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A review by danjvrobertson
V is for Virgin by Kelly Oram
4.0
(Part of the review on my blog, The Reader's Commute):
Released earlier this December, V is for Virgin is a surprisingly quick read for its page-length.
The plot is intriguing and the issue is current. Virginity is a hot topic in pop-culture today; The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Virgin Diaries, and Easy A are all examples of the entertainment industry trying to tackle the "issue" of virginity. While these examples are certainly humorous, they don't get to the "heart" of the debate like V is for Virgin does. Certainly, Oram's novel is funny (even hilarious at times), but what really struck me was depth of the main character's beliefs. As the story unfolds we learn Val's reasons for waiting until marriage, and as a reader I became emotionally-invested in her decision.
At the start of Val's story, I was worried that the narrative would be rushed. Her description of her breakup with Zach and the day that followed includes a lot of "showing" and not a lot of "telling." I understood that the real plot begins when Val launches her "V is for Virgin" campaign, but I wish the setup was a little less hurried. I think the pacing of the rest of the story was great. Like I mentioned earlier, the pages went by surprisingly fast. Oram's writing style is easy and fun.
Val, as a main character, is certainly admirable. Her level of success is kind of astounding in a way that almost made it hard to connect with her. I couldn't imagine dealing with a breakup, a viral video, name-calling, a campaign that quickly goes global, a budding jewelry line, and the persistent romantic attentions of a rockstar. If you handed me just one of those issues to deal with I would probably crack! There are some convincing moments of emotional and physical strain, especially towards the book's climax; for the most part, however, Val deals with all of these issues while wearing a brave face and possessing a charming sense of humor. Despite my inability to connect with her situation, I think that Valerie is a strong, opinionated female who could be seen as a role model for young adult readers. I'm not suggesting that everyone who reads this book (especially teens) should buy into Val's stance on virginity and abstinence - everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but I can certainly see the benefit in emulating Val's willpower and determination.
Also, I know that I was supposed to like Kyle as a character and a romantic interest. I get that the sexy, cheeky rock singer is supposed to be cute and endearing and frustrating. I appreciate the eventual level that Kyle and Val's relationship reaches. Throughout the novel, however, I found myself sort of disturbed by Kyle's forwardness and sense of entitlement. Especially in today's society, when the big message is "no means no," I found Kyle's approach to be frightening.
Despite my dislike of Kyle's behavior, I found him and the rest of the supporting cast to be fleshed-out, unique characters. I didn't feel like I was dealing with caricatures here. Kelly Oram has crafted a handful of teens that I learned to care for over the course of the novel.
Released earlier this December, V is for Virgin is a surprisingly quick read for its page-length.
The plot is intriguing and the issue is current. Virginity is a hot topic in pop-culture today; The 40 Year Old Virgin, The Virgin Diaries, and Easy A are all examples of the entertainment industry trying to tackle the "issue" of virginity. While these examples are certainly humorous, they don't get to the "heart" of the debate like V is for Virgin does. Certainly, Oram's novel is funny (even hilarious at times), but what really struck me was depth of the main character's beliefs. As the story unfolds we learn Val's reasons for waiting until marriage, and as a reader I became emotionally-invested in her decision.
At the start of Val's story, I was worried that the narrative would be rushed. Her description of her breakup with Zach and the day that followed includes a lot of "showing" and not a lot of "telling." I understood that the real plot begins when Val launches her "V is for Virgin" campaign, but I wish the setup was a little less hurried. I think the pacing of the rest of the story was great. Like I mentioned earlier, the pages went by surprisingly fast. Oram's writing style is easy and fun.
Val, as a main character, is certainly admirable. Her level of success is kind of astounding in a way that almost made it hard to connect with her. I couldn't imagine dealing with a breakup, a viral video, name-calling, a campaign that quickly goes global, a budding jewelry line, and the persistent romantic attentions of a rockstar. If you handed me just one of those issues to deal with I would probably crack! There are some convincing moments of emotional and physical strain, especially towards the book's climax; for the most part, however, Val deals with all of these issues while wearing a brave face and possessing a charming sense of humor. Despite my inability to connect with her situation, I think that Valerie is a strong, opinionated female who could be seen as a role model for young adult readers. I'm not suggesting that everyone who reads this book (especially teens) should buy into Val's stance on virginity and abstinence - everyone is entitled to their own opinion - but I can certainly see the benefit in emulating Val's willpower and determination.
Also, I know that I was supposed to like Kyle as a character and a romantic interest. I get that the sexy, cheeky rock singer is supposed to be cute and endearing and frustrating. I appreciate the eventual level that Kyle and Val's relationship reaches. Throughout the novel, however, I found myself sort of disturbed by Kyle's forwardness and sense of entitlement. Especially in today's society, when the big message is "no means no," I found Kyle's approach to be frightening.
Despite my dislike of Kyle's behavior, I found him and the rest of the supporting cast to be fleshed-out, unique characters. I didn't feel like I was dealing with caricatures here. Kelly Oram has crafted a handful of teens that I learned to care for over the course of the novel.