V Is for Virgin

by Kelly Oram

When Val Jensen gets dumped for her decision to stay a virgin until marriage, the nasty breakup goes viral on YouTube, making her the latest internet sensation.

After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy.

As if becoming nationally recognized as “Virgin Val” isn’t enough, Val’s already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

How can a girl stay true to herself when this year’s Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over?

• ISBN10: 0991457927
• ISBN13: 9780991457922
• Publish Date: 5 February 2014
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Bluefields
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 282
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

Val is just a girl trying to hold fast to her beliefs, and all of sudden, her personal beliefs become public fodder. However, instead of wallowing in self pity, she champions the cause. Along the way, she makes new friends, loses some old friends, grows and finds new facets of herself, while still holding steadfast to her beliefs.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a simple story, but I am sure it could ignite some interesting discussions. As far as the topic of sex goes, I felt Oram presented arguments for all sides, those who wait and don't wait, but her message was the same -- it should be with someone special. That's a powerful message to send out to young women and I thought it was sent without being too preachy.

The best part of this book are the characters, though. Val is awesome, I would totally want to be her friend. She is smart, pretty, athletic, socially conscience, but also fun, flirty, focused, and forgiving. Her ability to not become angry and bitter and to give the gift of grace to those who had hurt her, was what I loved most about her. Additionally, I really like her friends. They were always so supportive and knew what Val needed even when she didn't.

The ending though, really threw me for a loop. It was not what I expected, but it made me look forward to reading the next book in this series.

[ellieroth]

3.5

Publicado originalmente: El Extraño Gato del Cuento

Versión corta:

Hubiera estado mejor sin el epílogo, fue tan

Versión extendida:

Creo que es la primera vez en la cual estuve muy interesada en saber que pensaban otros bloggeros sobre un libro, casi siempre tiendo a saltar de reseña en reseña cuando no estoy muy segura si el libro me gustó o no, solo que esta vez sí quería saber que pensaban mis compañeras bloggeras. Encontré desde que pensaron que era muy romántica la idea hasta las que dijeron que era completamente ridículo. Lo cual está bien, cada uno tiene su opinión.

Siento que V is for Virgin es un libro importante, cuenta la importancia del "No", si bien es un libro para pasar un buen rato, cuando empecé a leerlo tenía la idea que sería solo otro libro más sobre como la chica se enamora del idiota y olvida todos sus principios. Valerie no es así, tiene una razón muy importante por la cual ha tomado su decisión, la cual respeto y entiendo y hubiera quedado muy decepcionada si el libro se desarrollaba de otra manera.

Otra de las primera veces que he tenido con este libro (ironías) es de no gustar y casi detestar al chico malo y sexy en cuestión. Kelly nos da todo el potencial del típico protagonista masculino bravucón que, seré sincera, me tiene babeando, pero ella le dió más personalidad, una dónde nos va mostrando de muy poquito en poquito que quizá haya algo más que un idiota. No terminé enamorada de él al final de libro pero me gustó mucho su sinceridad. Creo que también el hecho que yo sea tan reservada y él escandaloso al hacer las cosas no hayan jugado a su favor conmigo.

¿Por qué digo que este libro es sobre la importancia del "NO"? Vivimos en una sociedad dónde valoramos que la gente se sienta cómoda con su sexualidad, lo cuál está más que bien, pero ridiculizamos a quienes toman la decisión de no ser activos. Pienso que está muy bien sentirse bien con su cuerpo, el ser libre en la vida sexual de cada uno, respeto la decisión, pero es fácil encontrar comentarios tipo "No seas ridículo, te van a dejar si no accedes al sexo". ¿Por qué si está bien sentirme bien como mujer acepto tener sexo, pero ridículo querer esperar o solo decir que no? Y eso es algo que me encantó de Valerie, ella no quiere que pienses a su manera, lo único que quiere es que pienses por ti mismo/a y no te sientas presionado. Por ahí leí, y creo que en libro también se menciona, "hay una gran cantidad de anticonceptivos! Si tanto le preocupa quedar embarazada ¡qué los use!". Valerie dice que no, punto. Por desgracia juzgamos y criticamos a las mujeres por tener sexo pero llamamos ridículas e inmaduras a las que no quieren hacerlo.

Así que chicas y chicos: No, es no. Por eso Kyle, no me gustaste mucho a pesar de que tenías todo eso por lo que muero en un personaje masculino, lo cual está bien, esa era la intención de Kelly y la apoyo... Bueno, no me gustaste tanto hasta que leí A is for Abstinence, pero esa es otra historia que les contaré en una próxima reseña :D

¿Algo negativo? Creo que todos coincidimos que el epílogo fue algo WTF, no se entendió muy bien, demasiado apresurado. El inicio del libro un poquito flojo, los diálogos se me hicieron muy novatos pero de ahí mejora bastante.

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[Raven]

rating and review incoming

[ladygrey]

Yes, I'm on a [a:Kelly Oram|3203095|Kelly Oram|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1259810020p2/3203095.jpg] spree. She just makes it so easy with all her books and fun characters.

At first I wasn't sure I wanted to read this because a book pretty much all about sex could go wrong in so many ways. But after reading 3 other books by Kelly I was pretty sure it'd be cute and funny. And it was.

It was also blazingly honest in a really brilliant way. Val kind of is fearless and because of that so is the whole book. It's refreshing just how straightforward the whole thing is; how it doesn't flinch from the truth about pressure and desire and regret and even hope. I liked that the story doesn't judge any of the kids, doesn't pretend that it's an easy subject or simple. It digs into the emotional core of the characters and is pretty fantastic.

And it's also funny. Cara was delightfully obnoxious until she was just obnoxious. Kyle was horribly endearing in the worst and best possible ways. Isaac and Val and even Zach were really good characters that made it a fun story much more than a "message."

If asked I would totally encourage teenage girls to read this because it gives them a lot to think about and is also really fun.

"Fine," I relented. "You're, like, two percent charming and considerate, ninety-eight percent arrogant and slutty."

"That means you like me at least two percent."

"Not the best odds, Kyle."

"You'll be in love with me in a week."

[Annie Jackson]

"Fine," I relented. "You're, like, two percent charming and considerate, ninety-eight percent arrogant and slutty."
"That means you like me at least two percent."
"Not the best odds, Kyle."
"You'll be in love with me in a week."

[Kelly]

Ramblings of a Diva Booknerd

3.5 Stars.
Val is a virgin. Born to a teen mother who gave her up for adoption at the chance of a better life, leaves her with only a letter and a necklace with the letter V. Eighteen year old Val is a popular girl, not so much with the 'in' crowd, but she had her best friend Cara and boyfriend Zach. Zach and Val have been dating for a few months, and have never discussed sex. He clearly assumed that, like most couples, the time would come where they would make the decision to take their relationship further, but Val is a virgin for a reason. She wont have sex until she is married. Once Val explains to Zach that she is waiting until marriage, he dramatically breaks off their relationship, and that's where the REAL story begins...

Fresh and funny in parts, but I was lost somewhere within the true meaning of the story. Was that it is better to wait until your in love or care about the person? Well, yes, that goes without saying. But there was no opposing voice, that it IS alright to have sex, the world wont end. As long as it's your decision and your not coerced. Zach's character was supposedly the voice of reason towards the end, but it wasn't a very strong point at all. A bit too one sided for me.

Val was likable in the beginning, but her 'virgin' crusade became more of a constant lecture and not supporting the cause. If that's your prerogative to wait until your married, more power to you, you go girl and other various cliched motivational sayings, but it's not for everyone. I just found her annoying by the end.

[sstaley]

I loved this book! When I first heard the title, it threw me off for a bit. Once I read the book I am going to champion this book! I want every teen to read this book, male and female! The message is clear and straight forward about abstinence, and waiting for marriage to have sex, but it is delivered in a very entertaining story. Main character Valerie is a girl that young women everywhere will be able to relate to. Valerie is not always confident, but she chooses the right moment to stand up for herself. I like how this character is not painted as perfect, she still has temptations along the way that challenge her. The characters' interactions and relationships seem real like you would find in any high school. I just really liked how this story shows how one person standing up for something good, like abstinence, can influence others to find the courage to do the same.

Overall, if you are a parent and worry about the content, by all means read the book first. But I want to assure you, as a mother of an almost 15 year old young woman, I would not hesitate in the least having her read this book. In fact, this is one I would like to read together, so if she wanted to talk about things, I would be ready there to answer any questions. Bravo Kelly Orem, for writing a book that will so powerfully influence young people in many ways.

[Rowena]

After days of ridicule from her peers, Val starts a school-wide campaign to rally support for her cause. She meant to make a statement, but she never dreamed the entire nation would get caught up in the controversy.

As if becoming nationally recognized as “Virgin Val” isn’t enough, Val’s already hectic life starts to spin wildly out of control when bad boy Kyle Hamilton, lead singer for the hit rock band Tralse, decides to take her abstinence as a personal challenge.

How can a girl stay true to herself when this year’s Sexiest Man Alive is doing everything in his power to win her over?

This book sounded a good way to spend a few hours but since I’ve never heard of this author before, I was a bit scared to get started. I really shouldn’t have been because this was a really quick read for me. And I liked it.

This book follows Val Jensen, a young girl who was just dumped because she wouldn’t put out. Without waiting the appropriate amount of time between breakups, her douche of an ex moves on and the girl he moves on with, tries to throw it in Val’s face but Val isn’t the kind of girl that just sits back and let’s things slide off her back. She fights back with her words and after that confrontation, the video is uploaded to Youtube and with each hit it gets, Val gets more and more recognizable.

Val’s mouth got her into a lot of trouble in this book but I thought it was refreshing and totally charming. Val is no Bella Swan. She doesn’t just sit back and let things happen to her, she stands up for herself and she doesn’t need anyone else to do it for her. I thoroughly enjoyed this about Val. She had a voice and she used it.

So Val is saving herself for marriage which is why her nickname Virgin Val hit the streets. When she comes across Kyle Hamilton, the lead singer of Tralse, her mouth lands her on his challenge list. He finds her abstinence interesting and is up for the challenge of ridding her of that.
Kyle Hamilton= *swoon*

I really liked the way that this story was told. I really liked the characters. This was such a fun book and I literally (channeling my inner Chris from Parks and Rec) ate this book up and in the midst of a slight reading slump, that’s saying something. This book has it all, a cute story wrapped around fabulous characters and really, I definitely recommend this book to lovers of contemporary YA books. It was a great read!