XVI by Julia Karr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Debut Author Challenge Book...

For 2011, I joined the debut author challenge and this was the first book I read as part of the challenge.

Not normally a science fiction fan, this book offered interesting insights into how young girls (those about to turn 16) could be viewed by a society run by the government that promotes sexual promiscuity among young teenage girls.

Reading the novel made me remember parts of 1984 by George Orwell and the overwhelming power that governmental control can have on an entire culture.

An enjoyable read at times... the storyline centering on Nina (the main character) and the man her mother was having a relationship with (Ed) was, to me, the focus of the novel. The intricacies of how she was going to be able to overcome his power over her life and her sister's life, was intriguing. Without the help of her friends, she would not have survived.

A testament to the power of friendships - for teenagers.

PLOT SUMMARY:
The novel is set in 2051. Nina is getting ready to turn 16 making her a sex-teen. She must get XVI tatooed on her wrist to let all men know that she is now of legal age for sex. Nina's mother is murdered, but noone seems to really care because she is only a two-tier. The society in which they live is government controlled and is based on a tiered system, with ten being the top tier.
She has a younger sister who she is now responsible for since her father was killed when Nina was born. But is her father dead? What will she do about her newfound feelings for Sal? She does not want to be sexually active and be used by men, but she also wants a boyfriend to love her.
View all my reviews