Truth by Julia Karr

imageIn writing XVI, Julia Karr created a chilling future world where advertisements for the latest trends blare from personal listening devices and change according to where you are.  Sound familiar, Facebook and Google ads?  Girls are constantly told how to be sexier, and when they turn 16, girls must get a tattoo that reveals their age–and their availability–to any and all men.  Truth continues the story with the same breakneck speed as the first.

Nina Oberon grew up in a house of quiet resistance with her mom, sister, and grandparents.  Now that she is 16, she not only has to wear the tattoo ordered by the Governing Council, she is ready to reveal the truth to the world, but the world is not ready for the truth to come easily.

Nina is tired of waiting while others work to bring truth to light.  She joins a small force within the Resistance and soon finds ways to use her art to portray the truth.  She must also confront the truth within her own life–her little sister is growing up and her grandparents aren’t always able to protect them.  She fights jealousy when Sal is gone for long stretches of time with the beautiful, top tier Paulette, and she fights a growing attraction for Wei’s older brother Chris.

Just when I thought I could see what was coming next, Karr surprises with another twist or turn that makes perfect sense from the other side.  The roots of this world sink deeply into our own, and give much to think about.

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