XVI — Julia Karr

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 CouncilÐordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the worldÑeven the most predatory of menÑthat 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 NinaÕs worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when NinaÕs mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her pastÑone 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.