Not So Pure and Simple - Lamar Giles

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⭐ 9.5/10

(Originally written by Magdalene)

This book was so good, you guys. And something I don't think I've read before in YA - a book about toxic masculinity by and about a Black man.

It was the concept that got me interested at first - Del has been in love with a girl from school for years, and automatically signs up for the same church club she's in so he can spend more time with her... only to find out it's a Purity Pledge group. Ha!

This book tackles so many relevant and important topics. Del tries so hard to be a "good guy" so the girl will like him... but is he even a good guy? There's a subplot too about a group of teen girls who got pregnant and how the town reacts to that. Plus Del's church and the strict pastor who keeps trying to take down the sex ed classes in high school.

But the main point is all these boys playing into the system they've learned on how to treat women because nobody has taught them any better. Del is definitely flawed, but the reader is still able to root for him to get some sense knocked into him.

Of course I know how women want to and should be treated, but it was great to get a teen boy's perspective, and I'm so happy this book is out there to help teens figure this out for themselves, sooner rather than later.

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