Pure

March 23, 2009
Which is more important, remaining loyal to ideals or loyal to friends? This is one of the questions high school sophomore Tabitha faces in this first novel featuring five Christian girls, who have vowed to remain virgins until marriage. When the girls received their purity rings at age 12, right and wrong seemed clear-cut to Tabitha, but now that she is in high school and dating a boy she really likes, the lines are blurring. The girls’ friendships are thrown into flux when one member of the group breaks her promise of chastity, with two hard-liners basically abandoning their former friend, while Tabitha remains compassionate. The story hits at several issues relevant to teens, including freedom of speech, and while some peripheral characters come off a little plastic, Tabitha’s relationships, particularly with her new boyfriend and her parents, are well-executed. (“Dad’s neuroto-perfections and their early intelli-romance aren’t really what I want to be discussing right now,” Tabitha thinks during a heart-to-heart with her mother following a fight.) Readers will likely admire Tabitha’s openheartedness and unwillingness to see things in black and white. Ages 14–up.

September 1, 2009
Gr 7-10-Tabitha, 15, and her four close friends wear purity rings symbolizing their commitment to abstinence before marriage. When Cara reveals she had sex with her serious boyfriend, Tabitha's best friend, Morgan, declares the breach of promise unforgivable and shuts Cara out, as does Cara's own best friend, Naeomi. Tabitha is caught in the middle, feeling empathy for Cara, yet still wanting to please Morgan, who reacts as if personally betrayed and chooses a new best friend. While sexual abstinence is one theme running through "Pure" (a book refreshingly free of sexual language, innuendo, or other titillation), the real themes here are the complexities of friendship and Tabitha's personal struggle to live out her Christian faith with integrity in her daily life. Her interactions with domineering Morgan are richly nuanced. The girls' religious beliefs and experiences are portrayed with respect and reflect authentic mid-teen maturity. While Tabitha extends forgiveness to Morgan, the ending is not pat or saccharine but shows personal growth. Tabitha's blooming romance with Jake and her positive relationship with her supportive, if somewhat quirky, parents add pleasant undercurrents to a book that girls of a spiritual bent will enjoy."Joyce Adams Burner, National Archives at Kansas City, MO"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2009
Grades 8-11 At 12, Tabitha and her friend Morgan put on their purity rings. Now the girls are 15, and neither has any intention of taking them off. Then another friend and ring wearer, Cara, confides she and her boyfriend have gone all the way, and all hell breaks loose. Morgan turns on Cara, and when Tabitha showssympathy to Cara, Morgan drops her as well. First-time novelist McVoy takes on the hot topic of purity rings (hello, Jonas Brothers!) andexamines it from many angles. Tabithas fast, funny, and very contemprary voice should be a hit with teens, but readers are privy to her every thought.In both narration and the occasionally meandering plot, this is a case where less would have been more. Still, McVoy is very successful at drawing characters kids will care abouteven the parents are interesting. Anyone who has wondered about the ramifications of wearing a purity ring, both socially and religiously (and theres much thoughtful writing about Christianity here), will be left with plenty to think about.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)