Reviews with content warning for Pregnancy - Not So Pure and Simple

Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Not So Pure and Simple by Lamar Giles

6 reviews

al3xa's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

🎧

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kiwi_00's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It's so interesting to read about this topic in a book from the perspective of a male main character because I think it reminded me that even though men do have privilege and power under patriarchy, ultimately everyone loses. It really reminds me of Confessions Of An Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney. As a fiction book, Not So Pure And Simple does a really good job of showing how religion interacts with patriarchy to keep other more marginalised groups oppressed, especially within the Black community, this is juxtaposed with showing how much kids going through puberty need information from sex-ed classes especially with the questions that people in the purity pledge group were asking. My favourite part of the book has to be the

family intervention after Del blows up at Kiera and slutshames her. It's made clear that Del was in the wrong and he did a horrible thing to Kiera. Del's family show him that while he can feel sad and jealousy about his years-long crush not reciprocating his romantic feelings, that in no way allows him to feel entitled to her. I liked the positive Black masculinity role models shown through MJ and Del's dad

. Another thing this book does well is to show how church can be a big communal space that is important for lots of people but it can easily be a place where the wrong types of messages are pushed and humiliation is used to discipline.

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kkaur23's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Not So Pure and Simple is a fantastic read. This is one of few novels I recommend teens consider based on their maturity and readiness to read about sex, relationships, and graphic details. Though it has a fair amount of graphic content, it is purposeful and highlights important conversations young adults should be having with their grown ups. It does also question the role of the church and the main character grows through the process of understanding what role church and faith play in his life.

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