Celebrating XVI

No, this is not a post about football. I don't know a lot about football despite having sat through four seasons of it in high school marching band. I do, however, remember all the perverted and stupid things we used to shout at the cheerleaders when they attempted to rile us up. Good times.

Anyway, this IS a post about books! It's Bookanista Thursday! I'm pretty sure we all know the drill now, so I'll run through it fast--theBookanistasareauthors whospreadthewordaboutawesomebooks everyThursdayandisn'tthatfrawesome? It's so frawesome that I want you to give me an all temperature cheer!

HOT! WARM! COLD!

I have no shame.

So let's shamelessly celebrate the book XVI by my friend and Class of 2k11-mate, Julia Karr! Here's a little about the book:
Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world—even the most predatory of men—that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past—one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

And here are three reasons that I hate Julia (in the most admiring way possible):

1. This book made me THINK, but I still enjoyed reading it. I worried about Nina and Dee's safety, and I thought about my own past, and I thought about my daughters. I think this would be a great book club pick because it's the kind of book that people will feel passionate about rather than just going, "Yeah, those zombies were kewl." And isn't that what good dystopians are supposed to do? They're supposed to tell a good story about one bleeping wonky society and get us thinking about our own. This book definitely made that happen for me.
   
2. It's a dystopian that felt like it could actually happen. I love dystopian in general, and there are tons of great ones out there. Recently, though, I've read a couple that were fun and interesting, but I didn't feel like there was ANY WAY they could actually happen. That left me feeling a little removed from the story, and I didn't enjoy them as much as I could have. But this one felt all too possible.
   
3. Julia has the most adorable cats. I have pet envy. My father-in-law is severely allergic, so we don't have any. (Hey, I didn't say this whole list would be book related.)

So there you go! XVI was a fun, thought-provoking read. If you're into dystopia, I definitely recommend it.

But wait! There's more! (Why do I suddenly feel like an infomercial host?) Check out what the other Bookanistas have to say! And make sure to visit our newest Bookanista, Rosemary Clement-Moore. Her Maggie Quinn books are some of the funniest I've ever read.

• Christine Fonseca freaks for THE FAMILIARS
  
• Elana Johnson loves THE LOST SAINT
  
• Jen Hayley and Scott Tracey swoon over ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS
  
• LiLa Roecker dies for DESIRES OF THE DEAD with a fabulous giveaway!
  
• Shannon Messenger gushes some cover love for HOURGLASS
  
• Shelli Johannes-Wells is over the moon for ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
  
• Carolina Valdez Miller loves THE LIAR SOCIETY, complete with a signed ARC giveaway!
  
• Shana Silver has fallen for FALL FOR ANYTHING
  
• Kirsten Hubbard is blown away by BLOOD MAGIC
  
• Myra McEntire reveals her amazing cover for HOURGLASS
  
• Jessi Kirby is mesmerized by A BLUE SO DARK
  
• Rosemary Clement-Moore marvels over MATCHED