Truth (XVI #2) by Julia Karr review

MAJOR SPOILERS FOR XVI!

An exciting dystopian thriller, and sequel to XVI

Nina Oberon's life has changed enormously in the last few months. When her mother was killed, Nina discovered the truth about her father, the leader of the Resistance. And now she sports the same Governing Council ordered tattoo of XVI on her wrist that all sixteen-year-old girls have. The one that announces to the world that she is easy prey to predators. But Nina won't be anyone's stereotype. And when she joins an organization of girls working within the Resistance, she knows that they can put an end to one of the most terrifying secret programs the GC has ever conceived. Because the truth always comes out . . . and the consequences can be deadly.

From Goodreads

Nina is all too familiar with how dangerous the truth can be to anyone & everyone. She has lost almost everyone she holds dear to the truth. After her mother's "accident" left her and her little sister "orphaned" in the eyes of the government, the girls are living with their grandparents; but their worries are far from over. Because of her strong convictions & absolute refusal to bow to how others think she should behave, Nina is her own person and is determined to prove it.

When tragedy strikes her family again, Nina vows to do whatever is in her power to make things right. She wants to expose the all important truth so that everyone is free to do as they please and make up their own minds. Unfortunately that's where even she has trouble. With her family life in taters, naturally her love life will follow suit. Torn between what she thinks she wants & what she's struggling to deny she wants, Nina must make some difficult choices that could have serious ramifications for them all.

This was such a great follow up to XVI. Julia Karr has done a phenomenal job continuing right where she left us. Nina is as determined & strong-willed as ever to ensure that her little sister is protected while trying to find a way to make adequate use of her skills in the Resistance. Unfortunately women are shunned from actual "dangerous" work in order to keep them safe. What I love about Nina is that she is not overly concerned with her safety. She is self-sacrificing in a non-pathetic way. She has no intention of being overlooked simply because of her gender. 

Her friends are also wonderful because they vary so greatly, allowing the reader a wide vantage point of the society at large. There are so many facets to be considered that one could easily get lost among the details, but Julia gives many of those facets names and attitudes that permit us to recognize just who & what they embody.

The writing is top notch. The details are spread out enough that you don't find yourself overwhelmed, but still targeted enough to get the message across. There wasn't an overabundance of fluff. Everything had a purpose that either tied together well or laid out a path that I believe will serve a future purpose.

In short, if you haven't already. you should read this series. If for no other reason than the amusing references to today's pop culture, you really should read & enjoy this series. In theory the final installment is due for release sometime this year.

Waiting on Wednesday: Truth (XVI 2) by Julia Karr

Waiting on Wednesday recognizes that we as bookies pine for books. This post is about what I am impatiently waiting for right now. It was started by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

This week I am totally pumped for the January 19th release of Truth, the sequel to Julia Karr's smash hit XVI. Nina is such a mesmerizing character that I couldn't help but get carried away in her story. Now we get to find out what happens next.

An exciting dystopian thriller, and sequel to XVI

Nina Oberon's life has changed enormously in the last few months. When her mother was killed, Nina discovered the truth about her father, the leader of the Resistance. And now she sports the same Governing Council–ordered tattoo of XVI on her wrist that all sixteen-year-old girls have. The one that announces to the world that she is easy prey to predators. But Nina won't be anyone's stereotype. And when she joins an organization of girls working within the Resistance, she knows that they can put an end to one of the most terrifying secret programs the GC has ever conceived. Because the truth always comes out . . . and the consequences can be deadly.

From Goodreads

How awesome does that sound? I mean getting your life turned on it's head is one thing, but this is a whole new level of intense. With compelling writing, memorable characters, & seat-clenching action in the first book I have no doubt that Truth will succeed at its task of being awesome.

Testify by Valerie Sherrard review

In some cases, you really don't want to be stabbed in the front. Shana is a loyal & best friend to Carrie. While the girls have a larger group of about 6 girls who are all friends, Carrie & Shana are the closest to one another. They do typical goofy girl stuff & push the boundaries on rules just enough to test their limits. Carrie is always the instigator, but Shana rarely has a problem going along with Carrie's plans. They do anything for each other out of loyalty, friendship & support. It wouldn't be that big a deal for Carrie to ask Shana to testify that her step father molested her. Only, it didn't happen & Shana knows it. Thinking she's doing the right thing, Shana agrees. She testifies that she saw Carrie's step father grope Carrie & he goes to prison, but it's only the beginning.

With the trial over, all the girls just want to get back to how things used to be before the whole mess; only something's off about their patterns & behavior. When drama unfolds that threatens to tear the group apart, it's up to Shana to get to the bottom of everything. When she gets there, she's so stunned & scared by what she finds. No one is safe as long as there are secrets to cover up & Shana must figure out a way to protect those she cares for and herself.

This was an absolute roller coaster of a book. There are sharp turns that you don't see coming combined with stomach-dropping surprises that will leave you gaping in astonishment. For a 144 page book, Testify packs a serious wallop. Shana is such a caring & trusting character that you can't help but empathize with her situation. She really does think that she is doing the right thing, something that is often over-stressed to young adults, by helping to "put away the bad guy"when in reality she has been duped.

What's truly astonishing about this book are the implications it makes. Who knows how many innocent people have been convicted because of sympathy witnesses & who knows how many teenagers are constantly (both knowingly & unknowingly) being controlled by someone they care about so much. The behavior patterns of these malevolent individuals are obvious if you're looking for them, but seem innocuous to those unaware.

For such a short book, Testify really gives you a lot to think about & I think it gives a startling glimpse at how "good kids go bad." The twist at the end is along the same lines of some of Ellen Hopkins' books. If you've gotten a chance to read this one, what did you think? If you haven't gotten a chance, I highly recommend at least giving it a look. I bet you could read it in the bookstore, it's that engrossing.

Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

MAJOR SPOILERS for Hex Hall. You have been sufficiently warned.

As if killing her demonic grandmother, watching a friend die & losing the boy she loved to a society bent on destroying her kind wasn't enough, now Sophie Mercer is spending her summer vacation in England at the council headquarters...with her dad. Fortunately James is feeling generous, allowing Sophie's pink-loving, vampire best friend Jenna tag along. Oh and he's also bringing along the dashing healer Cal.

Sophie is stunned on her arrival because, despite being assured that she and her father are the only demons now in existence, there are two teen demons at Council Headquarters. Daisy & Nick have no clue how they came to exist as demons because they have to recollection pre-demon existence. What they do have plenty of is attitude & scorn. Along with her new friends, Sophie begins learning how to control her powers & harness their energy. Things are bumping along, and Sophie's starting to accept her abilities & stop obsessing about going through the removal, when the last thing she expected happens. Archer Cross, the leading weapon of The Eye, drops back in to her life. Luckily he doesn't want to hurt her, he wants to educate her... on more than one thing.

Will Sophie be able to figure out where the demons are coming from without creating too much mischief with Archer or will the nemeses collide before they can uncover the truth?

You know how there is this stigma on the second book in a series that it always seems to just be filler with no real meat to it? Well this book defies that stigma... with vengeance! Rachel Hawkins has continued her incredible work in Sophie Mercer's world & has woven an imaginative tale that continues the pre-existing storyline arch. Getting deeper into the meat of the magical world, Demonglass follows Sophie to England where she makes all sorts of trouble that we love about her! Such an indomitable spirit, Sophie truly is a heroine in the making. I enjoy watching her struggle and grow as a character throughout her novels.

We learn more about the other starring characters as well. This time Jenna takes a bit more of a back-seat role to Cal, Sophie's family, & magical history in general. Fitting the puzzle pieces together surrounding each character's actions really shed light onto previous situations in the series. It was like a light bulb moment of "OH!!!" that was very fun to experience.

Rachel's writing style continues to be phenomenal & so approachable that it's hard to put the book down! I will leave you with my favorite sarcastic quip from Sophie & remind you that this terrific book is set to be released March 1st!

Why had my life suddenly become a Nancy Drew mystery from hell? pg. 268 of uncorrected advanced proof.

Book graciously provided by Around the World Tours.

Nostalgic Friday: The Inheritance

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

This week I am very excited to feature a book I had almost completely forgotten about, but that I absolutely adored. I went through a really big historical fiction period in my early teens and this book is no exception. The Inheritance by Louisa May Alcott quickly became a novel that I went back to again and again.

On a 19th century English estate, young Edith Adelon is like a second daughter to Lord and Lady Hamilton. Taken in as a playmate for the couple's daughter, Edith is well liked by many. Unfortunately Lady Hamilton is not among her admirers and as soon as Lord Hamilton dies, Edith is treated like a common servant and forced to truly work in the house she once called a home.

That's not her only problem though, Lady Ida is competing with Edith for the attentions of a certain Lord Percy. While Edith is the purest vessel possible, Lady Ida will stop at nothing to sully the only thing Edith has left, her name. Yet there's some murmurs stirring about Edith's true identity and what it means for all involved.

This book is so much like Sense and Sensibility meets The Luxe series! Edith reminds me a lot of Meg March from Little Women. All Edith wants is a simple life, with good people in it. The drama is not too over-the-top, considering the time period and I found it quite enjoyable to read about the balls and general living conditions of the time. I was excited to discover that this was Alcott's first novel and that it written years before Little Women which has always remained my number one favorite historical fiction.

I find Alcott's writing style much more accessible than Austen's and while some of her characters are not nearly as witty, Alcott does spend time developing their existence so that you really get a sense of what they were like. So much so, that I could imagine asking myself, "What would Lord Percy do in this situation," and actually be able to come up with a response.

A wonderfully delightful read for middle grades and up, The Inheritance is a tale of true identities, romance, and perseverance. A fine book all around!

Nostalgic Friday: The Giver by Lois Lowry

Welcome back to Nostalgic Friday! Since I love all things historical (culturally, physically, and personally) I do a post on Fridays honoring some awesome book that is a bit older. Many of them are books I enjoyed in my teens and others are books that I discovered as an adult that I think are relevant to YA readers.

This week I am featuring the literary classic The Giver by Lois Lowry. While it is an often challenged book, I found it no more controversial than many of the other dystopian reads I've enjoyed.

Jonas is a lucky little boy. He lives in a perfect society that is crime-free and well-mannered. Everyone is conditioned from birth to follow the rules and obey the orders that are set forth by the council of elders. Every December the whole community convenes for a ceremony that advances everyone one year. Each child moves forward in their life, receiving new responsibilities or new items each year.

This year Jonas is turning twelve and it's a big year. At twelve, everyone receives their permanent job assignment and begin training for that job. While many of his friends receive jobs like "Assistant Director of Recreation" and "Caretaker" Jonas is skipped over during the ceremony. At the end, the Chief Elder announces that Jonas has been chosen for a very, very special job. He will become the community's new "Receiver of Memory." All the knowledge of the outside world and the truth about his own existence will be given solely to Jonas to bear alone until it is time for him to beginning training a new receiver.

Thus begins the end. Jonas starts to learn about the truth of life. While other children received mountains of paperwork describing their jobs, Jonas got one piece of paper stating that:

1. He is exempt from rules governing rudeness
2. He is not allowed to discuss his training.
3. He is not allowed to share his dreams anymore
4. He cannot apply for medication unless it is for an illness unrelated to his training
5. He cannot apply for release
6. He is allowed to lie.

As Jonas starts to receive information from "The Giver" he beings to understand...everything. There are rules for conduct to prevent conflict and war (which was devastating in the past), there was medication to suppress emotions and feelings (to make the population more controlled), and the wonderful "release" ceremony that happens to the old or children who fail to thrive is really just lethal injections timed for optimum population maintenance.

As a result of all Jonas learns, he decides he must escape. He must do everything he can to make it out of the community with whoever he can. But will anyone believe him, help him, or stop him?

This book was absolutely incredible! I now understand why people have looked at me like was insane for years when I said I had not read this book. For such a short book (only 192 pages) it was jam packed with information and ideas. The idea that a perfect society can be created by suppressing the free will that makes us human is preposterous! Eventually something will break down and it will go awry. In this community's case, the thought that one person can house all the world's knowledge that is withheld from the people is just insane. Not to mention the pain that it causes that person. They cannot share their burden, they cannot shirk their responsibility, and they have to bear it so that everyone else can lead a hunky-dory life.

Jonas was a fascinating character to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him move through his twelfth year as he came to understand the truth of his world. Not only had the truth been kept from him, but everyone in his entire life was perpetuating the lies. Observing Jonas as a specimen in a science experiment was engrossing because each little nugget of knowledge burrowed deeper into his subconscious until it was absorbed.

The Giver was also an interesting person of note due to his particular role. He not only had the unfortunate job of housing all the knowledge, but he also knew that he had to pass it along. While is was a lot of good things to be passed along, there were horrors that he hated to bestow upon anyone. His duty was to pass all the memories he possessed to Jonas without driving him off. A tough task indeed and it came with a miraculous outcome.

A true piece of literary mastery, The Giver is probably now situated in the mid-range of the best books I have ever read. If you like books like The Hunger Games and Candor, then this is right up your alley.