Review: Truth

Truth

Julia Karr

Copyright 2012, Speak an imprint of Penguin

In this sequel to "XVI," Nina Oberon's life has changed enormously. After 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 16-year-old girls have. But Nina won't be anyone's stereotype. Goodreads

Nina is a girl fighting for her rights, her sister, her relationship, her friendship - her enitre world. And she never backs down; regardless of the set backs the government and life in general send her way, Nina takes a deep breath and shoulders it all - ready to fight again. The best part about her, IMO, is not even that she relentlessly fights for what she believes in - but that she's as confused as any other girl going through it all would be.

Especially now, when Sal is spending more and more time doing resistance work that she can't be a part of. Nina is determined to find a way to help, whether her protective boyfriend thinks it's a good idea or not. Which brings me to Chris. Her best friends brother? Yeah. He's a hottie. And he's understanding and even while I'm thinking "But I love Sal!"...my pom poms may have switched team colors...Ok yeah, they did. I'll admit it! Dang it Julia, I don't switch fictional boy teams!!

The government is back and dirtier than ever, too, which complicates things a whole heck of a lot. Gran and Pop's are present, but so are some characters we didn't know quite as well in XVI and some we don't want to know...PAULETTE.

I love the emphasis this series places on sexuality. And yes, I'll get on a bit of a soapbox, but really girls - you dress a certain way and don't expect comments and assumptions from the people and guys around you? What message are you sending and are you okay with the response to it?? Karr finds a way to show that it's ok to be and to feel sexy without being "sex teen" or a "liason" and it's a message I think a lot of our youth and hell, adult women, need to hear!!

You saw it in my XVI review and I'll repeat myself here because I really believe in these books and the messages inside of them. Buy them, read them, buy copies for friends - give yours away! But get the word out - this is a powerful series!!