GROWING UP

A guide to the ins and outs of maturation.

Greener and Owen’s book covers physical and emotional changes, friendship, self-care, and digital citizenship and safety. Written in second person, the text addresses young readers directly, inviting them to consider their own experiences. The book both normalizes and affirms the diversity of human bodies and experiences, whether biological realities (“These changes happen at a different speed for everyone”) or bodily autonomy and choice (“Not every grown-up can or will choose to use their body to make a baby. There are lots of different ways to be a grown-up”). Illustrations rendered in gentle hues include informative biological diagrams and tools such as menstrual products; the art portrays people of diverse racial identities, abilities, religions, and body sizes going about their lives. A section on boundary setting addresses consent and the importance of listening when someone says no, though it doesn’t address affirmative consent. The author doesn’t discuss transgender experiences (beyond acknowledging that some people’s gender identities are at odds with the sex they were assigned at birth) or puberty blockers; still, her use of words such as some and most helps to avoid overgeneralization: “During puberty, most people born with a vulva will start having periods.” Frequent reminders to talk with a “grown-up you trust” responsibly keep the focus on young readers and their potential needs.

An extensive and accurate puberty primer.