V Is for Virgin

by Kelly Oram

[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.