He’s had so many examples of destructive relationships amongst his peers, yet he was able to stay free from judging them for their actions.
I think there were so many directions that this book could have gone… it could have dwelled on faith and belief, but Del never questioned that, nor did he ever really decide for himself when the right time is to have sex. There’s so much to considering regarding his relationship with his mother, father and sister all individually and collectively as they impact Del’s formation. I think YA literature too often makes readers discount the value of guardians and relatives. I liked that Del’s problems were solved inside his family rather than among his friends. I believe good stories given us a lot to think about. I’ve analyzed it more than critiqued it with my thoughts straying in several different directions. Picked it back up, pieced through it and thought some more. I’ve thought about this book for weeks since I’ve finished it. When his behavior causes Del’s life to unravel, his consciousness begins to reform, freeing itself from the stray, misguided thoughts that were pulling Del apart. But read the book with any level of awareness and Del’s crude, toxic behavior can’t be missed, even if he is a nice guy. Del is unaware of his own ignorance throughout most of the book and the reader is allowed to dwell in Del’s perspective. How gross it feels depends on the reader’s own level of awareness rather than that provided in the text. Del enjoys viewing porn and various female body parts as if it is his right to do so. Giles delivers this toxicity by letting it naturally occur in the story with no immediate pushback.
They tell their own story while naming the aggressions. This is definitely Del’s story, but through secondary characters like Shianne and Cressie (his sister), young woman’s voices are brought to the forefront. Notice that antiquated language? Therein lies Del’s problem. In this, his tenth published YA book, Del Rainey has liked Kiera Westing since kindergarten and now that she’s “available”, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to claim her. Lamar Giles has a solid reputation as African American man who writes young adult fiction. AND, she just walked up to the sanctuary to join the Purity Pledge, and so does Del. (Her dad pays him for the “tutoring sessions”, and this provides gas money for his car.) Don’t get me wrong, this car isn’t the main thing on Del’s mind: it’s Kiera. (Again, because he wants to keep driving his car.) And, he “tutors” his friend, Shianne, who’s behind in her schoolwork after just having a baby. (Because he wants to keep driving his car.) He holds down a job. Del (Black, able bodied, cishet male) seems like such a nice guy.
0 kommentar(er)
