Not So Pure and Simple

Del, the story’s protagonist, unexpectedly embarks on a journey to discover what it means to be a “good man.” He is single-minded, courageous, determined, dishonest, studious, smart, funny, emotional, immature, and selfish—though he grows to be aware, empathetic, and honest. Del shows these character traits through his ongoing pursuit of Kiera and his journey to learn about healthy masculinity and honesty and respect within relationships. First, he’s determined to win Kiera’s affection and he works many schemes with a single-minded goal to become her boyfriend. His longing for the “super hot” Kiera pushes Del to pretend to be someone he’s not, to ignore Kiera’s boundaries, and to be dishonest about his motivations. Del continually lies to Kiera in the hopes of being seen as a respectful and religious boy she would want to date. Ultimately, his strategies backfire, and his friends and family intervene to show him what it means to be respectful and forthright. Del is a good person, but not necessarily always a “nice guy.”

Thanks to the influence of Cressie and Shianne, Del eventually realizes his missteps and processes his emotions and to become a better man. As a teen grappling with romantic love, adolescent sexuality, and questions of what masculinity means, Del struggles when he learns that Kiera, his dream girl, is more complicated than he thought.