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A review by electraheart
XVI by Julia Karr
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.