NOT SO PURE AND SIMPLE

Two-time Edgar Award finalist Lamar Giles confronts toxic masculinity in this eye-opening, contemporary YA standalone novel.

Delbert Rainey Jr. has had a crush on Kiera Westing since their kindergarten class's rendition of The Wizard of Oz. She has just always been attached to someone else. Now, during their junior year, she is finally single. So when Kiera volunteers for a heart-changing opportunity at their local church, Del's right behind her. But he quickly realizes that he has mistakenly signed up for a purity pledge.

His dad thinks his wires are crossed. His best friend does not believe any girl is worth the long game. And everyone in his small Virginia town is talking about his "reputation." Regardless, Del is not going to squander his one, perfect chance. And he is sure he can win Kiera over. That is where fellow Purity Pledger Jameer comes in. As one of Kiera's closest friends, Jameer can put in a good word for him. In exchange, Del just must do one thing - get answers to the other pledgers' sex questions.

As Del contends with lots of questions, other boys at Green Creek High vying for Kiera's attention, an officious pastor who watches his every move, and his rigid boss at the local fast food joint, his confidence never wanes. And maybe that is the problem...but it will not matter - it will all be worth it in the end if he gets the girl though. Right?

Lamar Giles writes stories for middle grade, teens, and adults. In addition to Fake ID and Endangered for Harper, he writes for Scholastic (Overturned and Spin) and The Last Last-Day-of- Summer for Versify (HMH). He is a Virginia native, a Hopewell High Blue Devil, and an Old Dominion University Monarch. He resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, with his wife.