The Virginity Club - Kate Brian

Lots of teen sex talk, but it never gets raunchy.

(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

About Our Ratings

Common Sense rates it

Read the book?

Book details

Author:Kate Brian
# of pages: 304
Publisher:Simon Pulse
Original Publication Date: 04/22/2008
Genre: Fiction - Coming of Age
Paperback: $8.99
Publisher's Recommended Reading Level: 14

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that the characters in this book talk about sex -- a lot. The main characters navigate through high school's sexually charged atmosphere, making and questioning their choices about sexual intercourse. There are some scenes of heavy petting and a girl describes losing her virginity. And despite the book's focus, it's not raunchy.

Families can talk about who says what about sex. What do friends say? Society? The media? How is sex portrayed on TV and in movies? Does this portrayal mirror what is going on in school? Is there pressure at school for girls and guys to behave a certain way sexually?

Message
Violence
Sex
Language

Message

Social Behavior:

While there's a lot of talk about sex, most of the emphasis is on not having sex, saving oneself for marriage, knowing when the right time is, and how to deal with repercussions of one's actions.

Consumerism:

Chanel, Gwyneth Paltrow reference, Hanes Her Way

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Teens drink alcohol at a party. A girl talks about sipping cocktails with a celebrity.

Violence

Sex

Because of the subject -- virginity -- sex is talked about often. Students joke that a teacher may be a closet porn freak, a jock talks about how he can go "all night" while making "sexual" movements, a boy shows a girl's bra to friends at school and teens call a girl a variety of names because they think she's promiscious. A girl and her boyfriend have sex for the first time and she describes a "burning sensation" between her thighs. A girl discusses how she's a sex goddess. There are several make-out scenes, including shirtless and braless descriptions.

Language

Name calling, including "slut," "sexaholic," and "jerk."

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Terreece Clarke

Debbie, Mandy, Kai and Eva all find themselves in an odd situation. The prestigious Treemont scholarship is the answer to each girl's prayers for college. There's one sticking point: the person who wins the scholarship must be pure of mind and body. Yikes! Now virginity is on everyone's mind. Who is and who isn't a virgin?

Is it any good?

This is a fun little book following the choices and consequences of sexuality among high school girls. Author Kate Brian steers away from the raunchy while keeping the fun and realistic high school banter in place. Brian does a great job examining four different girls in four different situations as they all grapple with what it means to be "pure." Perhaps most realistic of all is the situation Debbie Patel finds herself in. Her flirty behavior has people believing she's done more than she has and it doesn't bother her until dreamboat Rylie and her teachers assume the worst.

Parents may hesitate at the sexual discussions and situations, however Brian really nails what girls experience. While the book can get trite at times, characters are thoughtful and through self-reflection find the best solutions for themselves, which is what all parents hope for their daughters.