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Gender Blender

(2007, Fiction - Coming of Age, Written by Blake Nelson)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 10, age appropriate for kids over 13; suggested age 10.

  • Is it any good?

    3.0

  • Common Sense says

    Fun switcheroo tale is good for gender-role talk.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 10–13

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    This book highlights a time when boys and girls are both repelled and drawn to each other. There's some sexism from both genders, but they do recognize similarities and positive attributes in each other.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Two girls get into a fight at a party. A couple of boys throw dirt clods at each other and one tries to pee on several older boys that are harassing him.

  • Sex:

    Much body-part humor; a health education class and students bring up boners, pitching a tent, etc. Girls reflect on whether they are developed enough and who's more developed. Boys try to look down girls' shirts and everyone is curious about making out. A girl and boy switch bodies so there's discussion about how to pee; the boy checks out his "girl" body, gets his period, and gets a chance to be in the girls' locker room. Discussion of naked pictures and masterbation.

  • Language:

    Body part humor is the worst of it.

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Gender Blender

Parents need to know that they should expect plenty of sexual and body-part humor typical of middle schoolers, covering erections, periods, etc. A boy who switches bodies with a girl gets his period; the girl in the boy's body tries to learn how to pee. The differences between boys and girls are talked about and stereotyped while the characters work out what gender means.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the stereotypes both sexes face and how to deal with them. How are girls sterotyped, and why are these assumptions not always true? How about boys?
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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Gender Blender?

  •  I think this book is

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See all 7 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    lol panda
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages

    LOL Hilarious!

    This is a hilarious book about a boy and a girl in middle school who switch bodies. In the book they mention some stuff that kids up to 10 wouldn't understand and it would be to inappropriate for them. Over all it's a very good and funny book for ages 12 and up.

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  2. Parent Reviewer
    wallaceson
    I rate this title off for age 12 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational

    Flag as inappropriate
  3. Parent Reviewer
    tealsweety
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 9 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Flag as inappropriate
  4. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    emma3amanda9
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 4.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages

    Very informative!

    It was very informative. If anyone is afraid of talking to their parents then this answers a lot of questions. It was funny and a good, easy book to read!

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate
  5. Adult Reviewer
    username
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 11 and give it 5.0

    omg soo good!

    this book is so good! its 4 gurl and boys i related 2 everything that happened like when she got her period i really loved it it was so funny! i love blake nelson's books

    This review...

    Helped me decide | Had useful details | Read my mind
    Flag as inappropriate

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