-teen who Nina cares for deeply and you can't help but like Sandy, even if she annoys you 3/4s of the time. Then there's Sal, mysterious and gorgeous who you like but you're not sure whether to trust. Nina's romance with Sal is sweet and I supported it. It was a romance you'll root for. Nina also has other friends, Mike, Derek and Wei who are awesome in their own rights. I just loved the relationships and how real they felt in this book.
The world of XVI was different from ours with lots of strange lingo. When I first started reading I got confused and while I learned more what specific words meant, there are still some I don't know of. I did like that the author's world was well thought out enough to have lingo. This is not a society I'd like to live in and it's unforgettable in that sense.
While XVI kept me interested, it wasn't always very action packed. Nina was kept in the dark by her mother so she didn't act much and instead worked on getting the answers. I wasn't sure where the story was going at times. I hope the next book will feature more action and a bit less of mystery.
All in all, a good dystopian read, XVI is another title for your TBR list. 4 stars,
****
Nina dreads her 16th birthday where she will get a tattoo on the wrist proclaiming that she is legal for sex. She lives in a terrifying society where girls are taught that being a "sex-teen" is the way to be. These girls will go as far as the guy wants them to. They don't have a very big choice. Nina of course isn't like that- she thinks outside the box. Her mom taught her differently. I liked Nina. She was an obvious independent thinker but she didn't know what to do about the problems in her society. She focused instead on keeping her friends and family safe. Nina is a great character- strong but not a superhero, she has doubts and weaknesses too.
Nina's relationships with the other characters helped shape XVI's world and made it more real for the reader. You meet Sandy, typically wannabe sex-teen who Nina cares for deeply and you can't help but like Sandy, even if she annoys you 3/4s of the time. Then there's Sal, mysterious and gorgeous who you like but you're not sure whether to trust. Nina's romance with Sal is sweet and I supported it. It was a romance you'll root for. Nina also has other friends, Mike, Derek and Wei who are awesome in their own rights. I just loved the relationships and how real they felt in this book.
The world of XVI was different from ours with lots of strange lingo. When I first started reading I got confused and while I learned more what specific words meant, there are still some I don't know of. I did like that the author's world was well thought out enough to have lingo. This is not a society I'd like to live in and it's unforgettable in that sense.
While XVI kept me interested, it wasn't always very action packed. Nina was kept in the dark by her mother so she didn't act much and instead worked on getting the answers. I wasn't sure where the story was going at times. I hope the next book will feature more action and a bit less of mystery.
All in all, a good dystopian read, XVI is another title for your TBR list. 4 stars,
****
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Great book, loved it So with Wei on the whole wait thing!
acas29's review against another edition
2.0
I read this book for my March Random Reads pick. Going into the book I knew it wasn't going to amaze me. I read a lot of bad reviews on this book, but of course I still forged ahead to make my own decision. Unfortunately, the reviews were right with the one. It had great promise, an interesting plot, but it just wasn't executed eloquently. So my run of mediocre books continues. I feel like I haven't read a solid four or five star book in forever!
Nina Oberon is fifteen, soon to be sixteen. In her world sixteen year olds or "sex-teens" have no rights. They are basically expected to have sex with whomever. One of the problems I had with this book is that the author didn't do a lot of background world building. The End-Of-Wars was mentioned frequently, but what were they? How did this sex-teen world come to be? The concept of the world is interesting, but it wasn't explained very well.
Girls don't have choices in this world. Women's reproductive rights are non-existent. If a girl gets pregnant before she is sixteen she is forced to have an abortion and if she is sixteen, she doesn't get to decide, only the guy's opinion matters. Throughout the novel girls were either deemed virginal if they dressed conservatively or whores and deserved what they got if they dressed provocatively. There was a lot of unanswered questions I had by the time I finish the book. Hopefully, they will be answered in the next book, but I honestly don't think I will be continuing with this series.
Nina Oberon is fifteen, soon to be sixteen. In her world sixteen year olds or "sex-teens" have no rights. They are basically expected to have sex with whomever. One of the problems I had with this book is that the author didn't do a lot of background world building. The End-Of-Wars was mentioned frequently, but what were they? How did this sex-teen world come to be? The concept of the world is interesting, but it wasn't explained very well.
Girls don't have choices in this world. Women's reproductive rights are non-existent. If a girl gets pregnant before she is sixteen she is forced to have an abortion and if she is sixteen, she doesn't get to decide, only the guy's opinion matters. Throughout the novel girls were either deemed virginal if they dressed conservatively or whores and deserved what they got if they dressed provocatively. There was a lot of unanswered questions I had by the time I finish the book. Hopefully, they will be answered in the next book, but I honestly don't think I will be continuing with this series.
midnightbookgirl's review against another edition
4.0
Really interesting dystopian novel, not sure it's as realistic as other YA dystopian books of late, but still a unique take on what happens when the government has almost total control of us. The book left me wanting more, like the history that leads up to this brave new world, and more about Nina's parent's past. The ending is left up in the air, not so much that you feel that it has to have a sequel, but more like it's up to you to imagine if Nina and her friends can help bring about a change. Really liked the characters, especially Wei and Derek. Sadly I found Sandy's character to be all too realistic. XVI was not a perfect novel, but it makes for fast, interesting read. I really came to care about Nina and Dee, and what would happen to them. As dark and grim some events in this book are, I have to give Karr credit for not going too dark, too dreary. For me the best dystopian novels offer some hope, and help serve to remind us that we are individuals and that there is nothing better than freedom.
neonstarlight's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of my favorite books of all time!!
It's the story of a teen girl in a future version of the US where every girl has to get a tattoo that says XVI on her wrist when she turns 16. Society is even more stratified by class than it is now, with people actually being designated at certain tiers. There are few ways to escape the tier you are born in to. Once a girl turns 16, she is basically considered fair game for sexual assault, even if it turns into murder. There is a group of people called the non-cons that exist underground, trying to overthrow the oppressive government and structure.
I am an activist and a feminist, and although I can see where people get the idea that this is victim-blaming or shaming, I think that it's actually quite a feminist book. The writing itself isn't the best I've ever read, but the setting is fantastic because it is believable and that is scary as hell! I can see our society going the way of the one presented in this book (and in many ways, it's halfway there already). Rape is so commonplace and women are so oppressed in this series, that the concept of teaching men not to rape instead of teaching women not to get raped is barely conceivable.
I love stories where a small group of rebels take on their oppressors, and this is a great example of that. It really shows, in a fictional way, that the actions of a few dedicated people can make great changes in the world.
The sequel to this, Truth, is just as fantastic as XVI.
It's the story of a teen girl in a future version of the US where every girl has to get a tattoo that says XVI on her wrist when she turns 16. Society is even more stratified by class than it is now, with people actually being designated at certain tiers. There are few ways to escape the tier you are born in to. Once a girl turns 16, she is basically considered fair game for sexual assault, even if it turns into murder. There is a group of people called the non-cons that exist underground, trying to overthrow the oppressive government and structure.
I am an activist and a feminist, and although I can see where people get the idea that this is victim-blaming or shaming, I think that it's actually quite a feminist book. The writing itself isn't the best I've ever read, but the setting is fantastic because it is believable and that is scary as hell! I can see our society going the way of the one presented in this book (and in many ways, it's halfway there already). Rape is so commonplace and women are so oppressed in this series, that the concept of teaching men not to rape instead of teaching women not to get raped is barely conceivable.
I love stories where a small group of rebels take on their oppressors, and this is a great example of that. It really shows, in a fictional way, that the actions of a few dedicated people can make great changes in the world.
The sequel to this, Truth, is just as fantastic as XVI.
samreads12's review against another edition
3.0
In the future, when a teenage girl turns 16, she gets a tattoo on her wrist, announcing to the world that she is legal and in everyone’s eyes ready for sex.
Nina, the main character, does not want to turn 16. Her mother, Ginny, warns her about the world and terrible things in it. But, Nina’s best friend can’t wait to turn sixteen because of the way the Media portrays life.
In this book the Media is the one in control. They sexualize young teens and mystify other people’s minds so they won’t find out what they’re really up to.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. It took me forever to get to it but I was glad I finally had the chance to read it. I liked it…enough. It’s well written and the characters are very well fleshed out. You never get the sense that you’re missing something.
I don’t like how Karr portrayed Nina’ and Sal’s (love interest) relationship. She was mad at him one moment and was okay a second later. Nina was conflicted between her feelings and the feelings she thought were arousing because of the Media, but Karr didn’t go deep enough. Nina didn’t question long enough.
The ending was another thing I was disappointed about. It didn’t leave jumping for the next one (considering there is a sequel). There was a big development at the end but I felt like Karr just touched the tip of the domino and didn’t let it fall.
Will I read the sequel? Maybe. Will I read it soon? Definitely not.
Nina, the main character, does not want to turn 16. Her mother, Ginny, warns her about the world and terrible things in it. But, Nina’s best friend can’t wait to turn sixteen because of the way the Media portrays life.
In this book the Media is the one in control. They sexualize young teens and mystify other people’s minds so they won’t find out what they’re really up to.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. It took me forever to get to it but I was glad I finally had the chance to read it. I liked it…enough. It’s well written and the characters are very well fleshed out. You never get the sense that you’re missing something.
I don’t like how Karr portrayed Nina’ and Sal’s (love interest) relationship. She was mad at him one moment and was okay a second later. Nina was conflicted between her feelings and the feelings she thought were arousing because of the Media, but Karr didn’t go deep enough. Nina didn’t question long enough.
The ending was another thing I was disappointed about. It didn’t leave jumping for the next one (considering there is a sequel). There was a big development at the end but I felt like Karr just touched the tip of the domino and didn’t let it fall.
Will I read the sequel? Maybe. Will I read it soon? Definitely not.
booklife4life's review against another edition
3.0
Basic Info
Format: Paperback
Pages/Length: 325pgs
Genre: Young Adult; Dystopia
At A Glance
Love Triangle/Insta Love/Obsession?: No.
Cliff Hanger: No.
Triggers: n/a
Rating: 3 stars.
Score Sheet
All out of ten
Cover: 8
Plot: 8
Characters: 8
World Building: 7
Flow: 7
Series Congruity: n/a
Writing: 7
Ending: 4
Total: 6
In Dept
Best Part: The MC wasn't totally clueless.
Worst Part: Love story took over.
Thoughts Had: oh really.; hmmm; yuck.
Conclusion
Continuing the Series: yes
Recommending: yes
Short Review: I didn't know this was part of a series! I have a little less angry towards that crap ending now. I am over the happily ever after endings right now. I WANT MESSYYYYYY GIVE ME MESSYYYYY. The love story took over wayyy too much, make me sad. The ending felt rushed and i was expecting something epic at the end, but guess not. The fight with Ed wasn't enough for me either. A bit disappointed but otherwise an alright read.
Misc.
Book Boyfriend: None.
Best Friend Material: The MC wasn't too bad.
Review in GIF Form:
