GROWING INTO YOU!

An LGBTQ+-friendly guide to all things related to puberty.

Written by a nonbinary sexual health educator and social worker, this book is divided into four parts, covering an introduction to puberty, changes to your body, self-care tips, and how to connect with yourself and others. Within each section, readers find activities to further their learning and interaction with the content, including writing and discussion prompts and suggested activities. Carnagey intentionally presents the information using gender-inclusive language, for example speaking of “people who were assigned female at birth or who have ovaries.” The book covers topics such as gender, sex assigned at birth, being intersex, going through puberty as a nonbinary individual, period care for trans and nonbinary people, and sexual orientation. The care with which these topics are handled creates a safe space for tweens to explore their identities. Other sensitive topics discussed are period poverty, masturbation, and the importance of consent and boundaries. The backmatter includes suggestions for further reading, websites and organizations, and resources for adults. Although the work specifically addresses a young adolescent audience, many adults will find value in it. The author presents the information clearly, concisely, and nonjudgmentally and reminds readers that there’s no room for shame in discussing these topics. Gilmartin’s bright illustrations show people of varied abilities, skin tones, and sizes and include clear anatomical drawings.

An inclusive look at puberty for tweens and young teens of all gender identities.