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Not So Pure and Simple
Del has had a crush on Kiera Westing since kindergarten. And now, during their junior year, she’s finally available. So when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at their church, Del’s right behind her. Though he quickly realizes he’s inadvertently signed up for a Purity Pledge.
His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del’s not about to lose his dream girl, and that’s where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers’ questions…about sex ed.
With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can’t think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it’ll all sort itself out. Right?
His dad thinks his wires are crossed, and his best friend, Qwan, doesn’t believe any girl is worth the long game. But Del’s not about to lose his dream girl, and that’s where fellow pledger Jameer comes in. He can put in the good word. In exchange, Del just has to get answers to the Pledgers’ questions…about sex ed.
With other boys circling Kiera like sharks, Del needs to make his move fast. But as he plots and plans, he neglects to ask the most important question: What does Kiera want? He can’t think about that too much, though, because once he gets the girl, it’ll all sort itself out. Right?
416 pages, ebook
First published January 21, 2020
About the author
Lamar Giles
27 books545 followersLamar "L. R." Giles writes books for teens and adults. FAKE ID, his debut Young Adult Thriller, will be published by HarperCollins in 2014. He is represented by Jamie Weiss Chilton of the Andrea Brown Literary Agency and resides in Chesapeake, VA with his wife.
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June 22, 2019art historians have confirmed that this is indeed a true Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece
February 4, 2021
This was frustrating to read in all the best ways and I am SO GLAD I finally got around to picking this up off of my shelves. Absolutely recommend checking this one out if you haven't already.
CW: teen pregnancy, slut shaming, sexual assault, religious gaslighting
CW: teen pregnancy, slut shaming, sexual assault, religious gaslighting
June 5, 2023
There’s a whole lot happening all around him, but Del doesn’t notice. Even when his very own sister is determinedly stirring the pot and plenty of people are there to listen to her. Since he’s stuck in his own bubble, Del falls deftly into the group of people that Cressida is talking about, instead of the growing crowd that she is talking to.
Del has developed tunnel-vision due to a crush. More of a fascinated, adoration-from-afar, really.
There have always been obstacles, not the least of which is the fact that Kiera may, or may not, even know he exists.
Meanwhile, his peers and the rest of the town are a bit concerned about being in the nation’s eye due to the stunning number of students in Del’s high-school who are pregnant or very new moms. Even the preacher is talking about these wayward young women.
Eventually, Del begins to listen to what his big sis has been saying. He hears his friends echoing her profound points. Soon, Del isn’t the only one realizing that a high-volume of teen moms equates to an unusually large number of teen dads. And, if we are going to be pointing fingers, assigning blame and shame, perhaps we should focus on both teen parents, not just the moms.
I’m always ecstatic to add Lamar Giles’ books to my favorite high-school classroom libraries. Introducing realistic fiction that deals with problems some of them are forced to face really encourages “my” students to pick up that book.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books.
Del has developed tunnel-vision due to a crush. More of a fascinated, adoration-from-afar, really.
There have always been obstacles, not the least of which is the fact that Kiera may, or may not, even know he exists.
Meanwhile, his peers and the rest of the town are a bit concerned about being in the nation’s eye due to the stunning number of students in Del’s high-school who are pregnant or very new moms. Even the preacher is talking about these wayward young women.
Eventually, Del begins to listen to what his big sis has been saying. He hears his friends echoing her profound points. Soon, Del isn’t the only one realizing that a high-volume of teen moms equates to an unusually large number of teen dads. And, if we are going to be pointing fingers, assigning blame and shame, perhaps we should focus on both teen parents, not just the moms.
I’m always ecstatic to add Lamar Giles’ books to my favorite high-school classroom libraries. Introducing realistic fiction that deals with problems some of them are forced to face really encourages “my” students to pick up that book.
This review was written by jv poore for Buried Under Books.
June 11, 2020
No So Pure and Simple initially comes off as your standard contemporary novel, but on further examination it delves heavily into the affects of toxic masculinity that is prevalent even among our children and teenagers. I've never read a book by Lamar Giles so I was surprised by how much I did enjoy the book.
Not So Pure and Simple is simply about a boy named Del who is, for lack of a better term, is obsessed with Kiera, a young girl that he has known since kindergarten. The plot initially focuses on their relationship but delves into so much more when we learn about a supposed "pregnancy pact" among some of the students. Giles does an amazing job highlighting how there are certain things that affect women that are caused by toxic masculinity. There are points made and themes explored that I've even experienced in my own life so it's clear that Giles did a lot of research. He also included a religious aspect to it that makes readers question how effectively teens are being taught about sex education and whether we're allowing religious beliefs to censor vital information that these teens need. The message of the book wasn't pushy, but it laid out some facts that are clearly relevant to teens. I think Giles did a wonderful job making sure that there was adequate representation of young black teen girls as well so that their voices could be heard.
My main issue with this book was definitely Del. I understood that Del was unknowingly supposed to be the characterization of toxic masculinity, BUT he worked every single nerve in my body. I mean he was annoying in so many different way. I used the word obsession in reference to the relationship between him and Kiera because he didn't know ANYTHING about her, but he felt the right to lay claims to her and judge her when she didn't fit his perfect image. I know all of this was intentional. And I get the point that Giles was making; however, I just couldn't get past how irritating it was to read that. I know that my experience definitely was a different one reading this as someone who identifies as a woman. It was rough dealing with Del's voice sometimes. He was selfish and impulsive and sometimes couldn't see past his own experiences (which I think is justifiable in someone that age).
There are so many powerful things jam packed into this novel so don't expect for it to just be a cute light fluffy contemporary. Giles makes sure that he addresses a various amount of different topics. So if you're looking for a new take on a contemporary I would definitely recommend checking this out.
February 15, 2020
It’s probably more of a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.
I didn’t even know about this book until a few weeks ago but when I saw the author tweet about the kind of themes he was talking about in it, I wanted to give it a try. And I’ve previously read an anthology edited by Lamar Giles called Fresh Ink which was amazing, so I was expecting this to be equally compelling.
It’s actually been a while since I’ve read a YA contemporary because I’ve started feeling a bit too old for them, so I’m trying not to project my adult perceptions onto the book. The book was very easy to read, engaging in a way that made me not want to put it down more than a couple of times. I thought the conversation style between the teenagers was realistic but I truly don’t have any experience to compare it to. The author also manages to keep the fun going while interspersing the narrative with some serious discussions and introspection and I thought that was done real well.
Religion plays a major role in the storyline here and while it’s another experience that I can’t comment about its authenticity, I thought the importance of being a part of the church and adhering to its teachings among the characters was depicted very realistically. And I liked the message that though some in the leadership and elderly congregants might stick to old school principles, it’s the young people with their new ideas and new perspectives that can make the church and religion itself much more progressive and inclusive.
The other major theme throughout the book is male entitlement and how men (and young boys) dismiss the opinions or just about any assertion by a woman, assume that they themselves are always right, consider themselves entitled to women’s time and space and bodies, and then lash out when their so-called feelings aren’t reciprocated. Obviously toxic masculinity can’t be eradicated by reading one book but the author definitely tries to talk about how young boys can be taught to recognize such behavior within themselves and try to change.
The author also tries to talk about the dichotomy of a church preaching abstinence and purity pledges, trying to prevent the school from following a comprehensive sex ed program despite an increasing rate of teen pregnancies and how this adversely affects the young women who do end up getting pregnant and then slut shamed, but no one even cares who the responsible father was. The undue burden put on women in every aspect of their lives is shown extremely realistically in a couple of chapters which hit very close to my heart and those few chapters are definitely what make me want to recommend this book to everyone.
Del is like any teenager who has a crush on a girl and finally thinks it’s his time because she has broken up with her boyfriend. He is also reluctant to go the church but finding Kiera at the same place gives him an opportunity to impress her and that’s how he gets involved in the activities. On one hand he makes some lasting friendships in the church group, realizes the importance of the community and how it can be a force of good and change; but on the other hand, he never deviates from his almost obsession with Kiera and neglects many other important tasks in his life. He is obviously encouraged by his other friends which just shows how much peers influence the behavior and how much more parents have to be in communication with their kids. I thought the author did a great job making Del sympathetic enough that we find him a relatable teenager but also are able to recognize his faults - I just wanted to give him a good shake sometimes and make him see how wrong he was.
The whole friend group is very diverse with very distinct personalities, their own unique relationship with faith and the church and with each other. There are conflicts and difficulties but they also resolve in their own ways and I enjoyed the varied dynamics between each of them. Del’s sister Cressie plays a very small but one of the most important parts in the story and I loved the transcripts of her YouTube videos. While I didn’t like that the author uses the concept of men learning to respect women’s boundaries when something happens to a woman in their family, I think the change has to start somewhere and this is as good a reason as any. I also found Del’s parents dynamic very interesting - they are so much in sync in many ways but still there’s an element of dismissal of a woman’s beliefs and fears and I thought that was so realistic as well.
To conclude, this is a great teen contemporary that gives a very unique perspective on religion, toxic masculinity, and female agency without beating down its message or portraying anyone as the villain. It’s charming, relatable, with a great cast of characters and a very important message that I think deserves a read. I would definitely recommend it to any teenage readers or parents of young kids, as well as anyone who enjoys reading contemporary stories rooted in reality.
I didn’t even know about this book until a few weeks ago but when I saw the author tweet about the kind of themes he was talking about in it, I wanted to give it a try. And I’ve previously read an anthology edited by Lamar Giles called Fresh Ink which was amazing, so I was expecting this to be equally compelling.
It’s actually been a while since I’ve read a YA contemporary because I’ve started feeling a bit too old for them, so I’m trying not to project my adult perceptions onto the book. The book was very easy to read, engaging in a way that made me not want to put it down more than a couple of times. I thought the conversation style between the teenagers was realistic but I truly don’t have any experience to compare it to. The author also manages to keep the fun going while interspersing the narrative with some serious discussions and introspection and I thought that was done real well.
Religion plays a major role in the storyline here and while it’s another experience that I can’t comment about its authenticity, I thought the importance of being a part of the church and adhering to its teachings among the characters was depicted very realistically. And I liked the message that though some in the leadership and elderly congregants might stick to old school principles, it’s the young people with their new ideas and new perspectives that can make the church and religion itself much more progressive and inclusive.
The other major theme throughout the book is male entitlement and how men (and young boys) dismiss the opinions or just about any assertion by a woman, assume that they themselves are always right, consider themselves entitled to women’s time and space and bodies, and then lash out when their so-called feelings aren’t reciprocated. Obviously toxic masculinity can’t be eradicated by reading one book but the author definitely tries to talk about how young boys can be taught to recognize such behavior within themselves and try to change.
The author also tries to talk about the dichotomy of a church preaching abstinence and purity pledges, trying to prevent the school from following a comprehensive sex ed program despite an increasing rate of teen pregnancies and how this adversely affects the young women who do end up getting pregnant and then slut shamed, but no one even cares who the responsible father was. The undue burden put on women in every aspect of their lives is shown extremely realistically in a couple of chapters which hit very close to my heart and those few chapters are definitely what make me want to recommend this book to everyone.
Del is like any teenager who has a crush on a girl and finally thinks it’s his time because she has broken up with her boyfriend. He is also reluctant to go the church but finding Kiera at the same place gives him an opportunity to impress her and that’s how he gets involved in the activities. On one hand he makes some lasting friendships in the church group, realizes the importance of the community and how it can be a force of good and change; but on the other hand, he never deviates from his almost obsession with Kiera and neglects many other important tasks in his life. He is obviously encouraged by his other friends which just shows how much peers influence the behavior and how much more parents have to be in communication with their kids. I thought the author did a great job making Del sympathetic enough that we find him a relatable teenager but also are able to recognize his faults - I just wanted to give him a good shake sometimes and make him see how wrong he was.
The whole friend group is very diverse with very distinct personalities, their own unique relationship with faith and the church and with each other. There are conflicts and difficulties but they also resolve in their own ways and I enjoyed the varied dynamics between each of them. Del’s sister Cressie plays a very small but one of the most important parts in the story and I loved the transcripts of her YouTube videos. While I didn’t like that the author uses the concept of men learning to respect women’s boundaries when something happens to a woman in their family, I think the change has to start somewhere and this is as good a reason as any. I also found Del’s parents dynamic very interesting - they are so much in sync in many ways but still there’s an element of dismissal of a woman’s beliefs and fears and I thought that was so realistic as well.
To conclude, this is a great teen contemporary that gives a very unique perspective on religion, toxic masculinity, and female agency without beating down its message or portraying anyone as the villain. It’s charming, relatable, with a great cast of characters and a very important message that I think deserves a read. I would definitely recommend it to any teenage readers or parents of young kids, as well as anyone who enjoys reading contemporary stories rooted in reality.
Read
May 5, 2020Good, bad. Pure, simple. Nothing comes without shades of grey.
Ever since their kindergarten class's rendition of The Wizard of Oz, Del has had a crush on Keira. She's just always been with someone else. But now, she's finally available and Del is ready to make his move. But when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at church, Del's right behind her and finds himself signed up for a Purity Pledge. Surely this is the way to get her to notice him right? Maybe not, but he's not about to give up on his dream girl.
That's where Jameer, his fellow Purity Pledger, comes in. He agrees to help Del with Keira, if Del gets answers to the Pledgers questions... about sex ed.
But what about what Kiera wants?
A story of the questions we're afraid ask but shouldn't be. A tale of mixed, misread, and missing messages.
Trigger warnings for sexism, misogyny, derogatory terms towards women, injury, toxic masculinity, underage pregnancy, underage drinking, cheating, mention of homophobia, violence, and sexual assault.
Focused, well-intentioned Del had one goal: to get the girl. The teen was a good person who's vision was clouded by selfishness that didn't allow him to think about the other person's side. Courageous, flawed, and human, I loved watching him learn everything he thought wasn't always right. His one step forward, two steps back stuff made him groan worthy, but very respectable.
From the girl who stole his heart, to old, new, and forever friends, from his "competition", to his sister and others who spoke out, from his parents, to an slightly intimidating pastor, a lot of people got caught up in Del's bid for love. With distinct voices and personalities, it was easy picture the vast, well written supporting cast.
Del's home town had a lot of interesting relationship dynamics that sent tongues wagging. Everyone was so wholeheartedly themselves, yet as they experienced life and it's changes, the more we saw all their intricate complexities. These teenagers read like actual teens, curious and full of questions, and I loved that. Fabulous, flawed, and real, the girls were all stars. They spoke up and added their very important voices to the conversation, even if Del continued to be a bit dense. I loved Cressie, Kiera, Mya, and Shianne so much.
After hearing Lamar Giles talk about the premise and themes of this book, I knew I had to read it. In a very "male mindset" (which was not necessarily a bad thing), topics like sex, religion, the criss-crossed messages sent when the two mix, male entitlement, and toxic masculinity, were naturally blended into Del's story. I wasn't a fan of the consistent pursuit of a girl who clearly wasn't interested. However, Not So Pure and Simple's fast paced, funny prose delivered clear messages about the importance of sex ed, and the unhealthy ways of thinking that occur if it's not a priority.
Easily engaging and down-to-earth, this is the type of book that belongs in schools and the hands of young men. Everybody needs to hear the conversations it will spark.
My suggestion is simple: read this book.
Ever since their kindergarten class's rendition of The Wizard of Oz, Del has had a crush on Keira. She's just always been with someone else. But now, she's finally available and Del is ready to make his move. But when Kiera volunteers for an opportunity at church, Del's right behind her and finds himself signed up for a Purity Pledge. Surely this is the way to get her to notice him right? Maybe not, but he's not about to give up on his dream girl.
That's where Jameer, his fellow Purity Pledger, comes in. He agrees to help Del with Keira, if Del gets answers to the Pledgers questions... about sex ed.
But what about what Kiera wants?
A story of the questions we're afraid ask but shouldn't be. A tale of mixed, misread, and missing messages.
Trigger warnings for sexism, misogyny, derogatory terms towards women, injury, toxic masculinity, underage pregnancy, underage drinking, cheating, mention of homophobia, violence, and sexual assault.
Focused, well-intentioned Del had one goal: to get the girl. The teen was a good person who's vision was clouded by selfishness that didn't allow him to think about the other person's side. Courageous, flawed, and human, I loved watching him learn everything he thought wasn't always right. His one step forward, two steps back stuff made him groan worthy, but very respectable.
From the girl who stole his heart, to old, new, and forever friends, from his "competition", to his sister and others who spoke out, from his parents, to an slightly intimidating pastor, a lot of people got caught up in Del's bid for love. With distinct voices and personalities, it was easy picture the vast, well written supporting cast.
Del's home town had a lot of interesting relationship dynamics that sent tongues wagging. Everyone was so wholeheartedly themselves, yet as they experienced life and it's changes, the more we saw all their intricate complexities. These teenagers read like actual teens, curious and full of questions, and I loved that. Fabulous, flawed, and real, the girls were all stars. They spoke up and added their very important voices to the conversation, even if Del continued to be a bit dense. I loved Cressie, Kiera, Mya, and Shianne so much.
After hearing Lamar Giles talk about the premise and themes of this book, I knew I had to read it. In a very "male mindset" (which was not necessarily a bad thing), topics like sex, religion, the criss-crossed messages sent when the two mix, male entitlement, and toxic masculinity, were naturally blended into Del's story. I wasn't a fan of the consistent pursuit of a girl who clearly wasn't interested. However, Not So Pure and Simple's fast paced, funny prose delivered clear messages about the importance of sex ed, and the unhealthy ways of thinking that occur if it's not a priority.
Easily engaging and down-to-earth, this is the type of book that belongs in schools and the hands of young men. Everybody needs to hear the conversations it will spark.
My suggestion is simple: read this book.
February 16, 2020
A much-needed and original YA story about masculinity, sexuality, religion and friendship. A must-read.
Read
December 1, 2019This was so good - sharp and funny and thoughtful and messy. I think it would be such an interesting buddy read with HAVE A LITTLE FAITH IN ME to see how the conversation changes across gender and racial lines, both implicitly and explicitly. Lamar Giles really is one of the few autobuy authors I will follow to the ends of the bookish earth and it was true before this book but it's officially cemented now.
February 22, 2020
Give this book to boys— create a book club for all the boys who like to opine that they are nice guys
June 14, 2020
I just finished this brilliant book, and the last line made me hug it. Ostensibly it's about a high school boy finally making his big play for the girl he's been crushing on since grade school--by joining a church Purity Pledge to get closer to her--but the book's real story is protag Del's journey from blinkered "Nice Guy" to actually good (or at least working on it), nontoxic man. This book is so FUNNY, so rich, so textured and wise, without ever leaving Del's head or reaching beyond his slow-dawning realizations about what women have to face in navigating a world where men feel they're always owed women's time, attention, respect, bodies, and his part in perpetuating the bullshit. Del's story just feels so densely woven, pulling in threads of school and church and friends and family and sexual politics and internet culture and pop culture and part-time jobs and crushes and and and, without ever losing its head or its humor.
I walked away feeling like I want to give this to my little kid to read one day (one distant day, dude is two).
I walked away feeling like I want to give this to my little kid to read one day (one distant day, dude is two).
January 11, 2021
Just finished this one today. I’m giving it 5 stars and a spot on my #mustReads shelf. Because I think it’s an important story. My related Youtube vid: https://youtu.be/k6BzdI3nHww
“Notice how you get most mad when the truth is something you don’t like?” #BookQuotes
.
Not So Pure and Simple centers around a high school senior who thinks he’s a “nice guy“ and has been low key obsessed with the girl who played Dorothy in their 1st grade production of The Wiz. You know the type. He thinks his intentions are good even though some of the things he’s doing to get close to the girl he likes is actually just manipulative, like joining a purity pledge at his church to get to spend time with her. This is an excellent fictionalized exploration of teen relationships with family, friends, and the church. Our young man’s understanding of the world starts to crumble around his ears as he comes face to face with the consequences of toxic masculinity and the double standards of sexual scrutiny for young men and women. The role of religion in education and identity development is also great as the teens figure how to become the kind of person they want to be. This book was written by one of the cofounders of #WeNeedDiverseBooks, a grassroots organization “that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.”
“Notice how you get most mad when the truth is something you don’t like?” #BookQuotes
.
Not So Pure and Simple centers around a high school senior who thinks he’s a “nice guy“ and has been low key obsessed with the girl who played Dorothy in their 1st grade production of The Wiz. You know the type. He thinks his intentions are good even though some of the things he’s doing to get close to the girl he likes is actually just manipulative, like joining a purity pledge at his church to get to spend time with her. This is an excellent fictionalized exploration of teen relationships with family, friends, and the church. Our young man’s understanding of the world starts to crumble around his ears as he comes face to face with the consequences of toxic masculinity and the double standards of sexual scrutiny for young men and women. The role of religion in education and identity development is also great as the teens figure how to become the kind of person they want to be. This book was written by one of the cofounders of #WeNeedDiverseBooks, a grassroots organization “that advocates essential changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.”
February 10, 2020
My biggest issue with this book was the writing style. I don't like this straight forward style of writing; I prefer a prosey style like Nicola Yoon. But this is a me problem and not the book's problem.
Issues I Had With This Book
* There's Nothing Fancy Here, Folks: Giles writing style is not quotey or prosey or lyrical; it's very straight forward. The teens talk like teens and they act like teens and although this is realistic, I find it boring. But as I stated above, that's my problem and not the book's problem.
-I've heard all these voices before; I've read these teens in other books. If you are going to write a story like this then I believe the characters and themes need to stand out. The themes stood out in Pure and Simple but the characters left something to be desired...
* All the Characters are Just Okay. If you are okay with just okay, you are gonna love this book.
What I Liked About This Book
* It's Sneaky Toxic: I really liked what Giles did to the toxic masculinity theme. Del, our main character, wasn't an asshole, he was a typical boy who had a crush on a girl and tried very hard to get her to like him. Del is a smart and a hard-working kid who is dealing with typical teen problems. You will like Del and you will root for him and I think Giles did a great job portraying him.
* The Young Girls: There are several young women in this book that were perfectly portrayed-Keisha, Mya, and Shianne. Their voices weren't nuanced but the message Giles was trying to send worked through the characterization of these young women. Keisha in particular what quite interesting and although her situation was different (nuanced) her voice wasn't. I'm not going to go into it because I want you to discover it on your own.
* Religion: Religion was also a big theme and I appreciate it when authors put religion in books because often times, religion is a large part of the lives of teens. Giles didn't demonize religion yet he didn't blindly praise it either. The characters questioned the pastor and the partitioners, not God, which I thought was interesting.
Overall
There are some good themes here and I thought Giles tackled toxic masculinity effectively and I think teens will leave with something to think about. This is a great discussion book for all book clubs, not just teens.
Issues I Had With This Book
* There's Nothing Fancy Here, Folks: Giles writing style is not quotey or prosey or lyrical; it's very straight forward. The teens talk like teens and they act like teens and although this is realistic, I find it boring. But as I stated above, that's my problem and not the book's problem.
-I've heard all these voices before; I've read these teens in other books. If you are going to write a story like this then I believe the characters and themes need to stand out. The themes stood out in Pure and Simple but the characters left something to be desired...
* All the Characters are Just Okay. If you are okay with just okay, you are gonna love this book.
What I Liked About This Book
* It's Sneaky Toxic: I really liked what Giles did to the toxic masculinity theme. Del, our main character, wasn't an asshole, he was a typical boy who had a crush on a girl and tried very hard to get her to like him. Del is a smart and a hard-working kid who is dealing with typical teen problems. You will like Del and you will root for him and I think Giles did a great job portraying him.
* The Young Girls: There are several young women in this book that were perfectly portrayed-Keisha, Mya, and Shianne. Their voices weren't nuanced but the message Giles was trying to send worked through the characterization of these young women. Keisha in particular what quite interesting and although her situation was different (nuanced) her voice wasn't. I'm not going to go into it because I want you to discover it on your own.
* Religion: Religion was also a big theme and I appreciate it when authors put religion in books because often times, religion is a large part of the lives of teens. Giles didn't demonize religion yet he didn't blindly praise it either. The characters questioned the pastor and the partitioners, not God, which I thought was interesting.
Overall
There are some good themes here and I thought Giles tackled toxic masculinity effectively and I think teens will leave with something to think about. This is a great discussion book for all book clubs, not just teens.
July 26, 2020
3 stars !!
THINGS I LIKED
- the book was super funny and had some really great humorous moments and one-liners
- the writing was really nice and it was super easy to read and flowed really well
- the friend group is super diverse in both personality and race and that was super refreshing. how they fit all together was really cool to read about. the themes of friendship were one of my favourite in the novel.
- tackles a lot of coming-of age topics really well, such as toxic masculinity/male entitlement, peer-pressure, the effect of religion on sexual education, etc.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
- del is a really irritating character who views women horribly, he's hecka obsessive and it almost PAINED me to read the book sometimes bc i really just couldn't stand it
- this book was obviously written by a guy to be read by teenage guys, and something about that felt off... it almost felt like the women didn't have a say in the book when they were saying "let's not objectify women!" it was only really understood when the guys were saying it which like... don't really vibe with that lol. just emphasizes/encourages the male power dynamic even more ya know
- "help me get the girl" tropes were obviously put in the story to highlight the "men suck" idea but it's never properly addressed and it makes me really angry
- everything is realized WAY too late in the story that the first like three-quarters is physically painful to anyone who realizes the very unsubtle toxic masculinity going on-- i wish the topics had been addressed a little bit earlier in the story
- the trope that you only start to realize the casual sexism and toxic masculinity in your life is when a female close to you has fallen victim to it makes me want to bang my head against a wall
- the pastor is a poopyhead who a) represents christianity really bad b) never gets punished for being a poopyhead throughout the novel and c) del's mom is a poopyhead for allowing his son to continually be targeted by this guy?!
IT'S NOT A BAD BOOK. It highlights key themes and ideas really well. But being a girl, this whole book made me feel really uncomfy. And maybe that's the whole point! But I definitely feel like my enjoyability of the novel was so extremely hindered by that.
THINGS I LIKED
- the book was super funny and had some really great humorous moments and one-liners
- the writing was really nice and it was super easy to read and flowed really well
- the friend group is super diverse in both personality and race and that was super refreshing. how they fit all together was really cool to read about. the themes of friendship were one of my favourite in the novel.
- tackles a lot of coming-of age topics really well, such as toxic masculinity/male entitlement, peer-pressure, the effect of religion on sexual education, etc.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE
- del is a really irritating character who views women horribly, he's hecka obsessive and it almost PAINED me to read the book sometimes bc i really just couldn't stand it
- this book was obviously written by a guy to be read by teenage guys, and something about that felt off... it almost felt like the women didn't have a say in the book when they were saying "let's not objectify women!" it was only really understood when the guys were saying it which like... don't really vibe with that lol. just emphasizes/encourages the male power dynamic even more ya know
- "help me get the girl" tropes were obviously put in the story to highlight the "men suck" idea but it's never properly addressed and it makes me really angry
- everything is realized WAY too late in the story that the first like three-quarters is physically painful to anyone who realizes the very unsubtle toxic masculinity going on-- i wish the topics had been addressed a little bit earlier in the story
- the trope that you only start to realize the casual sexism and toxic masculinity in your life is when a female close to you has fallen victim to it makes me want to bang my head against a wall
- the pastor is a poopyhead who a) represents christianity really bad b) never gets punished for being a poopyhead throughout the novel and c) del's mom is a poopyhead for allowing his son to continually be targeted by this guy?!
IT'S NOT A BAD BOOK. It highlights key themes and ideas really well. But being a girl, this whole book made me feel really uncomfy. And maybe that's the whole point! But I definitely feel like my enjoyability of the novel was so extremely hindered by that.
February 21, 2020
Overall: 3.8 stars.
Quality of Writing: 3
Pace: 4
Plot Development: 4
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 4
Insightfulness: 5
Ease of Reading: 4
Savings opinions to share at Book Club. I think this will make a good discussion.
Quality of Writing: 3
Pace: 4
Plot Development: 4
Characters: 3
Enjoyability: 4
Insightfulness: 5
Ease of Reading: 4
Savings opinions to share at Book Club. I think this will make a good discussion.
January 25, 2022
3.5 stars
Read for MLIS elective
I didn't really get the religion aspects (lapsed Hindu turned atheist here) but it was a great exploration of toxic masculinity, homophobia, misogyny/sexism and how patriarchy hurts literally everyone.
Read for MLIS elective
I didn't really get the religion aspects (lapsed Hindu turned atheist here) but it was a great exploration of toxic masculinity, homophobia, misogyny/sexism and how patriarchy hurts literally everyone.
Read
February 7, 2020Lamar Giles is the real deal when it comes to writing well-developed, complex teen characters. In this book, he takes on toxic masculinity, particularly where it comes to boys thinking they are "the good ones," when in fact, they're playing right into the systems that contribute to being exactly the opposite.
Del has had a crush on Kiera for forever, but she's always been with another guy. So when he sees his opportunity to swoop in when she's single, he agrees to take part in a Purity Pledge at the church where he knows he'll see her every week while the Pledge happens. But it's, of course, not that simple and getting her attention isn't either. She's not interested, and he can't pick up those signs.
This book delves into sexuality and male sexual education especially--why are health classes still unable to teach the nuances and depth of sex and healthy sexuality? Why do things like Purity Pledges thrive and run counter to educating young people about the ways sex does and doesn't work? Why is everything presented as black and white, rather than a spectrum of grays? That's precisely what Del's navigating and discovering throughout the book.
Giles offers humor, and Del is well-meaning but deeply flawed. It takes him a long time to understand that even by trying to be "good" with Kiera, he is pursuing her in a way she's not comfortable with nor interested in. And it all ties back into that black and white thinking about attraction and sexual interest and the ways relationships and power dynamics are -- or really, are not -- taught to young people.
There's a great subplot here, too, about teen pregnancy and about the ways teen mothers are often derided and blamed for their pregnancy. Del and his pals are quick to spread rumors and lump those girls into easy categories and hashtags without understanding that those girls' partners are equally responsible, and that it's due to the lack of nuance in sexual education that contributes to these situations.
Del has had a crush on Kiera for forever, but she's always been with another guy. So when he sees his opportunity to swoop in when she's single, he agrees to take part in a Purity Pledge at the church where he knows he'll see her every week while the Pledge happens. But it's, of course, not that simple and getting her attention isn't either. She's not interested, and he can't pick up those signs.
This book delves into sexuality and male sexual education especially--why are health classes still unable to teach the nuances and depth of sex and healthy sexuality? Why do things like Purity Pledges thrive and run counter to educating young people about the ways sex does and doesn't work? Why is everything presented as black and white, rather than a spectrum of grays? That's precisely what Del's navigating and discovering throughout the book.
Giles offers humor, and Del is well-meaning but deeply flawed. It takes him a long time to understand that even by trying to be "good" with Kiera, he is pursuing her in a way she's not comfortable with nor interested in. And it all ties back into that black and white thinking about attraction and sexual interest and the ways relationships and power dynamics are -- or really, are not -- taught to young people.
There's a great subplot here, too, about teen pregnancy and about the ways teen mothers are often derided and blamed for their pregnancy. Del and his pals are quick to spread rumors and lump those girls into easy categories and hashtags without understanding that those girls' partners are equally responsible, and that it's due to the lack of nuance in sexual education that contributes to these situations.
January 18, 2022
5✩
The funniest, most wholesome book I’ve read in a while! Pulled me right out of my reading slump.
Not So Pure and Simple appears to be a typical contemporary novel at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it digs deeply into the effects of toxic masculinity, which can be found even among children and teenagers. I'd never read anything by Lamar Giles before, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Not So Pure and Simple does an excellent job of addressing the demands of sexuality and the gender-based double standards. As well as the role religion plays in small conservative towns. This narrative is used by Lamar Giles to illustrate how little males know about women, how their perceptions are sometimes inaccurate, and how this incorrect information can be harmful.
I would recommend that all teenagers and young adults read Not So Pure and Simple.
My rating system:
5✩ - Well, there went my day. Couldn't put it down. I think it destroyed any hope of reading other books...
4✩ - This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed it. It may be missing something, or there is one major issue in it, but overall I would highly recommend it!
3✩ - This book was average. Neither good nor bad. Certainly not the worst book I've read, but not the best either.
2✩ - This book really just wasn't for me.
1✩ - Well, I finished it. How? I don't know. Definitely do not recommend it.
The funniest, most wholesome book I’ve read in a while! Pulled me right out of my reading slump.
Not So Pure and Simple appears to be a typical contemporary novel at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it digs deeply into the effects of toxic masculinity, which can be found even among children and teenagers. I'd never read anything by Lamar Giles before, so I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
Not So Pure and Simple does an excellent job of addressing the demands of sexuality and the gender-based double standards. As well as the role religion plays in small conservative towns. This narrative is used by Lamar Giles to illustrate how little males know about women, how their perceptions are sometimes inaccurate, and how this incorrect information can be harmful.
I would recommend that all teenagers and young adults read Not So Pure and Simple.
My rating system:
5✩ - Well, there went my day. Couldn't put it down. I think it destroyed any hope of reading other books...
4✩ - This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed it. It may be missing something, or there is one major issue in it, but overall I would highly recommend it!
3✩ - This book was average. Neither good nor bad. Certainly not the worst book I've read, but not the best either.
2✩ - This book really just wasn't for me.
1✩ - Well, I finished it. How? I don't know. Definitely do not recommend it.
January 9, 2020
I woke up bright and early at 4am for work only to remember halfway out the door that I'm off! 🤦🏽♀️So I spent the morning binging a new book. HarperTeen @harpercollinsus entrusted me with an advanced reader copy of #notsopureandsimple by @lamargiles for an honest review. 😃
This was a necessary read about a misguided boy named Del in love with a girl named Kiera. It's reminiscent of a 90s sitcom comedy where the male protagonist is so focused on "winning the girl" that he fails to acknowledge that women are not prizes to be won. In fact, no one should be treated like an object. Del is a likable character, even in his face-palming flaws. You cannot help but cheer for him, even as he finds himself in the most ridiculous situations. This novel examines themes of toxic masculinity and women rights in a very tactful approach. It contains religious tones and pockets of humor on the black church, sexual education, and the "bro code." This one kelp me nodding “un huh “🤔 right up until the last page. The ending was nothing short of bittersweet and spot on! I would recommend this delightful contemporary novel to lovers realistic fiction and serious issues. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Expected publication: January 21, 2020.
This was a necessary read about a misguided boy named Del in love with a girl named Kiera. It's reminiscent of a 90s sitcom comedy where the male protagonist is so focused on "winning the girl" that he fails to acknowledge that women are not prizes to be won. In fact, no one should be treated like an object. Del is a likable character, even in his face-palming flaws. You cannot help but cheer for him, even as he finds himself in the most ridiculous situations. This novel examines themes of toxic masculinity and women rights in a very tactful approach. It contains religious tones and pockets of humor on the black church, sexual education, and the "bro code." This one kelp me nodding “un huh “🤔 right up until the last page. The ending was nothing short of bittersweet and spot on! I would recommend this delightful contemporary novel to lovers realistic fiction and serious issues. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Expected publication: January 21, 2020.
September 15, 2020
2.5 stars
I think this is a book that has a very specific audience, but I don’t think I’m part of that audience. While I think this book is very well written and is very compelling from a technical stand-point, I didn’t love it because I spent most of it annoyed by the main character. It also fell into the whole “women aren’t people until one of the women related to me is hurt by sexism and all of a sudden, I’m a changed man!” thing, which I wasn’t a fan of. I think this is a book that could be valuable to young men in examining their own sexism, but I personally didn’t love reading 380 pages of the MC learning that, actually, he’s not a ~good guy~. Also the way some of the plot-related things in this book were handled definitely wasn’t my favorite. I’m very bad at words, so here are some reviews that more or less sum up my feelings on this book.
I think this is a book that has a very specific audience, but I don’t think I’m part of that audience. While I think this book is very well written and is very compelling from a technical stand-point, I didn’t love it because I spent most of it annoyed by the main character. It also fell into the whole “women aren’t people until one of the women related to me is hurt by sexism and all of a sudden, I’m a changed man!” thing, which I wasn’t a fan of. I think this is a book that could be valuable to young men in examining their own sexism, but I personally didn’t love reading 380 pages of the MC learning that, actually, he’s not a ~good guy~. Also the way some of the plot-related things in this book were handled definitely wasn’t my favorite. I’m very bad at words, so here are some reviews that more or less sum up my feelings on this book.
April 15, 2020
This book, wow!
It was nothing like I was expecting but it was everything I wanted to read.
The way this story was written really just moved me.
The layers that Giles wrote with was so impressive that I felt like the story wouldn't have worked any other way.
There were no throwaway characters in this book and no storylines that didn't matter.
I would definitely suggest this book.
It was nothing like I was expecting but it was everything I wanted to read.
The way this story was written really just moved me.
The layers that Giles wrote with was so impressive that I felt like the story wouldn't have worked any other way.
There were no throwaway characters in this book and no storylines that didn't matter.
I would definitely suggest this book.
September 7, 2020
Loved Lamar Gile's Not so Pure and Simple. The rare book that dares to tackle sex ed and religion - in a sweet, true, and sometimes funny way.
September 30, 2021
I was sent this book by Harper Collins in physical format in exchange for an honest review. I could relate to this book a lot because it was about teens in a church group going through crushes on each other and that was practically my life. I grew up in the church and even though I am not as close to it now, I still found it to be very refreshing to see in a book.
The book had a very positive message and it was a very good example of the power of friendship. It even made you feel like you were young again and had a crush on someone. I read the book pretty quickly because I was pulled right in.
I was definitely a fan of one of the side characters the most because I felt like I went through something very similar to what they were going through in the book. It was a moment of feeling seen and I liked that.
If you like contemporary books and have a religious background (although this is not a requirement), I think you would enjoy this book.
The book had a very positive message and it was a very good example of the power of friendship. It even made you feel like you were young again and had a crush on someone. I read the book pretty quickly because I was pulled right in.
I was definitely a fan of one of the side characters the most because I felt like I went through something very similar to what they were going through in the book. It was a moment of feeling seen and I liked that.
If you like contemporary books and have a religious background (although this is not a requirement), I think you would enjoy this book.
January 21, 2020
First and foremost thank you so much to HCCFRENZY for this ARC Happy early BIRTHDAY!! Of course all opinions are my own!
I’ll admit this book did take some time to get into and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the characters. But you know what? I was pretty alright with Del Rainey, he actually made me respect him a little more by the end of the book. Thought I gotta hand a good chunk of my kudos to Cressie, Shianne, Jameer and even Qwan. They made this book worthwhile!
Because you’re a man. So, man up. Don’t lose your man card. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
Del Rainey is a squirrel just trying to catch his nut. At first I found him to be incredibly annoying, selfish but still a good person. Sure he grew on me but so did his relationships throughout the book. I’ll list my faves but his crush on Kiera Westing drove me nuts, and well it was the plot, and I needed it to resolved quickly because lord give me strength I was about to call it quits were it not for the church peeps, and the rest of the cast I made it through.
I’m rooting for everybody black
So I made a quick breakdown of my chocolate faves and why I love them:
Cressie: For being powerful, resourceful and knowing when to seek guidance, opening the pathways of communication and being such a lovely sister to Del!! I’m weak to older sisters who only wants the best for their siblings.
Shianne: Because even though life handed her an entire hand she’s getting through it, is straight up and takes responsibility for her actions respectfully, she too is also a really great person for Del to have around.
Jameer: Even though he’s quietly and nearly creepy at first through Del’s eyes, he quickly became a character I started to want to protect, which gave me all the more feels when he stayed true to himself and just BLOSSOMED!! Like damn Jameer you really did that.
Qwan: Finally my boy Qwan. There’s too many things to say about him that would spoil things, but much like Jameer he grew on me and I’m so happy with his growth throughout the book that it helped enhance the passion I had for his and Del’s relationship.
I really enjoyed the amount of pop culture references, nods to fellow authors and their books. There was just a really nice sprinkling of things that made this book really good as I type this. Of course it dealt with topics of sexism, fragile masculinity, being a teen, and surprisingly blended it all well with being in a small town. Of course I was greatly surprised by all the religion but it also allowed to to learn a lot of church. Thought not having experienced it myself I really and truly enjoyed it. The dynamics with the adults and how to handle very real situations would get me in my feelings. I didn’t enjoy certain aspects but that’s to be expected I think when getting the the ending. And honestly that’s what brought it all together. Here’s to Cressie’s proactiveness, the family’s strong support and communication with one another. Everything for me, turned out better than I thought and for that I think you Lamar for giving me more black boys, giving me more NERDY and PROUD black girls! Thank you!Please check this out if you haven’t already!
xoRE
I’ll admit this book did take some time to get into and I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the characters. But you know what? I was pretty alright with Del Rainey, he actually made me respect him a little more by the end of the book. Thought I gotta hand a good chunk of my kudos to Cressie, Shianne, Jameer and even Qwan. They made this book worthwhile!
Because you’re a man. So, man up. Don’t lose your man card. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
Del Rainey is a squirrel just trying to catch his nut. At first I found him to be incredibly annoying, selfish but still a good person. Sure he grew on me but so did his relationships throughout the book. I’ll list my faves but his crush on Kiera Westing drove me nuts, and well it was the plot, and I needed it to resolved quickly because lord give me strength I was about to call it quits were it not for the church peeps, and the rest of the cast I made it through.
I’m rooting for everybody black
So I made a quick breakdown of my chocolate faves and why I love them:
Cressie: For being powerful, resourceful and knowing when to seek guidance, opening the pathways of communication and being such a lovely sister to Del!! I’m weak to older sisters who only wants the best for their siblings.
Shianne: Because even though life handed her an entire hand she’s getting through it, is straight up and takes responsibility for her actions respectfully, she too is also a really great person for Del to have around.
Jameer: Even though he’s quietly and nearly creepy at first through Del’s eyes, he quickly became a character I started to want to protect, which gave me all the more feels when he stayed true to himself and just BLOSSOMED!! Like damn Jameer you really did that.
Qwan: Finally my boy Qwan. There’s too many things to say about him that would spoil things, but much like Jameer he grew on me and I’m so happy with his growth throughout the book that it helped enhance the passion I had for his and Del’s relationship.
I really enjoyed the amount of pop culture references, nods to fellow authors and their books. There was just a really nice sprinkling of things that made this book really good as I type this. Of course it dealt with topics of sexism, fragile masculinity, being a teen, and surprisingly blended it all well with being in a small town. Of course I was greatly surprised by all the religion but it also allowed to to learn a lot of church. Thought not having experienced it myself I really and truly enjoyed it. The dynamics with the adults and how to handle very real situations would get me in my feelings. I didn’t enjoy certain aspects but that’s to be expected I think when getting the the ending. And honestly that’s what brought it all together. Here’s to Cressie’s proactiveness, the family’s strong support and communication with one another. Everything for me, turned out better than I thought and for that I think you Lamar for giving me more black boys, giving me more NERDY and PROUD black girls! Thank you!Please check this out if you haven’t already!
xoRE
March 25, 2020
In typical 17-year-old fashion, Del Rainey starts going to church. Not because he really believes in getting closer to God, but because his longtime crush, Keira, is very active in the church community. She's fresh from a breakup, and Del believes he's finally gotten his chance. The only problem? He's accidentally signed up for a purity pledge and must attend weekly meetings with teens who are pledging to remain chaste until marriage. Through the pledge, he makes a new friend, Jameer, who vows to help him "get" Keira in exchange for sneaking out information from sex ed class, which most of the purity pledgers' parents will not let them participate in. The novel certainly tackles many coming-of-age themes, such as image, peer pressure, sexism, double standards, corrupt authority, and more. There are many humorous moments but the author does a great job of conveying important messages about how boys and men often view women. I think this book will appeal to all teen boys for its realism, humor, and also for tackling serious themes. It was good to see a book that featured people of color as the main characters.
July 13, 2020
Not So Pure and Simple is written from the perspective of a 16 or 17 year old named Del. Del's recently christened mother goes to church every Sunday with Del. In church he accidently joined a "purity group" where he took a class a week with other kids around his age told to stay pure until marriage. There is a girl in this group named Keira whom Del has liked for the longest time. What annoyed me is that although it was obvious he was going to find someone better than Keira, he never actually found anyone and the book just ended like THAT. Overall I gave this book 4 stars because although I didn't like the ending, this book did keep me entertained whilst reading it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2020
I waited to read this one because of the religious aspect, but it wasn't preachy or anything, just a really good, well written story. Review to come.
**EDIT 05/30/20**
You can find more of my reviews here at my blog: Take Me Away...
I was a little iffy about this one because of the religious aspect, but I really didn’t have anything to worry about. This book was so good and the twist was so unexpected. Definitely wasn’t something I expected.
Del has had a crush on Kiera since he could remember. Now he’s down to the very last thing he could think of…. Joining a church club with her just so she could notice him. But his best friend doesn’t believe anything in just one girl and his friend Jameer is not really any help. Del isn’t the only one that likes her, so things start to get crazy as Del tried to fight the others off. But no one even thinks about what it is Kiera wants.
I was scared I wouldn’t like this because of the religious aspect. But I gave it a try anyways. And I’m so glad I did! I didn’t see the twist at the end coming. I was glad for it though, because at first I wasn’t too happy with some of the things that were happening in the story. But it all turned out for the best.
The characters were a different story. I liked most of them, but the main character wasn’t really my favorite. He definitely grew on me, so I can’t be too mad at him. Kiera and Del’s older sister what made me keep reading this book. They were what made this story for me.
As for the plot, I felt like there were too many story lines going on. The pastor, the Purity Pledge, the Youtube Videos, the best friend’s drama, it kept going on and on. I know that seems normal in a realistic fiction novel, but its normally just an event or something. In this one its the same events that happen throughout the entire novel over and over. I would have just rathered it just wasn’t so much going on.
This was full or surprises! It wasn’t something I would have normally picked up, but it was great to read something out of my comfort zone. I always like to find something different than the usual I read, so this was a welcome surprise. I hope this one will surprise other readers as they read and like it too.
**EDIT 05/30/20**
You can find more of my reviews here at my blog: Take Me Away...
I was a little iffy about this one because of the religious aspect, but I really didn’t have anything to worry about. This book was so good and the twist was so unexpected. Definitely wasn’t something I expected.
Del has had a crush on Kiera since he could remember. Now he’s down to the very last thing he could think of…. Joining a church club with her just so she could notice him. But his best friend doesn’t believe anything in just one girl and his friend Jameer is not really any help. Del isn’t the only one that likes her, so things start to get crazy as Del tried to fight the others off. But no one even thinks about what it is Kiera wants.
I was scared I wouldn’t like this because of the religious aspect. But I gave it a try anyways. And I’m so glad I did! I didn’t see the twist at the end coming. I was glad for it though, because at first I wasn’t too happy with some of the things that were happening in the story. But it all turned out for the best.
The characters were a different story. I liked most of them, but the main character wasn’t really my favorite. He definitely grew on me, so I can’t be too mad at him. Kiera and Del’s older sister what made me keep reading this book. They were what made this story for me.
As for the plot, I felt like there were too many story lines going on. The pastor, the Purity Pledge, the Youtube Videos, the best friend’s drama, it kept going on and on. I know that seems normal in a realistic fiction novel, but its normally just an event or something. In this one its the same events that happen throughout the entire novel over and over. I would have just rathered it just wasn’t so much going on.
This was full or surprises! It wasn’t something I would have normally picked up, but it was great to read something out of my comfort zone. I always like to find something different than the usual I read, so this was a welcome surprise. I hope this one will surprise other readers as they read and like it too.
May 3, 2020
This is one of the best YA realistic fiction books I’ve read in a long time. It was reviewed by Nic Stone so I knew it would be good, but wow. So many things.
I originally picked it up because I try to read a lot of books written by POC about POC. The plot sounded cute so I gave it a try, even though it’s 400 pages. A lot of YA novels about POC are about political and social activism, which is important, but it’s also important to show the everyday life stuff. That’s one thing I liked about this book. It wasn’t a big statement about race that was trying to break waves with politics. It was just living and it was a very fun read.
It also addressed some crazy important topics. It talks about rape culture, sexism, and the church’s unhealthy guilt around secular things. It talks about double standards and community and gossip and social media trends. It is so important and so so SO relevant.
What made this particularly special is that it was told from the point of view of a guy. That may sound strange, because a point of this book is about how horrible the patriarchy is, but it shows what it looks like for a guy to actually understand how he needs to treat and respect women, even if he thinks he’s a good guy or he’s in the right or he deserved something from her. Del was always a really likable guy, so I empathized with his confusion and ignorance instead of scoffed at it.
This book made me literally laugh out loud but also cry. I love this book and recommend it to everyone.
I originally picked it up because I try to read a lot of books written by POC about POC. The plot sounded cute so I gave it a try, even though it’s 400 pages. A lot of YA novels about POC are about political and social activism, which is important, but it’s also important to show the everyday life stuff. That’s one thing I liked about this book. It wasn’t a big statement about race that was trying to break waves with politics. It was just living and it was a very fun read.
It also addressed some crazy important topics. It talks about rape culture, sexism, and the church’s unhealthy guilt around secular things. It talks about double standards and community and gossip and social media trends. It is so important and so so SO relevant.
What made this particularly special is that it was told from the point of view of a guy. That may sound strange, because a point of this book is about how horrible the patriarchy is, but it shows what it looks like for a guy to actually understand how he needs to treat and respect women, even if he thinks he’s a good guy or he’s in the right or he deserved something from her. Del was always a really likable guy, so I empathized with his confusion and ignorance instead of scoffed at it.
This book made me literally laugh out loud but also cry. I love this book and recommend it to everyone.
September 25, 2020
I originally passed on this book, but when I saw it recommended by Justin A. Reynolds, I thought I would give it a try, and WOW! This book is gold. So funny and honest, and I just thought Giles did such an incredible job with all the topics he tackled.
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August 13, 2020It is SO GOOD. This is a book for everyone.
December 12, 2021
Selection for the 2021-22 High School Battle of the Books
This one really surprised me! It's quite a bit funnier than I thought it would be, while diving into some fairly serious territory. Pre-marital sex, teenage parenthood, characters who aren't what they seem to be, parents AND fellow students being very judgey, you name it. Plus, the issue of the church being a bit too involved in the activities of the school...it's a lot packed into this book. But it works. I would definitely recommend this.
This one really surprised me! It's quite a bit funnier than I thought it would be, while diving into some fairly serious territory. Pre-marital sex, teenage parenthood, characters who aren't what they seem to be, parents AND fellow students being very judgey, you name it. Plus, the issue of the church being a bit too involved in the activities of the school...it's a lot packed into this book. But it works. I would definitely recommend this.
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