Soto, G. (2007). Mercy on these teenage chimps. Orlando, FL: Harcourt. ISBN: 0152062157
The Plot
With their overly long arms and big ears, best friends Ronnie and Joey have hit that awkward stage of development when they seem more chimpanzee than human. It's small wonder they feel like climbing the rafters (and sometimes do). When a gym teacher berates Joey for his ape-like antics in front of Joey's crush, he takes to the trees and refuses to come down. It's up to Ronnie to convince his friend that life isn't over and that this, too, shall pass.
The Review
The characterizations are rather one-dimensional and the story is low on suspense, but boys who feel similarly simian may enjoy the themes of friendship and growing up. There is absolutely nothing objectionable about the book - no swearing, no sexual references of any kind, and no violence. It's probably the most innocuous book on growing up you could hope to find. It's a perfect choice for parents who support maintaining tween innocence.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Sunday, March 30, 2014
The Ultimate Guys' Body Book by Walt Larimore
Larimore, W. (2012). The ultimate guys' body book. Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz.
The Summary
This book is divided into thirty chapters and three appendices. The chapters are based around a question. The questions range from the obvious (Why are my feet so big?) to the awkward (How do I know if my penis is the right size?) to the bizarre (Is having only one testicle okay?). Some of the question topics are clearly colored by the author's Christian faith, such as "How do I have victory over temptation?"
The Review
Because the author is a medical doctor, the information is medically correct, though with a definite bias. The book is a blend of maturation and Christian morality. Conservative Christian parents will appreciate this book's assertion that pornography and masturbating are sinful, and it's tips on avoiding these practices. As for the layout and ease of use, this book has illustrations and sidebars, but it's more text-heavy than similar books for boys. Parents looking for a just-the-facts puberty guide should probably look elsewhere.
The Summary
This book is divided into thirty chapters and three appendices. The chapters are based around a question. The questions range from the obvious (Why are my feet so big?) to the awkward (How do I know if my penis is the right size?) to the bizarre (Is having only one testicle okay?). Some of the question topics are clearly colored by the author's Christian faith, such as "How do I have victory over temptation?"
The Review
Because the author is a medical doctor, the information is medically correct, though with a definite bias. The book is a blend of maturation and Christian morality. Conservative Christian parents will appreciate this book's assertion that pornography and masturbating are sinful, and it's tips on avoiding these practices. As for the layout and ease of use, this book has illustrations and sidebars, but it's more text-heavy than similar books for boys. Parents looking for a just-the-facts puberty guide should probably look elsewhere.
Sophie Hartley and the Facts of Life by Stephanie Greene
Greene, S. (2013). Sophie Hartley and the Facts of Life. Boston, MA: Clarion Books.
The Plot
Fourth grader Sophie is a middle child. After seeing the craziness her older teenaged siblings get up to, she's not sure she wants to know what this puberty thing is all about. But how does she enjoy still being a kid when the movie is being shown soon and other girls are accusing her of being immature? Can she find out just enough about the changes that are coming without totally ruining the childhood she has left? Can she convince her sister that she isn't the devil's spawn? Can her mom leave town on business and leave her dad to run the house for a week without any major catastrophes?
The Review
This cheerfully innocent story is well-written. The family relationships are well-developed and there's a lot of very believable dialogue. Sophie's feelings of dread about the upcoming movie are ones that most tweens can relate to, as is her unwillingness to ask questions of her mom and older sister. This book speaks to those tweens that are happy being kids and don't understand the big rush to grow up.
The Plot
Fourth grader Sophie is a middle child. After seeing the craziness her older teenaged siblings get up to, she's not sure she wants to know what this puberty thing is all about. But how does she enjoy still being a kid when the movie is being shown soon and other girls are accusing her of being immature? Can she find out just enough about the changes that are coming without totally ruining the childhood she has left? Can she convince her sister that she isn't the devil's spawn? Can her mom leave town on business and leave her dad to run the house for a week without any major catastrophes?
The Review
This cheerfully innocent story is well-written. The family relationships are well-developed and there's a lot of very believable dialogue. Sophie's feelings of dread about the upcoming movie are ones that most tweens can relate to, as is her unwillingness to ask questions of her mom and older sister. This book speaks to those tweens that are happy being kids and don't understand the big rush to grow up.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
The Amazing Life of Birds (The Twenty-Day Puberty Journal of Duane Homer Leach) by Gary Paulsen
Paulsen, G. (2006). The amazing life of birds (The twenty-day puberty journal of Duane Homer Leech). New York: Wendy Lamb Books.
Duane Homer Leach, or Doo Doo as he's known at school, is having a rough time adjusting to adolescence. His feet are too big, his hair has gone wild, and his face has become a minefield of pimples. To top it off, nothing he says or does comes out the way he wants it to. The culprit? Puberty. Will he survive long enough to get it right?
The Review
The book is very short, extremely readable, and laugh-out-loud funny. Every kid going through puberty or who has gone will relate to Duane's feelings of awkwardness. The book touches on the major parts of physical maturation as well as extremely veiled allusions to sexual topics. Concerns such as porn, unexpected arousal, and an unintentional preoccupation with female anatomy are referred to with surprising tact and humor. The book entertains without shocking. A great read for tween boys.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Will Puberty Last My Whole Life? by Julie Metzger and Robert Lehman
Bibliographic Information
Metzger, J. &Lehman, R. (2012). Will puberty last my whole life? Seattle, WA: Sasquatch Books.
Summary
The book is divided into sections: a boys' section and a girls' section. The girls' section is divided into fourteen chapters, each focusing on a question regarding some aspect of puberty. The boys' section is similarly divides, except there are fifteen chapters. Topics for both include sex; pregnancy; romantic, familial, and platonic relationships; growth spurs; personal hygiene; and pubic hair. Both the boys' and girls' sections also includes a portion about both male and female reproductive systems.
Rationale
The authors are a nurse and a doctor, respectively, so the information should be medically accurate. Since the authors are both male and female, the viewpoints are accurate as well. The book is a flip book. From one direction, the content is about boys. From another, the content is about girl. This is good for teens who want to learn how things work for the opposite sex, but are too embarrassed to get a book about it. Some more controversial topics are covered by this work, such as masturbation, STDs, and birth control.
Metzger, J. &Lehman, R. (2012). Will puberty last my whole life? Seattle, WA: Sasquatch Books.
Summary
The book is divided into sections: a boys' section and a girls' section. The girls' section is divided into fourteen chapters, each focusing on a question regarding some aspect of puberty. The boys' section is similarly divides, except there are fifteen chapters. Topics for both include sex; pregnancy; romantic, familial, and platonic relationships; growth spurs; personal hygiene; and pubic hair. Both the boys' and girls' sections also includes a portion about both male and female reproductive systems.
Rationale
The authors are a nurse and a doctor, respectively, so the information should be medically accurate. Since the authors are both male and female, the viewpoints are accurate as well. The book is a flip book. From one direction, the content is about boys. From another, the content is about girl. This is good for teens who want to learn how things work for the opposite sex, but are too embarrassed to get a book about it. Some more controversial topics are covered by this work, such as masturbation, STDs, and birth control.
Girl's Guide to Becoming a Teen by Amy Middleman and Kate Pfeifer
Bibliographic Information
Middleman, A. & Pfeifer, K. (2006). Girls' guide to becoming teen. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Summary
The book covers the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of female puberty. Examples of topics include the female reproductive cycle, hair and skin care, relationships, and growth spurts. It does mention some tricker points, such as masturbation, tattoos, contraceptives, and same sex attraction.
Rationale
Unlike many books for girls, the design incorporates multiple points of entry such as sidebars and captions. The drawing are engaging and fun. Since the book is published by the American Medical Association, the information is medically accurate.
Middleman, A. & Pfeifer, K. (2006). Girls' guide to becoming teen. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Summary
The book covers the mental, emotional, and physical aspects of female puberty. Examples of topics include the female reproductive cycle, hair and skin care, relationships, and growth spurts. It does mention some tricker points, such as masturbation, tattoos, contraceptives, and same sex attraction.
Rationale
Unlike many books for girls, the design incorporates multiple points of entry such as sidebars and captions. The drawing are engaging and fun. Since the book is published by the American Medical Association, the information is medically accurate.
On the Spot: Real Girls on Periods, Growing Up, and Finding Your Groove by Karle Dickerson
Bibliographic Information
Dickerson, K. (2005). On the spot: real girls on periods, growing up, and finding your groove. Avon, MA: Adams Media.
Summary
This book focuses almost entirely on the physical aspects of puberty, particularly on periods. Five of the eleven chapters deal with period-related issues, such as a rundown on products available, PMS, and problems with menstruation. The book lacks illustrations other than girly bits of clip-art in the margins and is rather text-heavy in its layout.
Rationale
This is one of the few books about puberty for girls that deals honestly about the more uncomfortable issues of puberty like cramps and PMS. For girls who experience these complications, they will find the open discussion both helpful and comforting. It also includes a lot of personal accounts from tweens and teens about these topics.
Dickerson, K. (2005). On the spot: real girls on periods, growing up, and finding your groove. Avon, MA: Adams Media.
Summary
This book focuses almost entirely on the physical aspects of puberty, particularly on periods. Five of the eleven chapters deal with period-related issues, such as a rundown on products available, PMS, and problems with menstruation. The book lacks illustrations other than girly bits of clip-art in the margins and is rather text-heavy in its layout.
Rationale
This is one of the few books about puberty for girls that deals honestly about the more uncomfortable issues of puberty like cramps and PMS. For girls who experience these complications, they will find the open discussion both helpful and comforting. It also includes a lot of personal accounts from tweens and teens about these topics.
Monday, March 17, 2014
Girl in the Know: Your Inside-and-Out Guide to Growing Up by Anne Katz
Bibliographic Information
Katz, A. (2010). Girl in the know: Your inside-and-out guide to growing up. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press.
Summary
This in-depth discussion of the changes (physical, emotional, and social) that girls go through as they become teens. While it covers the basics of reproductive changes, it also goes into a wide variety of topics other girls' health books don't cover, like eating disorders, masturbation, personal safety, and same sex attraction. More text-heavy than many other books on this topic, Monika Melnychuk's illustrations still keep the pages fun and interesting.
Rationale
While some parents may find certain aspects of this book controversial, others will welcome its openness about more difficult topics.
Katz, A. (2010). Girl in the know: Your inside-and-out guide to growing up. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press.
Summary
This in-depth discussion of the changes (physical, emotional, and social) that girls go through as they become teens. While it covers the basics of reproductive changes, it also goes into a wide variety of topics other girls' health books don't cover, like eating disorders, masturbation, personal safety, and same sex attraction. More text-heavy than many other books on this topic, Monika Melnychuk's illustrations still keep the pages fun and interesting.
Rationale
While some parents may find certain aspects of this book controversial, others will welcome its openness about more difficult topics.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
American Medical Association's Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen
Bibliographic Information
Middleman, A. & Grunewald Pfeifer, K. (2006). American Medical Association's boy's guide to becoming a teen. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Summary
Divided into nine chapters, this book covers the major changes teen boys can expect during puberty, such as skin care, reproductive growth and development, relationships, and personal hygiene issues like body odor. The book is organized into common questions and answers, some of which include cartooned medical diagrams as well as illustrations.
Rationale
The cover is reasonably discrete and the illustrations, while more cartoonish than other books on the same topic, are still appropriate for the intended age group. The title is similarly innocuous.
That being said, there are some content issues that parents need to be mindful of. This book goes beyond simple health and hygiene topics and gets to thornier, more controversial topics such as tattoos, piercings, STDs, and masturbation. Because it's published by the American Medical Association, the information is medically accurate. Considering the barrage of inaccurate information teens are exposed to by the media and by each other, having access to the facts is an important asset for teens. While some parents may be alarmed by the content, others may find that it provides a non confrontational way to start important conversations with their tween or teen.
Middleman, A. & Grunewald Pfeifer, K. (2006). American Medical Association's boy's guide to becoming a teen. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Summary
Divided into nine chapters, this book covers the major changes teen boys can expect during puberty, such as skin care, reproductive growth and development, relationships, and personal hygiene issues like body odor. The book is organized into common questions and answers, some of which include cartooned medical diagrams as well as illustrations.
Rationale
The cover is reasonably discrete and the illustrations, while more cartoonish than other books on the same topic, are still appropriate for the intended age group. The title is similarly innocuous.
That being said, there are some content issues that parents need to be mindful of. This book goes beyond simple health and hygiene topics and gets to thornier, more controversial topics such as tattoos, piercings, STDs, and masturbation. Because it's published by the American Medical Association, the information is medically accurate. Considering the barrage of inaccurate information teens are exposed to by the media and by each other, having access to the facts is an important asset for teens. While some parents may be alarmed by the content, others may find that it provides a non confrontational way to start important conversations with their tween or teen.
The Body Book for Boys by Jonathan Mar and Grace Norwich
Bibliographic Information
Mar, J. & Norwich, G. (2010). The body book for boys: Everything you need to know about growing up. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Summary
This is a guidebook for tween and early teen boys who are either going through puberty or about to. The book is composed of five chapters that cover topics ranging from acne and shaving, body confidence and muscle growth, growth and development of reproductive organs, sports injury prevention, and mental health. Each chapter has bolded vocabulary words and features a short quiz at the end. The book is fully illustrated with comic book-type drawings.
Rationale
This is a great book for tween and teen boys because it's informative, factual, and not hugely embarrassing to be seen with. The cover is understated and the topics are covered in a straightforward, accessible manner. Parents can use the book as refresher course for dads or a breakdown of what happens when for moms. Parents can also use it as a jumping-off point for conversations with their tweens and teens about health and personal hygiene.
Mar, J. & Norwich, G. (2010). The body book for boys: Everything you need to know about growing up. New York, NY: Scholastic.
Summary
This is a guidebook for tween and early teen boys who are either going through puberty or about to. The book is composed of five chapters that cover topics ranging from acne and shaving, body confidence and muscle growth, growth and development of reproductive organs, sports injury prevention, and mental health. Each chapter has bolded vocabulary words and features a short quiz at the end. The book is fully illustrated with comic book-type drawings.
Rationale
This is a great book for tween and teen boys because it's informative, factual, and not hugely embarrassing to be seen with. The cover is understated and the topics are covered in a straightforward, accessible manner. Parents can use the book as refresher course for dads or a breakdown of what happens when for moms. Parents can also use it as a jumping-off point for conversations with their tweens and teens about health and personal hygiene.
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