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Good Girls

(2006, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by Laura Ruby)

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0

  • Common Sense says

    Great discussion book on sex and repercussions.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Girls are harassed because of their sexual behavior while boys are congratulated, and even teachers get involved in passing judgments. A girl is harassed by the entire school and not much is done about it. On the plus side, several girls come to an understanding about the repercussions of sexual activity and relationships.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Not an issue.

  • Sex:

    Many sexual situations and discussions that are key to the story. A girl describes losing her virginity, including bleeding afterward. A teen's penis is described including look and feel. Discussions about orgasms, masturbation, sexual promiscuity, and descriptions of heavy-petting sessions are also prevalent. A naked cell phone picture of the main character circulates school.

  • Language:

    A few swear words, mostly in German. A few English swear words include "s--t."

  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.

  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Teens smoke and drink alcohol at parties.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Good Girls

Parents need to know that there are a lot of discussions about sex, making out, virginity, and sexual promiscuity -- a girl describes losing her virginity. The main character has a naked cell phone picture taken of her in "the moment." The novel deals with sexuality in a very open way but overall it's not unduly graphic. Teens also smoke and drink alcohol at parties. Because teens in the book come to an understanding about sex and its repercussions, parents may find that this is a good discussion book.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the trend of teen girls taking naked photos of themselves with their cell phones. Do you know of someone who has done this? Have their photos ever been passed around? How could this be damaging to the girl's future? What would you do if you received a photo like this? Families can also discuss "friends with benefits." Who benefits from relationships like this? Are these "friendships" healthy relationships? Why or why not? What did some teens come to realize about sex and its repercussions in this book? Do you agree? How often do you see teen sex on TV and in movies without any consequences or complications for the characters?
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