A GIRL'S GUIDE TO PUBERTY AND PERIODS

This illustrated book for tween girls demystifies topics around menstruation with real-life stories.

Co-author Sommer founded the organization Grow & Know to promote puberty education around the globe. In her fourth book for early adolescents, she joins debut co-authors and Grow & Know researchers Schmitt, Hagstrom, and Gruer to create a work aimed at an American audience. The guide tells readers what to expect from their changing bodies—such as getting taller and growing breasts and additional hair—and how their emotions may feel like a roller coaster. This is followed by tips on good self-care, such as the need to use deodorant and/or antiperspirant. Further chapters go into detail about what happens to the body during menstruation, how to deal with issues such as leaks or cramps, and how to use products such as pads and tampons. In another chapter, eight girls from the United States tell the true stories of their first periods in their own words. Additional information includes “Period Myth Busters,” which identifies true and false beliefs, as well as a Q&A that addresses such questions as “Why does my period skip sometimes?” a chapter about boys (“So what’s going on in his body??”), and a glossary. The overall message is that puberty and menstruation are perfectly natural and normal. The relaxed, friendly tone will help allay young people’s worries even when it comes to anxious scenarios: “If a leak stains your clothing, don’t worry, it happens to everyone! Tie a shirt around your waist to cover the stain until you can change.” The book often advises asking an adult for help, but readers will most likely be especially interested in the gamut of personal-experience narratives, which can vary quite a bit; for example, some girls know what’s happening to them, while others think they’re terribly ill. Debut illustrator Scheffler enlivens the book with a cheerful, cartoon-art style depicting diverse characters.

A great intro to periods with clear explanations, a reassuring tone, and relatable stories.