Engaging, inclusive look at changes that come with puberty.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body, is a lively, comprehensive, fact-filled exploration of all aspects of puberty, from the physical to the emotional, including gender identity. Co-authors Melisa Holmes, Trish Hutchison, and Kathryn Lowe are all medical doctors, and the book is published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Stories of six diverse, cartoon-like fictional characters kick off each topic. Cute illustrations, clear graphics, and highlighted "Fun Facts" help make this an easy read, even when it gets into territory that could potentially make kids feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. As the co-authors promise in their introduction, "It's honest, cringe-free, and for EVERY body."
Violence & Scariness
very little
One section points out that kids sometimes run across pornography on the internet and explains, "Pornography involves photos or videos of naked people (they're usually actors) doing stuff with their naked bodies that is very different from what most people do with their naked bodies. Pornography is wrong and harmful to kids because it gives the wrong information. It often shows people getting hurt, and most of it is very disrespectful to women and even men. ... Many of the pictures can be disturbing. Pornography can be like a scary scene in a movie. Once you see it, it's hard to unsee and forget it."
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Slang words for breasts ("boobs") and penises ("willy," "wiener," "pee pee") are mentioned in a section that recommends calling body parts by their real names instead. "Boner" is mentioned as a slang reference to an erection.
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Several nonsexual illustrations of naked bodies intended for education. One shows five stages of breast growth, from flat to fully developed. Another shows three young people naked from the waist up to show different breast sizes. In the body parts section, an illustration of three kids naked from the waist up identifies the breast, areola, and nipple. An illustration in the section on genitalia shows a side view of a young person with no pants on who has one foot on a closed toilet seat and is using a hand mirror to see what their vulva looks like. The text advises, "Once you've learned all the body parts down there, they shouldn't be a mystery anymore, and it's a great idea to take a closer look with a mirror." There's a cartoon-like illustration of a youth standing with an erection, plus close-up diagrams of a penis and scrotum. One illustration shows the difference between a circumcised and uncircumcised penis, as well as one that shows the progression of pubic hair growth on bodies with penises and vulvas.
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Discusses all aspects of puberty, from the physical to the emotional. Topics include breasts; menstrual periods; private parts; erections; sperm; acne; how hormones work; the arrival of hair in pubic areas, armpits, and on boys' faces and chests; body odor; gender diversity; circumcision; masturbation. Practical advice on bra shopping, selecting the right tampon and how often to change it, wearing an athletic cup, and combatting stinky feet that come with puberty, plus healthy nutrition and exercise tips. Also covers emotional aspects of puberty, including bullying, cyberbullying, teasing, cliques, crushes. Lots of vocabulary related to body parts, sex, and gender. Terms like "cisgender," "nonbinary," "transgender," and "gender fluid" defined. Six-page glossary at the back.
Positive Messages
a lot
"If we want to stay healthy, we need to know how to take care of our growing bodies." "Big feelings can be confusing and hard to manage, but they're normal." "Even though EVERY body goes through puberty, your journey will be unique to you, and other kids' journeys will be unique to them." "You've got this! Keep being you!"
Positive Role Models
a lot
The six fictional characters are models of kids going through different things and facing different challenges but are trying to understand what's going on with their bodies and emotions. They model empathy and communication. The unseen narrators of the book—three medical doctors—maintain a calm, united, lighthearted voice, convey a respect for kids and what they're going through, and offer reassurance that what they're experiencing in puberty is normal.
Diverse Representations
a lot
The six main fictional characters in the book are diverse in terms of ethnicity, skin color, sex, gender identity, and gender expression. One character uses a wheelchair. The book is for all kids, not just boys or just girls, like many puberty books. The authors explain in "A Message to Parents" at the beginning, "Everyone will learn about erections and sperm. Everyone will learn about periods. Everyone will get hygiene tips. And we explain puberty for gender-diverse kids because even if you haven't personally experienced gender diversity in your own family, your child is certain to have a friend or classmate who is gender diverse."
YOU-OLOGY: A PUBERTY GUIDE FOR EVERY BODY covers all aspects of kids' developing bodies as they enter puberty, as well as sexual and gender identity. It introduces fictional characters who go to the same school and are around the same age. Each chapter starts with a story involving one or more of the characters facing an issue or dilemma. Topics include breasts, menstrual periods, penises, erections, sperm, acne, how hormones work, and the arrival of hair in pubic areas, armpits, and on boys' faces and chests. Along with solid biological facts, there's practical advice on things like bra shopping and wearing an athletic cup. It also covers emotional changes, bullying and teasing, cliques, and crushes.
Is It Any Good?
Our review:
Parents say :Not yet rated
Kids say :Not yet rated
This comprehensive, inclusive guide helps kids understand how their bodies and feelings change as they enter puberty. Using kid-friendly language, it sends a positive message that these changes are perfectly normal as it provides information that's medically accurate. Quotes in the cartoon characters' speech bubbles aimed directly at the reader underscore the book's overall kid-friendly voice.
You-ology: A Puberty Guide for EVERY Body also promotes empathy and understanding. As the authors say at the beginning of the book, "When children understand what their peers experience, they grow up more empathetic and supportive."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the illustrations in You-ology. Did the drawings and diagrams help you understand the various topics presented?
Did learning facts about your changing body help you feel a bit more relaxed about the changes?
What new things did you learn that no one had told you about? Did you learn things you'd been curious about?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?