Staying Pure (Payton Skky Series, 1) [Paperback]

Stephanie Perry Perry Moore (Author)

Book Description

Series: Payton Skky Series | Publication Date: July 1, 2000

Payton Skky is beautiful and popular and dating Dakari Graham, the most attractive and desirable guy in their Georgia high school. The problem' He wants to have sex with her while she wants to obey God and stay pure until marriage. With pressures coming from all sides, Payton begins to wonder if waiting is really worth it. When he breaks it off with her for a more willing girl, Payton's world crashes down on her. As she struggles to answer these questions and gets to know Tad Taylor, Payton realizes that following God is the real secret to staying pure.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

As romantic feelings for her boyfriend get too strong, Payton is confused about what to do.PAYTON SKKY has everything a high school senior would want--popularity, well-to-do parents, and excellent grades. To top that off, she dates the most sought after boy in her school, Dakari Graham. However, when Dakari puts on the pressure to take their relationship to the next level, Payton goes numb. Though she dreads the thought of not honoring God in her dating relationship, she also does not want to lose her man. Torn between what her soul believes and what her heart wants, she struggles to make the best decision. Will her choice...be the right one'

About the Author

STEPHANIE PERRY MOORE is the author of many Young Adult Christian fiction titles, including the Payton Skky series, the Laurel Shadrach series, the Perry Skky Jr. series, the Faith Thomas Novelzine series, the Carmen Browne series, and the Beta Gamma Pi series. She is also the co-editor for the impactful BibleZine, REAL. Mrs. Moore speaks with young people across the country, showing them how they can live life fully and do it God's way. Stephanie currently lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, a former NFL player and author, and their three children. Visit her website at www.stephanieperrymoore.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Lift Every Voice; New Edition edition (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802442366
• ISBN-13: 978-0802442369
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #704,602 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephanie Perry Moore is truly a woman from the South. She was born in South Carolina, raised in Virginia, and educated in Alabama. She is the author of the successful Payton Skky series for teenagers. She lives in the greater Atlanta area with her husband, Derrick, and their two young daughters, Sydni and Sheldyn.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting, Entertaining and Life Transforming!, December 14, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Staying Pure (Payton Skky Series, 1) (Paperback)

As the founder and editor in chief of ..............................I was so very anxious to read Stephanie's novels as so many people were talking about them. I began reading Sober Faith and Staying Pure and two days later I had completed them both sad that the story had ended. Sober Faith and Staying Pure individually and collectively, accuarately potray the the experiences, thoughts and feelings of teens trying to find themselves and fit into a society that is filled with peer pressure. This book was so delightful and enjoyable to read that I could not put it down and I am an adult! I plan to purchase several copies to pass out for Christmas gifts so that all the young people that I know can have the same wonderful experience. Payton Skyy, Rain, Dakari, Tad, and Lynzi experience the challenges and plights like real young people. However, by reading these books you see that doing the right thing always pays off. Especially when God is the head of your life. It is never too early to develop and maintain a relationship with Jesus Christ and Stephanie Perry Moore certainly makes the way brighter and easier knowing that you are not experiencing teen problems alone. Happy reading!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Staying Pure", July 18, 2002

By 

Rachael (Louisiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staying Pure (Payton Skky Series, 1) (Paperback)

I love the entire Payton Skky Series! I found it by mistake, but I know God placed it in my life for a reason. A lot of what Payton has gone through has helped my life. I'm on book 4 now, and I can't put it down. I can't wait to read book 5 and I hope there will be more to the series! I have recommended this book to others and they have had the same great results in their lives after reading these books. Thanks Stephanie Perry Moore for following God's call to publish these books, they are truely a blessing in my life! Keep up the good work.
Jeremiah 29:11

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable novel that tackles serious issues, March 16, 2006

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staying Pure (Payton Skky Series, 1) (Paperback)

Payton Skky seems to have it all --- she's a straight-A student at Lucy Laney High School, captain of the cheerleading squad, and to top it all off, she's dating Dakari Graham, the most sought-after boy in school. However, as STAYING PURE, the first installment in the Payton Skky series by Stephanie Perry Moore, opens, she finds herself confronted with a serious problem. Dakari wants to move their relationship to the next level, though Payton is conflicted. Having been raised in a Christian home, she had always vowed to save sex for marriage. When she resolutely tells Dakari "no," he goes off to get what he wants with another girl, leaving Payton devastated.

As she reels over the loss of her boyfriend, often wishing she had just given in, Payton goes through a process of self-discovery and religious re-awakening. Her best friends --- Rain, Lynzi and Dymond --- are always there to stand up for her and often teach her firsthand the heavy price of pre-marital sex. Payton eventually forms a strong relationship with Tad Taylor, Dakari's devoutly religious football rival. The relationship is centered not on physical attributes but on God, giving Payton a whole new series of complicated questions to ask.

I found STAYING PURE to be highly readable, despite a few flaws. The characters can be annoying at times. Payton is all too quick to point out her popularity, her good looks and her family's wealth. Other characters, such as Tad, seem slightly over the top. Although Moore is trying to present her readers with the model for a godly boy, he tends to come off as being contrived and often errs a bit too much on the "preachy" side. (As romantic as a Valentine's Day spent reading the Bible can be, I think most young girls will not consider him to be as perfect as Moore intends.) Readers may also find the plot to be unbelievable at times. It seems like the book is filled with bad scenarios that always have happy, manufactured endings (most notably, a positive pregnancy test that actually turns out to be a positive ovulation test).

Despite these drawbacks, STAYING PURE is a very enjoyable novel that tackles serious issues. Skky is a generally likable protagonist who always stands her ground, despite her crazy friends and sleazy ex-boyfriend. The plot moves at a rapid pace and is always interesting. Readers will be quickly engrossed in the story and find it difficult to put down.

--- Reviewed by Jennifer Crosby