Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Review: XVI by Julia Karr

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Title: XVI
Author: Julia Karr
Publisher: Puffin/Speak
Publication Date: January 6, 2011
Pages: 325
Source: Bought
Challenge: Debut Author Challenge

Summary: 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.

Review: What a stunning book. With all the dystopian novels coming out now in YA this one definitely stands out among them. Nina is around the age were all her friends are becoming sixteen, which, in her world, means teens are ready for sex. But with her mother’s rebellious words and her mysteriously killed  father Nina soon finds out that there is more to the Governing Council then everyone knows.

Julia Karr’s book takes you into a rather fearful future, where the young is marked at sixteen that they can have sex. It’s an interesting concept, one that some authors would shy away from in the YA department but Karr embraces it and uses it to her advantage. Though it is in no way what the book in centered on. It is really just the base of the corruption that is being fed into the minds of the people. And as Nina uncovers secrets from her past and new friend that share her belief she soon discovers that she may not be allow in her fight against the government.

I also really enjoyed Sal. He was a great character and his personality just entertained me. He added a lot to the story along with Nina’s other friends and the sad conclusion to the book will leave you heart broken and eager to seeing the end to the world where no one – marked or not – is safe.

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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Review: Delcroix Academy: The Candidates by Inara Scott

Delcroix Academy Title: Delcroix Academy: The Candidates
Author: Inara Sott
Publisher:  Hyperion Books
Publication Date: August 24, 2010
Pages: 293
Source: Borrowed
Challenge: none

Summary: Dancia Lewis is far from popular. And that's not just because of her average grades or her less-than-glamorous wardrobe. In fact, Dancia's mediocrity is a welcome cover for her secret: whenever she sees a person threatening someone she cares about, things just...happen. Cars skid. Structures collapse. Usually someone gets hurt. So Dancia does everything possible to avoid getting close to anyone, belieiving this way she can supress her powers and keep them hidden.

But when recruiters from the prestigious Delcroix Academy show up in her living room to offer her a full scholarship, Dancia's days of living under the radar may be over. Only, Delcroix is a school for diplomats' kids and child geniuses--not B students with uncontrollable telekinetic tendencies. So why are they treating Dancia like she's special? Even the hottest guy on campus seems to be going out of his way to make Dancia feel welcome.

And then there's her mysterious new friend Jack, who can't stay out of trouble. He suspects something dangerous is going on at the Academy and wants Dancia to help him figure out what. But Dancia isn't convinced. She hopes that maybe the recruiters know more about her "gift" than they're letting on. Maybe they can help her understand how to use it...But not even Dancia could have imagined what awaits her behind the gates of Delcroix Academy.

Review: I’d been really looking forward to reading Delcroix Academy ever since a friend of mine recommended it to me. Now, with all the books I’ve read there are quite a few that take place in boarding schools and academies where the children are usually unsupervised and there because they all have special powers or something. Well, with Delcroix Academy the students there do have very skilled talents but ones that any one of you could have. It’s an interesting concept on people that excel in talents more than others. I really enjoyed seeing how it worked in with the book and Dancia.

The unknown is a strong element in the book. You can’t really trust anyone through out the entire book but it leaves you guessing the motives of each person. Dancia was a fun person to read through. Cam and Jack were so different from each other that it set up a hard chose for Dancia to pick from (but I’m a Jack fan^^).

Overall, Dexcroix Academy is a great read that introduces a new twist to a person’s skills and questioning who you can really trust or love.

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