Not So Pure and Simple, Lamar Giles
Not So Pure and Simple, Lamar Giles
List: $26.99 | Sale: $18.89
Club: $13.49

Not So Pure and Simple

Author: Lamar Giles

Narrator: Korey Jackson

Unabridged: 11 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/21/2020


Synopsis

""Hysterical. I couldn’t put it down.” (Nic Stone) ""I laughed, I gasped, I church grunted through every chapter."" (Tiffany D. Jackson) ""Heartfelt and hilarious on every page!"" (Justin A. Reynolds)4 starred reviews! * An Indie Next List Pick! * Named one of Bank Street College of Education's Best Children’s Books of the Year!Two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles spotlights the consequences of societal pressure, confronts toxic masculinity, and explores the complexity of what it means to be a “real man.”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?""With true-to-life characters and a straightforward handling of sex, including often ignored aspects of male sexuality, Giles’s thoughtful, hilarious read offers a timely viewpoint on religion, toxic masculinity, and teen sexuality."" (Publishers Weekly, ""An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List"")

About Lamar Giles

Lamar Giles writes for teens and adults. He is the author of the Edgar Award finalists Fake ID and Endangered as well as the critically acclaimed Overturned, Spin, and The Last Last-Day-of-Summer. He is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books and resides in Virginia. Visit him online at lamargiles.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Chelsea on February 04, 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......more

Goodreads review by jv on June 05, 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......more

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm on 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......more

Goodreads review by Sahitya on 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......more

Goodreads review by Katy O. on February 16, 2020

A much-needed and original YA story about masculinity, sexuality, religion and friendship. A must-read.......more