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mcfade28's review
2.0
Read this for the X in my alphabet challenge, but I unfortunately didn't really enjoy it. This felt like a very moralistic take on teenagers and teen sex, set in a dystopian society
thorajulia's review
2.0
I do not know where to start.
Give two stars because made it to the end and it was an enjoyable enough read.
Buuut! Although i really wanted to like this book it was just too predictable. I knew what was going to happen because it was always so obvious.
This was one of those 'good idea, not well executed' books.
The characters were alright. Sal and Wei were really cool characters. But Nina!? Oh god. Lets just keep it at that.
Give two stars because made it to the end and it was an enjoyable enough read.
Buuut! Although i really wanted to like this book it was just too predictable. I knew what was going to happen because it was always so obvious.
This was one of those 'good idea, not well executed' books.
The characters were alright. Sal and Wei were really cool characters. But Nina!? Oh god. Lets just keep it at that.
cjyu's review
3.0
I can't rate this book exactly, this book is more than a rating.
This is our culture explored in the most creepiest way possible- showing us what WILL happen if we let society continue. Ed was.. GODS, I don't even want to say it, disgusting, atrocious, everything that gives me nightmares. How he could be like that, IT WAS DISGUSTING. AND THE THINGS HE SAID TO NINA... I don't blame Nina on her accidental killing, I'd thrust a sword through his heart and grind that guy up into meat sauce and feed him to the sharks. Good riddance. How Dee can find him so trusting... UGGGH.
Not to mention media- the influence of media was INSANE here. I've watched a movie on the influence of media, it's happening now, around us, JUST LOOK. So many things about media are affecting us, and if we don't stop letting it control us, what happens in XVI, will ultimately happen to us. (Gee, now I wish I read this book before my English final. I could've used to to prove some insane points of the effects of society media has.) Look at the media, it makes girls want to be those "sex-teens" and go into FeLS, which is just a fancy cover up of sex slavery, which disgusts me. I was swearing out loud when I read that.
XVI was not really dystopian novel- more of a scary novel showing us how the world will be if we allow all the things we said to go on. A scary future. There has no doubts that this has opened me up into the other scary perspectives of our culture today.
I suppose the romance with Sal was the only soothing thing in this novel- like a balm for the wounds when you read about these horrific scenes in the book.
This is our culture explored in the most creepiest way possible- showing us what WILL happen if we let society continue. Ed was.. GODS, I don't even want to say it, disgusting, atrocious, everything that gives me nightmares. How he could be like that, IT WAS DISGUSTING. AND THE THINGS HE SAID TO NINA... I don't blame Nina on her accidental killing, I'd thrust a sword through his heart and grind that guy up into meat sauce and feed him to the sharks. Good riddance. How Dee can find him so trusting... UGGGH.
Not to mention media- the influence of media was INSANE here. I've watched a movie on the influence of media, it's happening now, around us, JUST LOOK. So many things about media are affecting us, and if we don't stop letting it control us, what happens in XVI, will ultimately happen to us. (Gee, now I wish I read this book before my English final. I could've used to to prove some insane points of the effects of society media has.) Look at the media, it makes girls want to be those "sex-teens" and go into FeLS, which is just a fancy cover up of sex slavery, which disgusts me. I was swearing out loud when I read that.
XVI was not really dystopian novel- more of a scary novel showing us how the world will be if we allow all the things we said to go on. A scary future. There has no doubts that this has opened me up into the other scary perspectives of our culture today.
I suppose the romance with Sal was the only soothing thing in this novel- like a balm for the wounds when you read about these horrific scenes in the book.
trisha_thomas's review
2.0
I just...I had a tough time buying into the world. Where suddenly we believe every girl, just when she turns 16, suddenly all she wants is sex. To the point that we don't eve aknowledge rape or consent. I just couldn't see the world getting to this point.
but when reading a dystopia novel, as soon as you can't buy into the reality, the rest (for me) kind of falls apart.
and there is a HUGE part of the story that is just the struggle of sex and turning "sexteen" and what that means. Because Nina is really "pure" and all wholesome and her best friend Sandy is a pre-sexteen extraordinaire! She can't WAIT for sex to at least be possible (not that she will, just that she will be able to).
the adventure of Sal, her mom (Why did she call her Ginnie!? That always threw me for a loop), Ed, her sister Dee her Grandparents...all of it was interesting, but lacked the luster of a world I could buy into.
but when reading a dystopia novel, as soon as you can't buy into the reality, the rest (for me) kind of falls apart.
and there is a HUGE part of the story that is just the struggle of sex and turning "sexteen" and what that means. Because Nina is really "pure" and all wholesome and her best friend Sandy is a pre-sexteen extraordinaire! She can't WAIT for sex to at least be possible (not that she will, just that she will be able to).
the adventure of Sal, her mom (Why did she call her Ginnie!? That always threw me for a loop), Ed, her sister Dee her Grandparents...all of it was interesting, but lacked the luster of a world I could buy into.
hugbandit7's review
4.0
quite an exciting YA book. I read this for my A-Z challenge but didn't expect the twists that this book offered. While the world is falling apart in our world, what is presented in this book probably isn't too far off base (government all in your business, big brother, etc). I know there are a few other books after this one that I need to check out and see how the story continues with Nina and Sal and others.
jennifermreads's review
4.0
Whoa. This book tackled some serious issues. Sex. Religion. Abuse. Privacy rights. Rights period.
Julia Karr developed Nina as a character so that the reader could grow and change with her. Nina’s unending faith in her life and society are a bit naïve – but this is the innocence of childhood, right? And, as the author shows, turning 16 can mean more than hormonal changes, there can be a wider growth as well.
I fear that a number of teens may be pulled away from the powerful messages by parents who are being a tad overprotective – and the religious jabs may be an additional deterrent for parents. Is it uncomfortable to think about being “ready for sex” at 16? Heck yeah! Is it difficult to face a questioning faith? Oh yeah! Is it tricky to question society and societal norms? Sure is! But Ms. Karr approaches all this with a reality and honesty that is refreshing. If even one teen questions their beliefs, ethics, and decisions, she will have succeeded.
I liked this enough to want to read the next installment and discover what happens when Nina meets her father. I requested the purchase for my library.
Julia Karr developed Nina as a character so that the reader could grow and change with her. Nina’s unending faith in her life and society are a bit naïve – but this is the innocence of childhood, right? And, as the author shows, turning 16 can mean more than hormonal changes, there can be a wider growth as well.
I fear that a number of teens may be pulled away from the powerful messages by parents who are being a tad overprotective – and the religious jabs may be an additional deterrent for parents. Is it uncomfortable to think about being “ready for sex” at 16? Heck yeah! Is it difficult to face a questioning faith? Oh yeah! Is it tricky to question society and societal norms? Sure is! But Ms. Karr approaches all this with a reality and honesty that is refreshing. If even one teen questions their beliefs, ethics, and decisions, she will have succeeded.
I liked this enough to want to read the next installment and discover what happens when Nina meets her father. I requested the purchase for my library.
rainmisoa's review
1.0
I am going to start off by saying I couldn't even finish this book. I just couldn't. I normally try to finish every book I start, but I've gotten to the point where if I am not enjoying a book, I shouldn't force myself through it. I am just making myself miserable and ruining my reading experience. This book was the last straw. It pushed me over the edge and I just had to stop.
There is not a single thing I liked about this book. The writing is mediocre. I never once felt like I was being pulled in to this world through the writing. It felt very bland. Also, this is supposed to be a finished copy and there were so many typoes! I counted more than five! If it was just one or two, I could let that slide. But more than five? Come on now! Also, this world is just so unbelievable. There is no way people, in a society that's constantly under surveillance, can have sex under a bush. Also, SEX UNDER A BUSH WOULD BE THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE THING EVER! How can you have sex with branches prodding your butt? No. Just no.
The characters were just... boring. Nothing about any of them made me love them. They were so flat with only sex on the brain. I am not a prude. I don't mind sex in my books. But I want a little more to my characters than just sex. The parts where Nina, the main character, should have been worried about her family because of her father being wrapped up in something against the government, she was more worried about her love interest, Sal, not wanting to be with her or kiss her. No one in their right mind would do that. People will put everything aside to help their family. Not think about getting it on with some guy they only knew for a few days! I got more than half-way through the book and there were no signs of character development whatsoever. Nothing was happening except her wanting Sal and, for me, that's not a story about a dystopian world.
If this sounds like something you want to read, then go ahead. I believe every book deserves to be read. I could not get into this book. I do not like this book. But that is just my opinion. You may love this book. If you do, then great! If not, then stop reading it and find something you do love. Me? I am going to find something else because this book just... wasn't for me.
There is not a single thing I liked about this book. The writing is mediocre. I never once felt like I was being pulled in to this world through the writing. It felt very bland. Also, this is supposed to be a finished copy and there were so many typoes! I counted more than five! If it was just one or two, I could let that slide. But more than five? Come on now! Also, this world is just so unbelievable. There is no way people, in a society that's constantly under surveillance, can have sex under a bush. Also, SEX UNDER A BUSH WOULD BE THE MOST UNCOMFORTABLE THING EVER! How can you have sex with branches prodding your butt? No. Just no.
The characters were just... boring. Nothing about any of them made me love them. They were so flat with only sex on the brain. I am not a prude. I don't mind sex in my books. But I want a little more to my characters than just sex. The parts where Nina, the main character, should have been worried about her family because of her father being wrapped up in something against the government, she was more worried about her love interest, Sal, not wanting to be with her or kiss her. No one in their right mind would do that. People will put everything aside to help their family. Not think about getting it on with some guy they only knew for a few days! I got more than half-way through the book and there were no signs of character development whatsoever. Nothing was happening except her wanting Sal and, for me, that's not a story about a dystopian world.
If this sounds like something you want to read, then go ahead. I believe every book deserves to be read. I could not get into this book. I do not like this book. But that is just my opinion. You may love this book. If you do, then great! If not, then stop reading it and find something you do love. Me? I am going to find something else because this book just... wasn't for me.