What's Happening to My Body? Book for Girls : A Growing Up Guide for Parents and Daughters

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Summary: Does not have a clear message about Abstinence until married
Review:
I was about to buy this book for my 12 1/2 year old daughter that just recently started menstruating. I liked the book until I came to Chapter 9, which is entitled Romantic & Sexual Feelings. This chapter is definitely not for the 12 or 13 year old and not for the parent that is trying to send a clear message about total abstinence and waiting to have sexual intimacy for the first time when they are married. It mentions that it is the girl's private decision when she has sex for the first time, it talks about different forms of birth control, STDs etc. Take a look at the table of contents before you buy this book. It really is too bad that this chapter is included and doesn't let parents decide exactly what they want to teach their daughters in regards to this moral decision. There are also some topics under the boys and puberty chapter that seem to be too graphic for girls under the age of 16. (penis size, getting soft again, boys masturbating & wet dreams etc.)

I was really just wanting a book about a girl getting her period and have decided to wait and get this book for her later when she is at least 16, (with a few pages removed with a razor blade).

A great book that just gives awesome information and doesn't get too graphic or teach/preach moral values for the girl that is between 9 and 14 is Everything a Girl Needs to Know About Her Periods by Jane Feinman.


Rating:
Summary: Answered exaclty what I needed to know and did alot of good!
Review: When I was around ten years old, I asked my mother alot of questions about puberty, sex, and the sort. My mother was unsure of how to answer me and was sick of getting questions, so she had bought me this book. The book was soooooooo informative. All the questions I had about getting breasts and pubic hair, getting my period, why "down there" was changing, why interaction with boys was so appealing, etc. were practically all answered. Sure, at that age, it was cool and gross at the same time. I would show my friends the pictures in the book and told them the information in it; that's a part of adolescence. In the end, it helped not only me, but my friends learn what was going on and how to handle being a teen. The information on puberty in boys, sex, and the consequences of sex are invaluable. I would have never become the responsible adult woman, and now informed teacher, I am now without the information in this book.
People will say this book is not appropriate for preteens. I highly disagree. From my past experiences with kids ages nine to fourteen through my years of teaching, this is the exact age where kids have questions about their bodies, about the opposite sex, and yes, even about sex and their own sexual responses. Unfortunately, our schools breeze over these topics and never truly educate them in the way they need to learn and understand. This book answers all of those questions in a serious, but not clinical, way that preteens will find comforting, as well as amusing (of course). However, the judgement is up to you. As a parent, one must judge if their child is mature enough to handle a mature topic. At this age, I would say that this is the time to teach them the smart way about sex, especially being the young ladies they are in our time of sexploitation.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but not for 10 year olds.
Review: A good book, with lots of helpful information -- but, perhaps, a bit TOO much information, and too much detail for girls at the younger end of the age range. I bought it for my 10 year old daughter, but will probably hold onto it for another 6-12 months before giving it to her.
"The Care and Keeping of Your Body Book", purchased at the same time, on the other hand, was given to her at once, and seems to be right on target for her age/maturity.

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Summary: My 11-year-old loves it!
Review: A great book for the pre-teen. Also a super way to open communication between parent and daugher. Lots of girls don't even know what questions to ask, this book gives all the important facts.

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Summary: A Must-Read For ALL Girls ages 9 and up!
Review: Are you a girl who is worried, wondering, scared, curious, or scared about the changes your body is going through? Well, look no further. This is a fantastic book for girls who are entering or are in puberty, and a terrific guide for parents to read if they want to help their child. The information is very clear, accurate and easy to understand. A well-drawn picture illustrates the change easily. Also, for girls who want to know, there is even a chapter about puberty in boys! Topics included are periods, breasts, hair, caring for your body during puberty, and so much more. I read this book from cover to cover and I just LOVED it. Read it1 You will not be dissapointed!

Rating:
Summary: An informational book for teenagers and pre-teens
Review: I am 14, and I got this book two years ago. It was one of the best on the subject. And it answered all my questions that I didn't want to ask. I reccomend it to any 10-18 year old girl who wants to know more about what she's going through.

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Summary: All girls should be as lucky as I was...
Review: I am 21 years old now and stumbled upon this page looking for "our bodies, ourselves". When I was about 10 years old my mother gave me this book as a way to help bridge our inability to communicate well on personal topics. It helped me immensly, as well as a few of my girl friends who's mothers (gasp!) never said a word to them about anything they were going through. I had one friend who didn't understand when her mother told her their were "napkins" in the hall closet when she needed them, and that's all she ever said to her daughter. I reccomend that ALL mothers (and fathers, too) give their daughter at least one book like this, in addition to open, frank conversations. There is nothing pornographic about the pictures in this book. They are NOT photographs - they are drawings that are informative, rather than specific examples. Madaras is careful to explain that her illustrations are not what every girl's body looks like - and explains how things can vary. I read this book over and over again when I needed it, and was able to easy navigate to the information I was looking for. One of the most important aspects of this particular book for girls is that is has information about what is going on with their male counterparts, which helps girls feel less insecure when they read about how embarrassing things can be for the boys. I highly reccomend this book to girls 9 and up, but if your daughter is immature for her age, 10 or 11 might be a better age to introduce her to some of the information, as the book deals touches on topics such as sex and AIDS - which are better left to the parents' disgression at that age.

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Summary: What's happening to my body. Book for Girls
Review: I am the parent of two girls 11 and 13. I thought this book was pornography and should not be recommended for preteen girls. This book is for girls at least 16 to 17 years old. I am glad I read this book before giving it to my daughters.

Rating:
Summary: Good book for hard to talk about subject
Review: I bought the book for my now 16 year old when she was 11 who passed it down to her younger sister now 14. I am buying another copy for my youngest who is 10 as the original copy has been worn out. A very good book with information that they need to know. I especially like the stories on menstruation. Wish I had the information 29 years ago so I would know I was normal

Rating:
Summary: Too much information for an 11 year old
Review: I chose this book based on the reviews that I read. I disagree that this book is appropriate for girls ages 9-11. I only wanted her to learn about the changes in her body and what to expect as she matures. But this book has illustrations of male parts and other sex info... I know that one day my daughter will have to learn these things but she is too young to read and look at the illustrations in this particular book. I recommend ages 16+. I had to send the book back. Too much info for an 11 year old!!!