Common Sense Media Review
By Joly Herman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Socially aware story charms and celebrates menstruation.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In CODE RED, 13-year-old Eden has recently given up on becoming an elite gymnast because of an injury. School has started in her Seattle neighborhood, and, to her horror, her mother -- a high-powered executive at a period products company (yes, she makes pads, tampons and liners) -- has decided to give a talk at a school-wide assembly for career day. A boy named Graham starts to tease and harass Eden after the assembly, but she stands up for herself with the help of a girl named Maribel. They get in a scuffle; Graham falls to the ground and breaks his wrist, and the girls are suspended from school. For the week that they're out, Eden and Maribel volunteer at Maribel's mom's food pantry, Casa Esperanza. Eden soon discovers that people need more than food at the pantry, especially women, who need period care. Her mom isn't pleased that Eden is becoming immersed in the politics of her community. So Eden has to make a choice: Will she obey her mother, whose career feels like a punishment? Or will she dive into a new way of viewing the world around her?
Is It Any Good?
Engaging, informative, inspirational, and smart, this middle-grade book opens the door to conversations about menstruation. Code Red manages to tackle a topic that's personal and political without losing the human element. Though main character Eden narrates the book like someone three years older than her age, her loneliness and perfectionism make her relatable. Parents might want to gauge their reader's comfort level with the topic of menstruation and period products before diving in, as the characters' frank conversations might be more familiar to some families than others ("Not everyone wants to stick something up their vagina," a teenager says to her younger sibling in reference to tampon use). But the celebratory tone, especially as the plot peaks, has charm to spare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how people work toward their goals in Code Red. What happens when the characters persevere to overcome obstacles? What would happen if they gave up?
Compassion drives Eden and her friends to make period products more accessible for people in need. What motivates you to make a difference?
Eden struggles to find the courage to try something besides gymnastics, which had taken much of her time. When have you needed courage to continue?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Contemporary Fiction
- Topics : Activism , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Atheneum
- Publication date : June 13, 2023
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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