The Abstinence Teacher
by Tom Perrotta
The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta holds a mixed reviews rating of 3.24 out of 5, based on 13.3K reader ratings. First published in 2007. The book spans 368 pages.
About The Abstinence Teacher
Stonewood Heights is the perfect place to raise kids. It's got the proverbial good schools, solid values and a healthy real estate market. It's the kind of place where parents are involved in their children's lives, where no opportunity for enrichment goes unexplored. Ruth Ramsey is the human sexuality teacher at the local high school. She believes that "pleasure is good, shame is bad, and knowledge is power." Ruth's younger daughter's soccer coach is Tim Mason, a former stoner and rocker whose response to hitting rock bottom was to reach out and be saved. Tim belongs to The Tabernacle, an evangelical Christian church that doesn't approve of Ruth's style of teaching. And Ruth in turn doesn't applaud The Tabernacle's mission to take its message outside its doors. Adversaries in a small-town culture war, Ruth and Tim instinctively mistrust each other. But when a controversy on the soccer field pushes the two of them to actually talk to each other, they are forced to take each other at something other than face value. The Abstinence Teacher exposes the powerful emotions that run beneath the surface of modern American family life and explores the complex spiritual and sexual lives of ordinary people. Elegantly written, it is characterized by the distinctive mix of satire and compassion that have animated Perrotta's previous novels.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | Tom Perrotta |
| Published | 2007 |
| Pages | 368 |
| Genres | Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Fiction |
| Average Rating | 3.24 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 13,303 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is The Abstinence Teacher?
The Abstinence Teacher is categorized as Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Fiction. Its primary genre classification is Fiction.
Is The Abstinence Teacher worth reading?
Based on 13.3K reader ratings, The Abstinence Teacher has an average score of 3.24 out of 5.00, which is considered "Mixed Reviews."
How many pages is The Abstinence Teacher?
The Abstinence Teacher has 368 pages.
Who wrote The Abstinence Teacher?
The Abstinence Teacher was written by Tom Perrotta. It was first published in 2007.
What is the ISBN for The Abstinence Teacher?
The ISBN-13 for The Abstinence Teacher is 9780307356370.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
