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On the Subject of Unmentionable Things
A girl rewrites sex education, one viral post at a time, in this fiercely honest and delightfully awkward novel from the award-winning author of Words on Bathroom Walls.
Phoebe Townsend is a rule follower . . . or so everyone thinks. She’s an A student who writes for her small-town school newspaper. But what no one knows is that Phoebe is also Pom—the anonymous teen who’s rewriting sex education on her blog and social media.
Phoebe is not a pervert. No, really. Her unconventional hobby is just a research obsession. And sex should not be a secret. As long as Phoebe stays undercover, she’s sure she’ll fly through junior year unnoticed. . . .
That is, until Pom goes viral, courtesy of mayoral candidate Lydia Brookhurst. The former beauty queen labels Phoebe’s work an “assault on morality,” riling up her supporters and calling on Pom to reveal her identity. But Phoebe is not backing down. With her anonymity on the line, is it all worth the fight?
Julia Walton delivers a brutally honest novel about sex, social media, and the courage to pursue truth when misinformation is rife. Who knew truth could be so scandalous?
Phoebe Townsend is a rule follower . . . or so everyone thinks. She’s an A student who writes for her small-town school newspaper. But what no one knows is that Phoebe is also Pom—the anonymous teen who’s rewriting sex education on her blog and social media.
Phoebe is not a pervert. No, really. Her unconventional hobby is just a research obsession. And sex should not be a secret. As long as Phoebe stays undercover, she’s sure she’ll fly through junior year unnoticed. . . .
That is, until Pom goes viral, courtesy of mayoral candidate Lydia Brookhurst. The former beauty queen labels Phoebe’s work an “assault on morality,” riling up her supporters and calling on Pom to reveal her identity. But Phoebe is not backing down. With her anonymity on the line, is it all worth the fight?
Julia Walton delivers a brutally honest novel about sex, social media, and the courage to pursue truth when misinformation is rife. Who knew truth could be so scandalous?
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First published August 23, 2022
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About the author
Julia Walton
5 books306 followersJulia Walton received her MFA in creative writing from Chapman University. When she's not reading or baking cookies, she's indulging in her profound love of Swedish Fish, mechanical pencils, and hobbit-sized breakfasts. Julia lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 278 reviews
August 22, 2022
4.5 education, not evasion stars!
What I liked about the book:
1. I loved the sex positivity! There was so much information and so much knowledge behind everything from how to properly use condoms to what is considered “normal” to how to give your partner pleasure. It was so informational, it took the “taboo” out of it, which is fantastic! Sex is not taboo, sex is not bad, sex is not something to be ashamed of. It is a normal part of life, and I really liked the approach this book took with it.
2. I loved how there was so much opposition to her blog, given she was from a conservative town. The people that were in opposition to her felt so real! I have definitely heard the thoughts of those that think, “If we don’t talk about sex, how can kids get pregnant?” more times than I can count, especially with some of the more religious/conservative sects of my own family.
I also liked that the author didn’t wrap it up in a neat bow, like “Yep, and everyone changed from being bigoted folks with creationist outlooks to understanding and admiring the teenaged girl.” It felt raw and realistic, which I appreciated thoroughly.
3. I was a bit disappointed when we thought the abortion thank you letter from A.L.T. was from someone almost irrelevant to the storyline…until we found out it wasn’t! After the excitement of this wore off, I was sure Phoebe was going to blackmail A.L.T., which I was SUPER NOT COOL WITH! But the author didn’t let me down and had Phoebe take the high route in the most badass way possible.
4. I loved how Phoebe’s and her mom’s relationship grew before our eyes once Phoebe’s identity was out. The readers were lead to believe her mom was bad at talking about sex and she wasn’t a really open person, but we got to know her story and she saw the error of her ways. I loved watching this growth in her mom as well as the openness in the family’s discussions.
5. I loved the inserts from her blog, Twitter, texts, emails, etc. It added nice visual texture to the book, which I loved!
6. I loved the local election aspects of this story, and how it didn’t turn out how I wanted. But that’s life, so that’s good enough for me!
7. I loved the feminist undertone surrounding this book too. So many things just made me want to high five our narrator.
What could have been better:
1. The romance in this felt forced and unnecessary. It was definitely my least favorite part of this book, and that’s coming from a romance junkie.
What I liked about the book:
1. I loved the sex positivity! There was so much information and so much knowledge behind everything from how to properly use condoms to what is considered “normal” to how to give your partner pleasure. It was so informational, it took the “taboo” out of it, which is fantastic! Sex is not taboo, sex is not bad, sex is not something to be ashamed of. It is a normal part of life, and I really liked the approach this book took with it.
2. I loved how there was so much opposition to her blog, given she was from a conservative town. The people that were in opposition to her felt so real! I have definitely heard the thoughts of those that think, “If we don’t talk about sex, how can kids get pregnant?” more times than I can count, especially with some of the more religious/conservative sects of my own family.
I also liked that the author didn’t wrap it up in a neat bow, like “Yep, and everyone changed from being bigoted folks with creationist outlooks to understanding and admiring the teenaged girl.” It felt raw and realistic, which I appreciated thoroughly.
3. I was a bit disappointed when we thought the abortion thank you letter from A.L.T. was from someone almost irrelevant to the storyline…until we found out it wasn’t! After the excitement of this wore off, I was sure Phoebe was going to blackmail A.L.T., which I was SUPER NOT COOL WITH! But the author didn’t let me down and had Phoebe take the high route in the most badass way possible.
4. I loved how Phoebe’s and her mom’s relationship grew before our eyes once Phoebe’s identity was out. The readers were lead to believe her mom was bad at talking about sex and she wasn’t a really open person, but we got to know her story and she saw the error of her ways. I loved watching this growth in her mom as well as the openness in the family’s discussions.
5. I loved the inserts from her blog, Twitter, texts, emails, etc. It added nice visual texture to the book, which I loved!
6. I loved the local election aspects of this story, and how it didn’t turn out how I wanted. But that’s life, so that’s good enough for me!
7. I loved the feminist undertone surrounding this book too. So many things just made me want to high five our narrator.
What could have been better:
1. The romance in this felt forced and unnecessary. It was definitely my least favorite part of this book, and that’s coming from a romance junkie.
August 19, 2022
2.5 stars
This YA contemporary features Phoebe, a by-the-book high schooler who gets interested in sex and sexuality (mostly sex and anatomy), and starts a topical blog under cover. It's fascinating that she's able to keep this secret for so long, but for me, aside from that surprising fact, the magic dwindled a bit from there.
While Phoebe runs this blog mostly in peace for forever by the standards of her age group, the tables turn when a particularly traditional individual runs for office in her community. This adult woman begins terrorizing the blog and blogger and suggesting truly outdated and backward concepts about identity and sex education for 2015, but they are right in line with much of 2016 and beyond so far (pour one out for our basic human rights, Friends). The juxtaposition of these two forces is a nicely executed element of the novel, though if you were drawn to read this book in the first place, you'll likely also find one of side of this argument asinine and outrageous (which is the point).
What strikes me most about this book is that it's billed as somewhat provocative and inclusive, but there is very little content that matches this attempted vibe. There are so many great opportunities to get into sexuality, gender expression, gender identity, and a whole array of LGBTQIA+ issues and characters here. If these are supposed to be modern teens, related content should be coming in almost every letter to the blog. However, Phoebe's followers seem to be interested in pretty basic anatomical questions that they could easily Google. There was just never a strong enough tie for me to understand why these folks would write in to the blog when they could just get the answers themselves in seconds. Because Phoebe's identity is secret, there's no draw to the person (just the 'mystery'). There is almost no representation of queerness in any capacity here or of heterogenous identities overall. Having read and taught YA for a really long time, I find myself struggling to see how and where I'd find a place for a book that feels so limited in my classroom or list of strong recs. Being sexually inexperienced is not a novelty in this age group, and the plot and characters rely too much on this for my taste.
I enjoyed a previous book by this author, and I think the concept is intriguing here. The connections to Netflix's _Sex Education_ are misleading in the sense that the show is largely known for its inclusive (though there are also limitations in that example) representation. The characters are not all cis, het, and white. Here, that's almost exclusively the case, and in a book with this central concept and for this age group, that decision is somewhat confounding. I'll give this author more tries, but I'm left feeling like there are some important missed opportunities here. More importantly, I wonder how many readers will come to this book looking for mirrors of their own experiences and identities and be left - with the absence of those - feeling even more alienated.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This YA contemporary features Phoebe, a by-the-book high schooler who gets interested in sex and sexuality (mostly sex and anatomy), and starts a topical blog under cover. It's fascinating that she's able to keep this secret for so long, but for me, aside from that surprising fact, the magic dwindled a bit from there.
While Phoebe runs this blog mostly in peace for forever by the standards of her age group, the tables turn when a particularly traditional individual runs for office in her community. This adult woman begins terrorizing the blog and blogger and suggesting truly outdated and backward concepts about identity and sex education for 2015, but they are right in line with much of 2016 and beyond so far (pour one out for our basic human rights, Friends). The juxtaposition of these two forces is a nicely executed element of the novel, though if you were drawn to read this book in the first place, you'll likely also find one of side of this argument asinine and outrageous (which is the point).
What strikes me most about this book is that it's billed as somewhat provocative and inclusive, but there is very little content that matches this attempted vibe. There are so many great opportunities to get into sexuality, gender expression, gender identity, and a whole array of LGBTQIA+ issues and characters here. If these are supposed to be modern teens, related content should be coming in almost every letter to the blog. However, Phoebe's followers seem to be interested in pretty basic anatomical questions that they could easily Google. There was just never a strong enough tie for me to understand why these folks would write in to the blog when they could just get the answers themselves in seconds. Because Phoebe's identity is secret, there's no draw to the person (just the 'mystery'). There is almost no representation of queerness in any capacity here or of heterogenous identities overall. Having read and taught YA for a really long time, I find myself struggling to see how and where I'd find a place for a book that feels so limited in my classroom or list of strong recs. Being sexually inexperienced is not a novelty in this age group, and the plot and characters rely too much on this for my taste.
I enjoyed a previous book by this author, and I think the concept is intriguing here. The connections to Netflix's _Sex Education_ are misleading in the sense that the show is largely known for its inclusive (though there are also limitations in that example) representation. The characters are not all cis, het, and white. Here, that's almost exclusively the case, and in a book with this central concept and for this age group, that decision is somewhat confounding. I'll give this author more tries, but I'm left feeling like there are some important missed opportunities here. More importantly, I wonder how many readers will come to this book looking for mirrors of their own experiences and identities and be left - with the absence of those - feeling even more alienated.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
January 26, 2024
I was so excited for this book! I love the premise! I’m super enthusiastic about sex-ed! I volunteered as part of a youth advisory to help write inclusive sex ed! I’ve given countless sex ed workshops! I’ve gone to school for sexuality studies! I love YA! This book is FOR ME!!!
Or so I thought.
Like I said, I was so excited for this book so much but instead I spent the whole time wondering if anyone involved in this book had a sex educator read over the book before ya’ll published it???
Our main character Phoebe spends a great deal of time talking/bragging about how much she likes to research sex stuff. She got her start by picking up some old medical books from a gynaecologist, which tracks, because much of the language she uses is outdated and in some cases wrong. It was jarring to see her using outdated terms like “safe sex” (implies a binary of absolute safe vs unsafe sex) instead of “safer sex” (embraces the continuum of choices people can make to make the sex acts they engage in less risky) and “STD” rather than “STI”. Both “safer sex” and “STI” have been widely used for over a decade, and for someone as well researched as she claims to be, it’s strange that she didn’t incorporate any of this modern language in her blog posts. Apparently none of her extensive research was of anything written after like 2005???
She also quotes the debunked theory that the “female orgasm is designed to induce pregnancy because the movements of the vaginal walls pumps the sperm towards the uterus, into the cervix” as fact and constantly refers to vaginas instead of vulva’s when it’s clear she means the former. And again, an enthusiastic sex researcher would know the difference between a vagina and a vulva. C'mon now.
The main character is also straight and cisgender and it shows. In the first chapter alone there are multiple instances of her using gendered language to describe genitals, which continues throughout the book. I was hopeful that part of her journey would be learning about how much she still has to learn. And while the book does touch on that in one chapter where she realizes she can’t answer a simple question about how gay people have sex and a brief mention at the end where she mentions letting LGBTQ+ folks and disabled folks take over her blog to talk about more inclusive sex ed, we never see her put any of the super simple things one can do to make sex ed more inclusive into practice in any meaningful way.
Reading a book published in 2022 about a teen in 2022 (or thereabouts) writing a sex-ed blog with over 70k followers would absolutely be called out/called in about using trans inclusive language because c’mon, sex educators have been doing that for ages.
And honestly? All of these are mistakes and missteps that an enthusiastic teen wannabe sex educator would make! I was so hopeful that her learning and realizing that she was perpetuating cis and heteronormativity in her answers, as well as learning that there are OTHER SEX EDUCATORS OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET who have done this work and are currently doing this work better than her would be part of her development! But nope!
Which brings me to the main problem with this book: in Phoebe’s small conservative town, maybe her outdated sex ed blog is highly revolutionary stuff. But in she’s started a blog! On the internet! With a big audience! There would absolutely be more comments about how cis and heteronormative her posts are, about the stuff she gets wrong, about the outdated language she’s using, about other sex educators she could learn from, questions from LGBTQ+ youth about queer stuff LONG before the “how do gay people have sex?” question that throws her for a loop. I can get on board with her sex “facts” being notable in her small town but again, on the internet, WHAT IS SHE ADDING TO THE SEX ED SPACE??? Her outdated language and outdated facts aren’t the bombshell the book wants us to believe they are.
I was also annoyed that this book didn’t include a link of actual decent sex ed resources for teens at the back. It really needed one.
Or so I thought.
Like I said, I was so excited for this book so much but instead I spent the whole time wondering if anyone involved in this book had a sex educator read over the book before ya’ll published it???
Our main character Phoebe spends a great deal of time talking/bragging about how much she likes to research sex stuff. She got her start by picking up some old medical books from a gynaecologist, which tracks, because much of the language she uses is outdated and in some cases wrong. It was jarring to see her using outdated terms like “safe sex” (implies a binary of absolute safe vs unsafe sex) instead of “safer sex” (embraces the continuum of choices people can make to make the sex acts they engage in less risky) and “STD” rather than “STI”. Both “safer sex” and “STI” have been widely used for over a decade, and for someone as well researched as she claims to be, it’s strange that she didn’t incorporate any of this modern language in her blog posts. Apparently none of her extensive research was of anything written after like 2005???
She also quotes the debunked theory that the “female orgasm is designed to induce pregnancy because the movements of the vaginal walls pumps the sperm towards the uterus, into the cervix” as fact and constantly refers to vaginas instead of vulva’s when it’s clear she means the former. And again, an enthusiastic sex researcher would know the difference between a vagina and a vulva. C'mon now.
The main character is also straight and cisgender and it shows. In the first chapter alone there are multiple instances of her using gendered language to describe genitals, which continues throughout the book. I was hopeful that part of her journey would be learning about how much she still has to learn. And while the book does touch on that in one chapter where she realizes she can’t answer a simple question about how gay people have sex and a brief mention at the end where she mentions letting LGBTQ+ folks and disabled folks take over her blog to talk about more inclusive sex ed, we never see her put any of the super simple things one can do to make sex ed more inclusive into practice in any meaningful way.
Reading a book published in 2022 about a teen in 2022 (or thereabouts) writing a sex-ed blog with over 70k followers would absolutely be called out/called in about using trans inclusive language because c’mon, sex educators have been doing that for ages.
And honestly? All of these are mistakes and missteps that an enthusiastic teen wannabe sex educator would make! I was so hopeful that her learning and realizing that she was perpetuating cis and heteronormativity in her answers, as well as learning that there are OTHER SEX EDUCATORS OUT THERE ON THE INTERNET who have done this work and are currently doing this work better than her would be part of her development! But nope!
Which brings me to the main problem with this book: in Phoebe’s small conservative town, maybe her outdated sex ed blog is highly revolutionary stuff. But in she’s started a blog! On the internet! With a big audience! There would absolutely be more comments about how cis and heteronormative her posts are, about the stuff she gets wrong, about the outdated language she’s using, about other sex educators she could learn from, questions from LGBTQ+ youth about queer stuff LONG before the “how do gay people have sex?” question that throws her for a loop. I can get on board with her sex “facts” being notable in her small town but again, on the internet, WHAT IS SHE ADDING TO THE SEX ED SPACE??? Her outdated language and outdated facts aren’t the bombshell the book wants us to believe they are.
I was also annoyed that this book didn’t include a link of actual decent sex ed resources for teens at the back. It really needed one.
Read
December 3, 2022No one knows that high school student Phoebe is also Pom, author of the popular sex information blog “Circle in the Square.” Phoebe is serious about her research, the blog’s responsible tone, and the importance of making sex education and sex information available and understandable to teens. Phoebe is also serious about keeping her identity secret. As for actual sex, Phoebe has no experience and is in no particular hurry to gain firsthand familiarity in that area.
Pom’s nemesis is Lydia Brookhurst, a wealthy local socialite determined to discover and reveal who is behind the blog that she considers a threat to adolescent morality and the reputation of their town.
This conflict between the need for Pom’s research-based information and Lydia’s narrow-minded posturing drives the plot of Julia Walton’s young adult novel On the Subject of Unmentionable Things (Random House, 2022). In the early part of the novel much of the battle takes place on Twitter, and the repartee between Pom and Lydia is fun to read as Pom out-clevers Lydia each time.
The supporting cast is also appealing. For example, Phoebe’s semi-emo friend Cora asks Pom for sex advice, oblivious to who is answering her questions. Two young men vie for Phoebe’s attention, and Julia Walton’s depictions of Phoebe’s awkward dates with them are both entertaining and revealing about each guy’s true character.
Walton necessarily includes a lot of talk about sexuality as she establishes Phoebe’s credibility. This information and advice is “both accurate and inclusive,” as Walton indicates in her acknowledgement of professional medical input. On the Subject of Unmentionable Things emphasizes that talking about sex is healthy and important, and it also illustrates strategies for talking back to those who hypocritically preach about morality.
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things is a good next-read suggestion for those who enjoyed Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney or the journalistic heroism depicted in Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed.
Pom’s nemesis is Lydia Brookhurst, a wealthy local socialite determined to discover and reveal who is behind the blog that she considers a threat to adolescent morality and the reputation of their town.
This conflict between the need for Pom’s research-based information and Lydia’s narrow-minded posturing drives the plot of Julia Walton’s young adult novel On the Subject of Unmentionable Things (Random House, 2022). In the early part of the novel much of the battle takes place on Twitter, and the repartee between Pom and Lydia is fun to read as Pom out-clevers Lydia each time.
The supporting cast is also appealing. For example, Phoebe’s semi-emo friend Cora asks Pom for sex advice, oblivious to who is answering her questions. Two young men vie for Phoebe’s attention, and Julia Walton’s depictions of Phoebe’s awkward dates with them are both entertaining and revealing about each guy’s true character.
Walton necessarily includes a lot of talk about sexuality as she establishes Phoebe’s credibility. This information and advice is “both accurate and inclusive,” as Walton indicates in her acknowledgement of professional medical input. On the Subject of Unmentionable Things emphasizes that talking about sex is healthy and important, and it also illustrates strategies for talking back to those who hypocritically preach about morality.
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things is a good next-read suggestion for those who enjoyed Confessions of an Alleged Good Girl by Joya Goffney or the journalistic heroism depicted in Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed.
January 20, 2022
This book is about a girl who secretly runs a blog where she informs about safe sex.
You should read it if you like:
- Sex positive books!
- Books about politics
- Fresh by Margot Wood
I enjoyed this. Loved the sex positive aspect of it and the whole safe sex blog. Also loved the love interest, BUT he was the only diverse ‘main character’, being Latino. I was expecting more representation. Especially LGBTQ+. 3.5 stars.
Rep:
- Latino love interest
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing me with an eARC of this book!
You should read it if you like:
- Sex positive books!
- Books about politics
- Fresh by Margot Wood
I enjoyed this. Loved the sex positive aspect of it and the whole safe sex blog. Also loved the love interest, BUT he was the only diverse ‘main character’, being Latino. I was expecting more representation. Especially LGBTQ+. 3.5 stars.
Rep:
- Latino love interest
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for providing me with an eARC of this book!
September 12, 2022
This was a fun read.
May 20, 2024
Phoebe Townsend has an obsession with breaking things down and learning all about them from a scientific standpoint.
Her obsession started around the age of 10, and her main area of interest is all things related to the human reproductive parts and anything sexual in nature.
For years, she collected diagrams and medical textbooks and kept a diary. During her junior year of high school, she decides to start an anonymous blog after her disgust at the state of information being provided during sex ed class in her conservative town.
Most issues that you may think would arise do.
It was a pretty good story but there were some lacking subplots.
All in all, a 3.5-4 Star read.
Her obsession started around the age of 10, and her main area of interest is all things related to the human reproductive parts and anything sexual in nature.
For years, she collected diagrams and medical textbooks and kept a diary. During her junior year of high school, she decides to start an anonymous blog after her disgust at the state of information being provided during sex ed class in her conservative town.
Most issues that you may think would arise do.
It was a pretty good story but there were some lacking subplots.
All in all, a 3.5-4 Star read.
September 19, 2022
This book was like a refreshing breath of air honestly. I ended up liking this a lot for the way it handled the conflict between religion and sex mainly.
The main character of the book, Phoebe Townsend, was an absolute blast and I am so happy that the author chose a female MC for the book AND didn't make her romantic escapades the main theme throughout.
The author stuck to what was promised and delivered it beautifully, the hint of romance with Jorge ended up complimenting the book as a whole. I escpecially liked Phoebe and Cora's friendship and how she stuck up for her in every way. Cora's boyfriend David was a sweet guy as well.
One absolute disappoinment was Neil, when the character was introduced, I did like him there for a bit initially but he turned out to be the biggest dickwad on the planet.
The main character of the book, Phoebe Townsend, was an absolute blast and I am so happy that the author chose a female MC for the book AND didn't make her romantic escapades the main theme throughout.
The author stuck to what was promised and delivered it beautifully, the hint of romance with Jorge ended up complimenting the book as a whole. I escpecially liked Phoebe and Cora's friendship and how she stuck up for her in every way. Cora's boyfriend David was a sweet guy as well.
One absolute disappoinment was Neil, when the character was introduced, I did like him there for a bit initially but he turned out to be the biggest dickwad on the planet.
January 1, 2023
There's always someone who wants to tell you not only what you can do with your body, but also how you can talk about it. Phoebe, who is academically interested in sex and sexuality, has her scientific no-judgement sexuality blog go viral when a local conservative politician decides to use hating it to launch her campaign, and wow, does this book cover a lot of very important territory. From shaming to demonization of sex ed to racism disguised as patriotism to doxxing, there is a lot here, and its all important. No one can have a conversation if either side is screaming like a toddler who has just been told "no," but without those conversations, nothing happens. It's hard to take at times, but if you liked the manga Sex Ed 120% you should read this for YA lit's answer to the question of why sex ed, real sex ed, is important.
September 17, 2022
This was such a fun, light YA story about standing your ground, but also with a bit of romance thrown in along the way.
Phoebe is writing an anonymous sex information blog, which gets picked at by the mayoral candidate who is for very anti-sex informatoin, and sells purity rings, and wants the schools to teach absentia.
Phoebe feels great about being unknown, and I kept waiting for her to be discovered, because you just know that is going to happen. There are a few false instances, but I didn’t guess how it would finally happen.
Good sexual information, thrown in as well, which is a bonus. And as Phoebe says, not all villains are black and white, as there are nuances to why they do what they do.
Good contemporary story, as they say, ripped from the headlines. Fun, humorous, and although I didn’t cry, I did stay up late to finish it.
THanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Phoebe is writing an anonymous sex information blog, which gets picked at by the mayoral candidate who is for very anti-sex informatoin, and sells purity rings, and wants the schools to teach absentia.
Phoebe feels great about being unknown, and I kept waiting for her to be discovered, because you just know that is going to happen. There are a few false instances, but I didn’t guess how it would finally happen.
Good sexual information, thrown in as well, which is a bonus. And as Phoebe says, not all villains are black and white, as there are nuances to why they do what they do.
Good contemporary story, as they say, ripped from the headlines. Fun, humorous, and although I didn’t cry, I did stay up late to finish it.
THanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
January 17, 2023
3.5 stars!!!
Truthfully this book was exactly what I wanted it to be. A cute, funny, simple, TEEN-Y book. I like fillers like this one and I don’t have any complaints. This is the type of book that you can zone in and out of and I thought the sex info blog was funny and interesting. I simply can’t give this 4 stars because that this was very YA - which it was supposed to be so I am not complaining but it’s not something I would try to convince everyone to read. I think it’s fitting and worth it IF it’s what you’re looking for. Phoebe was a likable character and the concept of her blog was a great idea for high schools and very resourceful❤️. I also like this the author touched on lgbtq+ and other things as such.
Truthfully this book was exactly what I wanted it to be. A cute, funny, simple, TEEN-Y book. I like fillers like this one and I don’t have any complaints. This is the type of book that you can zone in and out of and I thought the sex info blog was funny and interesting. I simply can’t give this 4 stars because that this was very YA - which it was supposed to be so I am not complaining but it’s not something I would try to convince everyone to read. I think it’s fitting and worth it IF it’s what you’re looking for. Phoebe was a likable character and the concept of her blog was a great idea for high schools and very resourceful❤️. I also like this the author touched on lgbtq+ and other things as such.
November 14, 2024
A Bold Take on Teen Sex Ed
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things by Julia Walton is the kind of book I wish I had as a teenager. Walton nails the anxieties, curiosity, and confusion of high school, especially when it comes to sex education that’s often muddied by the biases of adults. She bravely tackles how inadequate and biased sex ed can leave teenagers without the information they need, especially when influenced by religious views.
While the book shines in addressing these topics honestly, some plot points feel a bit misplaced or unresolved, which detracts from the overall story flow. Still, it’s a powerful novel that opens up factual, accessible conversations about sex for teens and is a great addition for anyone interested in meaningful, relatable YA.
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things by Julia Walton is the kind of book I wish I had as a teenager. Walton nails the anxieties, curiosity, and confusion of high school, especially when it comes to sex education that’s often muddied by the biases of adults. She bravely tackles how inadequate and biased sex ed can leave teenagers without the information they need, especially when influenced by religious views.
While the book shines in addressing these topics honestly, some plot points feel a bit misplaced or unresolved, which detracts from the overall story flow. Still, it’s a powerful novel that opens up factual, accessible conversations about sex for teens and is a great addition for anyone interested in meaningful, relatable YA.
December 13, 2022
Phoebe has a secret: she writes a sex education blog that's fairly popular and only gaining followers every day. She also has next to no sexual experience, so like, no one is ever gonna guess that she's the one behind the blog, right?
Hope not!! Because a local conservative politician found out that the blog's owner lives in their town, and she's on a mission to expose the blog owner and take them down!! So Phoebe has some pretttttty big opposition, which really just inspires her to be more present online.
She deals with romantic relationships, for basically the first time ever. She has to try and give advice to her friend in a relationship that's progressing sexually, without giving away her identity as the blog runner. She is on the school paper, and she has the editor emailing her blog email to try to interview "the blogger" (aka her) and she has to maneuver keeping journalism truthful and neutral. Her parents end up having to work sorta closely with the politician on something, and it causes not only discomfort between Phoebe and her parents, but also between her two parents, who don't quite see eye to eye on the issue.
This is a pretty timely novel, and it was also really fun. The stakes were very appropriate, the romance was cute, the friendship was important, the parent-child relationships were realistic...
There was a pretty significant lack of inclusivity not only within the characters, but also in the sex education that Phoebe shares. There is a part where she acknowledges that she never thought about how gay sex worked, and was embarrassed that she hadn't covered it but also that she didn't quite know enough about it to really help. So as a teen spreading information, it sort of makes sense that that certain information just wasn't as accessible to her.
Definitely a fun and important read, and I wouldn't have a problem recommending it to pretty much anybody.
Hope not!! Because a local conservative politician found out that the blog's owner lives in their town, and she's on a mission to expose the blog owner and take them down!! So Phoebe has some pretttttty big opposition, which really just inspires her to be more present online.
She deals with romantic relationships, for basically the first time ever. She has to try and give advice to her friend in a relationship that's progressing sexually, without giving away her identity as the blog runner. She is on the school paper, and she has the editor emailing her blog email to try to interview "the blogger" (aka her) and she has to maneuver keeping journalism truthful and neutral. Her parents end up having to work sorta closely with the politician on something, and it causes not only discomfort between Phoebe and her parents, but also between her two parents, who don't quite see eye to eye on the issue.
This is a pretty timely novel, and it was also really fun. The stakes were very appropriate, the romance was cute, the friendship was important, the parent-child relationships were realistic...
There was a pretty significant lack of inclusivity not only within the characters, but also in the sex education that Phoebe shares. There is a part where she acknowledges that she never thought about how gay sex worked, and was embarrassed that she hadn't covered it but also that she didn't quite know enough about it to really help. So as a teen spreading information, it sort of makes sense that that certain information just wasn't as accessible to her.
Definitely a fun and important read, and I wouldn't have a problem recommending it to pretty much anybody.
January 6, 2023
Highly recommend for all teens and any adult working with teens!! This book tackles the ongoing issue of banning topics from kids, and using kids’ issues to fight adult battles. I loved the sex positive aspect to Phoebe’s blog.
I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
May 17, 2022
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an ARC!
Overall I enjoyed this. Correct sex-ed is very important! However my only criticism could be one scene at the end is too NA for a YA book!
Overall I enjoyed this. Correct sex-ed is very important! However my only criticism could be one scene at the end is too NA for a YA book!
January 23, 2023
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things is about 16 year old Phoebe, who hosts her own blog about sex facts. She answers questions and provides resources anonymously, amid the growing outrage from community members, and her blog gets way more attention that she anticipated.
This was a super funny read and I loved that it was lighthearted while also covering important topics. There is also quite a bit of current day issues discussed throughout the book that sometimes made it feel like it was trying to be everything, but overall I don’t think it took away from the book itself.
This was a super funny read and I loved that it was lighthearted while also covering important topics. There is also quite a bit of current day issues discussed throughout the book that sometimes made it feel like it was trying to be everything, but overall I don’t think it took away from the book itself.
July 13, 2023
4.25⭐️
October 12, 2023
BOOK CLUB GIRLIES.
This is how you write a Y/A
This is how you write a Y/A
October 28, 2024
If you work in a library that serves young adults, you should read this book. The author did a great job of addressing the challenges we face in society today. Really well done.
December 22, 2024
I need to stop trying YA
August 23, 2022
Let’s begin by saying that the book scared me a little in their depiction of the mob mentality- the followers of Brookhurst hit too close to home after watching Trump and his followers. That said, it was accurate. This is absolutely what would happen. I love Walton for not shying away from those feelings and scenarios.
The characters here are amazing. Phoebe is so smart, but unsure of how the world would see her. I loved her analytical mind, her fascination with researching not just sex, but the human body. I might have also gotten a kick out of the angry vagina picture and the hidden books. These characters, they feel so real- like someone you could meet on the street. Cora is just wonderful- she’s Phoebe’s person and it shows. I hated that she felt left out after the big reveal, but loved how she dealt with it. Jorge was also wonderful- supportive and charming. I loved watching the relationship between Phoebe and himself unfold. One thing I didn’t like that seems to be coming up in a lot of reviews, though, is that Jorge seems to be the only character that gets any in-depth analysis that isn’t… well… white. Also, while it talks about the LBTGQ community, there are no characters that are like this and what roles the community play in the book is dwindled down to what amounts as a footnote. I fear this will not sit well with some, because it isn’t very inclusive. Now, there was a moment where Phoebe gets a question on her blog about same-sex sexual encounters and realizes that that’s something she hadn’t researched yet. And so she does. I like how she handled the question and that she actually wanted to get information for them- that she took the sharing of correct information very seriously. For me, personally, the fact that this wasn’t the most inclusive book in the world didn’t stop me from loving it, but it made me a little sad for the missed opportunities.
Over all, this is a well written book with a good flow to the pacing. It never really seemed to lag anywhere, though I did feel like the second half moved faster. It took a taboo subject and made it feel more accessable, and it didn’t pull any punches either politically or depicting the fallout after the big reveal. Because of this, I feel like it will be an important book for young adults- and parents, really. For me, this is a five star book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
On the adult content scale, there’s some pretty severe bullying- threats, destruction, that sort of thing. There is alot of sexual content- but most is of the informational variety, nearly clinical; with the exception of one encounter towards the end and a reference to a sexual encounter that did not go into detail. I feel like it’s still acceptable as YA, and doesn’t necessarily need to be considered New Adult instead.
I recieved an eARC from Netgalley and Random House Books for young teens in exchange for an honest review. As always, I am very grateful for the opportunity.
The characters here are amazing. Phoebe is so smart, but unsure of how the world would see her. I loved her analytical mind, her fascination with researching not just sex, but the human body. I might have also gotten a kick out of the angry vagina picture and the hidden books. These characters, they feel so real- like someone you could meet on the street. Cora is just wonderful- she’s Phoebe’s person and it shows. I hated that she felt left out after the big reveal, but loved how she dealt with it. Jorge was also wonderful- supportive and charming. I loved watching the relationship between Phoebe and himself unfold. One thing I didn’t like that seems to be coming up in a lot of reviews, though, is that Jorge seems to be the only character that gets any in-depth analysis that isn’t… well… white. Also, while it talks about the LBTGQ community, there are no characters that are like this and what roles the community play in the book is dwindled down to what amounts as a footnote. I fear this will not sit well with some, because it isn’t very inclusive. Now, there was a moment where Phoebe gets a question on her blog about same-sex sexual encounters and realizes that that’s something she hadn’t researched yet. And so she does. I like how she handled the question and that she actually wanted to get information for them- that she took the sharing of correct information very seriously. For me, personally, the fact that this wasn’t the most inclusive book in the world didn’t stop me from loving it, but it made me a little sad for the missed opportunities.
Over all, this is a well written book with a good flow to the pacing. It never really seemed to lag anywhere, though I did feel like the second half moved faster. It took a taboo subject and made it feel more accessable, and it didn’t pull any punches either politically or depicting the fallout after the big reveal. Because of this, I feel like it will be an important book for young adults- and parents, really. For me, this is a five star book.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
On the adult content scale, there’s some pretty severe bullying- threats, destruction, that sort of thing. There is alot of sexual content- but most is of the informational variety, nearly clinical; with the exception of one encounter towards the end and a reference to a sexual encounter that did not go into detail. I feel like it’s still acceptable as YA, and doesn’t necessarily need to be considered New Adult instead.
I recieved an eARC from Netgalley and Random House Books for young teens in exchange for an honest review. As always, I am very grateful for the opportunity.
April 27, 2024
Netflix's "Sex education" as a book? I think that was the attempt, but it was mostly failed. Both from plot and writing perspectives. I have a couple of point I want to discuss, but they MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS for the book.
Firstly, one good aspect of the book: depiction of social polarisation. A major plot point is the election campaign and the tension between Brookhurst's and Rubinowitz's supporters, which is really expanded upon and well-written. Also, a lot of scenes in the book are written like a script for a film - this can be both a pro and a con, depending on the particular scene and what the reader is looking for.
Moving on to the small, but annoying things that I really did not enjoy while reading:
- weird events that went nowhere, seemed to have no consequences even if they should (e.g. Jorge's car breaking down and him and Pheobe just walking, instead of even checking on the "dead engine")
- Brookhurst's very very repetitive tweets: if you don't have anything else to say, wouldn't it be better to just not include her tweets, and say that she posted again or something?
- how do the characters look? I might have missed something but I really do not remember and cannot imagine the characters, which I usually don't struggle with.
- does hate not affect Pheobe? Of course, she broke down after the big reveal but earlier on she was still receiving hate comments that just didn't seem to have an effect on her. It would be a great opportunity to expand on the topic of hate.
- Pheobe learning, or trying to learn Spanish: she just says stuff in Spanish randomly for the passage to be funny, at least that's how it seemed to me. It's just cringe, it didn't make me laugh at all.
And this thing deserves its own paragraph - the questionable representation of minorities. It seemed like representation was just an afterthought that was added later in the process of editing. LGBTQ+ representation just appeared in one chapter about halfway in the book and it was never really expanded upon. I think it's not possible that with Pheobe's extensive multi-year research, she has never thought about including information about not heteronormative people on her blog.
Even with all these drawbacks, I was still kind of hooked and read the book quite quickly, so I really do not know what to think.
Firstly, one good aspect of the book: depiction of social polarisation. A major plot point is the election campaign and the tension between Brookhurst's and Rubinowitz's supporters, which is really expanded upon and well-written. Also, a lot of scenes in the book are written like a script for a film - this can be both a pro and a con, depending on the particular scene and what the reader is looking for.
Moving on to the small, but annoying things that I really did not enjoy while reading:
- weird events that went nowhere, seemed to have no consequences even if they should (e.g. Jorge's car breaking down and him and Pheobe just walking, instead of even checking on the "dead engine")
- Brookhurst's very very repetitive tweets: if you don't have anything else to say, wouldn't it be better to just not include her tweets, and say that she posted again or something?
- how do the characters look? I might have missed something but I really do not remember and cannot imagine the characters, which I usually don't struggle with.
- does hate not affect Pheobe? Of course, she broke down after the big reveal but earlier on she was still receiving hate comments that just didn't seem to have an effect on her. It would be a great opportunity to expand on the topic of hate.
- Pheobe learning, or trying to learn Spanish: she just says stuff in Spanish randomly for the passage to be funny, at least that's how it seemed to me. It's just cringe, it didn't make me laugh at all.
And this thing deserves its own paragraph - the questionable representation of minorities. It seemed like representation was just an afterthought that was added later in the process of editing. LGBTQ+ representation just appeared in one chapter about halfway in the book and it was never really expanded upon. I think it's not possible that with Pheobe's extensive multi-year research, she has never thought about including information about not heteronormative people on her blog.
Even with all these drawbacks, I was still kind of hooked and read the book quite quickly, so I really do not know what to think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2022
Phoebe knows what her peers need, and her unique - yet secret - research hobby is just the thing to help them. Though not in a serious relationship herself, Phoebe is somewhat of an expert when it comes to sex education, and she started The Circle in the Square, a blog where she posts information written for teens anonymously as Pom. Even her best friend Cora doesn't know she's Pom which is convenient when Cora asks for Phoebe's advice regarding taking things to the next level with her boyfriend. A writer/researcher at heart, Phoebe does more research to find answers to questions she's asked, and she presents her information in an honest, non-judgmental manner. When one of her blog posts goes viral and catches the attention of mayoral candidate Lydia Brookhurst, a conservative local politician, Phoebe fears her identity will be revealed. After all, Brookhurst's mission is to shut down the blog and out the person causing an "assault on morality." Gathering supporters from conservative parents and local business supporters, Brookhurst is determined to use her resources to uncover Pom's identity. As Phoebe tries to maintain her two identities, readers will root for their side (Brookhurst or Phoebe) while learning factual details related to sex education.
THOUGHTS: With likeable Pom/Phoebe as her voice in this sex-positive read, Walton provides readers with plenty of useful information related to sex education. Loosely connected to the recent information challenge climate, this title is recommended for high school libraries.
THOUGHTS: With likeable Pom/Phoebe as her voice in this sex-positive read, Walton provides readers with plenty of useful information related to sex education. Loosely connected to the recent information challenge climate, this title is recommended for high school libraries.
January 1, 2023
DNF at the 122 page. I put this down and didn’t even remember that I was reading it. Not for me and that’s so disappointing because I really liked the author’s previous book!
February 9, 2022
I received a copy of "On the Subject of Unmentionable Things" from Netgalley for review.
TW:
doxing, harassment
What a fricking awesome, sex-positive book. This is one of my favourite reads so far this year.
Phoebe Townsend is a teenage girl from a small town in California, and she writes an anonymous, sex-positive blog called The Circle in the Square (yes, that’s a condom reference). Phoebe has been interested in the scientific aspects of sex since a memorable experience at a summer camp made her realize that everything she thought she knew about human anatomy, and about sex, was wrong.
The Circle in the Square gains popularity when a conservative woman from Phoebe’s town expresses her concern with this blog all over Twitter about how inappropriate it is to “tell kids it’s okay to have sex”. The people who find Phoebe’s blog so upsetting are the people who think “abstinence only” is the best method of sexual education, and Phoebe has seen that herself in her own high school sex ed classes.
What started as a personal interest in the scientific aspect of sex quickly became an online platform to help educate people, specifically teenagers, about human anatomy, bodily functions, safe sex practices, consent, and provided a Q&A where people can anonymously ask questions that they may otherwise feel uncomfortable asking adults in their lives.
The characters in “On the Subject of Unmentionable Things” have well written, strong personalities that shine through in the way they all interact with one another. Phoebe, Cora, Jorge, and David are such a fantastic group of teenagers. They feel so real and just so much *more* than a lot of superficial teenage characters in YA fiction.
I wish everyone had parents like Phoebe’s. The way they support her and are eventually open with her about their own issues is really important; it made me happy to read such a strong family dynamic, and such strong defense of a teenage girl talking about things that some may find controversial.
“OtSoUT” made me laugh out loud numerous times, made me anxious and hopeful for the best, and made me smile like a fool at the simple sweetness in the quieter moments of the book.
This book is so sex-positive, so fun, and well worth the read. The only thing I can think of that would have made this book better is more diversity in the characters and more representation than just heterosexual sex questions/information.
Author, Julia Walton, has clearly done her research on the best way to write this book in a way that is accessible, factual and information, inclusive, and makes the topic of sex comfortable to read in a light YA fictional format.
“Why did I become Pom?
Scientific curiosity?
Wishful thinking?
Or maybe I wrote the blog because I believe it wasn’t something I was supposed to write.
Those might all be true in part, but now I would also have to add:
Because I enjoy sex.
Which might be even more scandalous.”
TW:
doxing, harassment
What a fricking awesome, sex-positive book. This is one of my favourite reads so far this year.
Phoebe Townsend is a teenage girl from a small town in California, and she writes an anonymous, sex-positive blog called The Circle in the Square (yes, that’s a condom reference). Phoebe has been interested in the scientific aspects of sex since a memorable experience at a summer camp made her realize that everything she thought she knew about human anatomy, and about sex, was wrong.
The Circle in the Square gains popularity when a conservative woman from Phoebe’s town expresses her concern with this blog all over Twitter about how inappropriate it is to “tell kids it’s okay to have sex”. The people who find Phoebe’s blog so upsetting are the people who think “abstinence only” is the best method of sexual education, and Phoebe has seen that herself in her own high school sex ed classes.
What started as a personal interest in the scientific aspect of sex quickly became an online platform to help educate people, specifically teenagers, about human anatomy, bodily functions, safe sex practices, consent, and provided a Q&A where people can anonymously ask questions that they may otherwise feel uncomfortable asking adults in their lives.
The characters in “On the Subject of Unmentionable Things” have well written, strong personalities that shine through in the way they all interact with one another. Phoebe, Cora, Jorge, and David are such a fantastic group of teenagers. They feel so real and just so much *more* than a lot of superficial teenage characters in YA fiction.
I wish everyone had parents like Phoebe’s. The way they support her and are eventually open with her about their own issues is really important; it made me happy to read such a strong family dynamic, and such strong defense of a teenage girl talking about things that some may find controversial.
“OtSoUT” made me laugh out loud numerous times, made me anxious and hopeful for the best, and made me smile like a fool at the simple sweetness in the quieter moments of the book.
This book is so sex-positive, so fun, and well worth the read. The only thing I can think of that would have made this book better is more diversity in the characters and more representation than just heterosexual sex questions/information.
Author, Julia Walton, has clearly done her research on the best way to write this book in a way that is accessible, factual and information, inclusive, and makes the topic of sex comfortable to read in a light YA fictional format.
“Why did I become Pom?
Scientific curiosity?
Wishful thinking?
Or maybe I wrote the blog because I believe it wasn’t something I was supposed to write.
Those might all be true in part, but now I would also have to add:
Because I enjoy sex.
Which might be even more scandalous.”
January 21, 2023
Circle in the Square - the blog that our MC writes, all about factual sexual information.
How is this not a REAL blog!??
Phoebe Townsend ("POM" short for Pomegranate, gets this name idea from a picture of Adam and Eve where Eve is holding a pomegranate, in the "original sin moment") attained loads of medical books and diagrams and life-sized plastic genitalia models from an estate sale of a dead OB/GYN and began sharing what she read online, via her blog Circle in the Square. (A reference to condoms. How genius is that title?!)
Though I don't 100% agree with all the information she posts (as I don't always agree with the medical institutions and their guidelines), there is WAY more info that IS universal, important, necessary for teens-turning-adults to attain and understand.
We have so little truly honest education and conversations on the topic of sex and sexuality...and it is time the ship turns.
I think this book, though a work of fiction, should be read in high school "sex education" classes.
Opening the dialog for real-life issues surrounding the very real "mystery of sex".
As it is stated in the book, many think having this info avail and talked about with teens only leads them into "more sexual activity", I disagree!
Teens - whom have massively high levels of sexual energy occurring in their newly transitioning bodies - are going to have sex with out without this information!!
So why not give them the tools, resources, insight into knowledge that can actually spare them damage, traumas, embarrassment, mistakes, and overall mayhem?
Why do we think they will just "figure it all out" upon marriage?
And why do we assume in doing so, it will all be just fine?
Please, if you have a teen, are a teacher, work with young adults, or are simply a confused, overwhelmed, curious about sexuality adult yourself... read this book!
I myself had a real awakening this past year, when I read a powerful non-fic (see review on Hot and Unbothered, by Tallon-Hicks) on this very topic.
Questions I wondered about got answered.
Feelings I had learned to stuff down were validated.
And definitions of words that are still being used in their arcaic forms got redefined for me.
I'm 43yrs old (at this moment)!
Been married for 23+yrs of that!
Thus...it is never too old to learn, develop, and incorporate BETTER into our lives.
But please read all about precious Phoebe and her path to pave new parameters in this problematic patriarchal prison we have all lived in for too long.
(Don't get my words wrong there, women are not the answer to it all. Truth and honesty are!! Let's begin where we're most decieved and utterly confused: sex and sexuality.)
How is this not a REAL blog!??
Phoebe Townsend ("POM" short for Pomegranate, gets this name idea from a picture of Adam and Eve where Eve is holding a pomegranate, in the "original sin moment") attained loads of medical books and diagrams and life-sized plastic genitalia models from an estate sale of a dead OB/GYN and began sharing what she read online, via her blog Circle in the Square. (A reference to condoms. How genius is that title?!)
Though I don't 100% agree with all the information she posts (as I don't always agree with the medical institutions and their guidelines), there is WAY more info that IS universal, important, necessary for teens-turning-adults to attain and understand.
We have so little truly honest education and conversations on the topic of sex and sexuality...and it is time the ship turns.
I think this book, though a work of fiction, should be read in high school "sex education" classes.
Opening the dialog for real-life issues surrounding the very real "mystery of sex".
As it is stated in the book, many think having this info avail and talked about with teens only leads them into "more sexual activity", I disagree!
Teens - whom have massively high levels of sexual energy occurring in their newly transitioning bodies - are going to have sex with out without this information!!
So why not give them the tools, resources, insight into knowledge that can actually spare them damage, traumas, embarrassment, mistakes, and overall mayhem?
Why do we think they will just "figure it all out" upon marriage?
And why do we assume in doing so, it will all be just fine?
Please, if you have a teen, are a teacher, work with young adults, or are simply a confused, overwhelmed, curious about sexuality adult yourself... read this book!
I myself had a real awakening this past year, when I read a powerful non-fic (see review on Hot and Unbothered, by Tallon-Hicks) on this very topic.
Questions I wondered about got answered.
Feelings I had learned to stuff down were validated.
And definitions of words that are still being used in their arcaic forms got redefined for me.
I'm 43yrs old (at this moment)!
Been married for 23+yrs of that!
Thus...it is never too old to learn, develop, and incorporate BETTER into our lives.
But please read all about precious Phoebe and her path to pave new parameters in this problematic patriarchal prison we have all lived in for too long.
(Don't get my words wrong there, women are not the answer to it all. Truth and honesty are!! Let's begin where we're most decieved and utterly confused: sex and sexuality.)
July 22, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things follows teen Phoebe, a rule-following high school junior, as her secret blog offering well-researched and honest sex education goes viral.
Any book that speaks honestly about the importance of sex education in a sex-positive way is a win in my book, and this book is no exception. This book is honest and up front about the ways in which an honest sex education can benefit teens, as well as the detriments and pitfalls of more conservative, abstinence-centered approaches to sex education.
But beyond the lesson at its core about sex education in schools and the ways in which teens navigate sex in their own lives, this book holds up a mirror to our society in a way that I absolutely loved. Phoebe's blog's virality occurs against the backdrop of a mayoral election in her small California town, a mayoral election whose conservative, former beauty queen candidate represents many dangerous ideologies present in our own political climate beyond just abstinence-only sex education. Not only does this book get you thinking about sex education, but it also gets you thinking and reflecting on a lot of other things about life in the modern world.
Overall I loved this book, and I wish I had a book like this that spoke honestly about sex education when I was in high school. I'm so glad that there are teens who will have the opportunity to engage with sex education and its importance in this honest, relatable, and non-judgmental way.
On the Subject of Unmentionable Things follows teen Phoebe, a rule-following high school junior, as her secret blog offering well-researched and honest sex education goes viral.
Any book that speaks honestly about the importance of sex education in a sex-positive way is a win in my book, and this book is no exception. This book is honest and up front about the ways in which an honest sex education can benefit teens, as well as the detriments and pitfalls of more conservative, abstinence-centered approaches to sex education.
But beyond the lesson at its core about sex education in schools and the ways in which teens navigate sex in their own lives, this book holds up a mirror to our society in a way that I absolutely loved. Phoebe's blog's virality occurs against the backdrop of a mayoral election in her small California town, a mayoral election whose conservative, former beauty queen candidate represents many dangerous ideologies present in our own political climate beyond just abstinence-only sex education. Not only does this book get you thinking about sex education, but it also gets you thinking and reflecting on a lot of other things about life in the modern world.
Overall I loved this book, and I wish I had a book like this that spoke honestly about sex education when I was in high school. I'm so glad that there are teens who will have the opportunity to engage with sex education and its importance in this honest, relatable, and non-judgmental way.
September 17, 2022
Quite a few reviewers have said that fans of Sex Education will enjoy On the Subject of Unmentionable Things and I have to say they were right. This book was a great mix of humor, serious subjects, going after what you believe in and finding love. Sex education in schools is always a tricky subject. Some schools only teach abstinence when our youth really needs more. The author did a great job in showing that and also what some teenagers think about and don't dare to ask.
Our main character, Phoebe, is a good student and writes for her school's newspaper. She was curious about sex and all of the taboo behind it, so she went after scientific information and research to figure things about. I love that she sticks to the fact, but also shows us that she doesn't know everything and still has a lot of insecurities and questions herself. It was also really interesting to see her fight to give other teenagers the information they deserve to know.
This book is very sex positive and I truly believe that's how it should be. I think the mixed media in this book also really helped it speak to the generation now. Also makes things they might be embarrassed to ask about easier to read. Adding the election to this book was interesting and also realistic. Even though our main character tries the town and people don't change their mind over night. It was also interesting to see the dangers of outing people online and what it can do to someone.
Julia Walton took on a serious subject, but in such a great way. Family dynamics also play a part in this book and the conversation Phoebe has with her mother near the end was one I really appreciated. I'll definitely keep an eye out for what this author brings us next!
Our main character, Phoebe, is a good student and writes for her school's newspaper. She was curious about sex and all of the taboo behind it, so she went after scientific information and research to figure things about. I love that she sticks to the fact, but also shows us that she doesn't know everything and still has a lot of insecurities and questions herself. It was also really interesting to see her fight to give other teenagers the information they deserve to know.
This book is very sex positive and I truly believe that's how it should be. I think the mixed media in this book also really helped it speak to the generation now. Also makes things they might be embarrassed to ask about easier to read. Adding the election to this book was interesting and also realistic. Even though our main character tries the town and people don't change their mind over night. It was also interesting to see the dangers of outing people online and what it can do to someone.
Julia Walton took on a serious subject, but in such a great way. Family dynamics also play a part in this book and the conversation Phoebe has with her mother near the end was one I really appreciated. I'll definitely keep an eye out for what this author brings us next!
May 7, 2023
This book would make Ron DeSantis and his cronies cry, "Pornography!" while his supporters clutched their pearls as they demanded he save their children from the evil librarians who will promote this book to teens. But that's if they bothered to read it. Instead, they will rely on the one person who skimmed it, saw the words "penis" and "vagina," and panicked. And we evil librarians will promote this book! We can't resist selling a book with a great plot, strong characters, and, more importantly, factual information.
When teen Phoebe Townsend begins academically researching sex to answer some of her own questions, she decides to start a blog. She wants to share the facts she's learned because she knows that the health teacher in her small town is not getting it right. But when her anonymous and accurate blog catches the attention of the local conservative savior, Lydia Brookhurst, Phoebe goes viral. As her followers increase, so does her hate mail, but Phoebe just wants to share her well-researched and properly-cited information while wondering if she'll ever get to experience any of it first-hand.
Walton manages to capture all the joy and frustration of first love and still stresses the importance of safe sex and accurate sex education without preaching. Phoebe never loses her teen voice, and none of the situations feel contrived. Julia Walton has written a great and important read.
When teen Phoebe Townsend begins academically researching sex to answer some of her own questions, she decides to start a blog. She wants to share the facts she's learned because she knows that the health teacher in her small town is not getting it right. But when her anonymous and accurate blog catches the attention of the local conservative savior, Lydia Brookhurst, Phoebe goes viral. As her followers increase, so does her hate mail, but Phoebe just wants to share her well-researched and properly-cited information while wondering if she'll ever get to experience any of it first-hand.
Walton manages to capture all the joy and frustration of first love and still stresses the importance of safe sex and accurate sex education without preaching. Phoebe never loses her teen voice, and none of the situations feel contrived. Julia Walton has written a great and important read.
July 13, 2022
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4.5/5 stars.
Oh my god. This is SUCH an important novel for young adults, especially in regards to the discussion of sexuality and teenagers engaging in sexual activity. Phoebe writes a sex blog under the pseudonym "Pom" after finding a research interest as a 14 year old purchasing boxes of materials from an OB-GYN's estate sale. Pom's exposure explodes after a local mayor candidate -- who represents the right Christian morality group -- makes the blog go viral.
The novel deals with Phoebe's own conceptions of sexuality, hiding her identity, and helping those who attend their school (and the world) with their questions and concerns -- all while a nasty mayoral election campaign is going on AND Phoebe is dealing with bias from the school newspaper she works at.
The amount of information in this would be SO beneficial for teenagers and yeah, it might make them uncomfortable but I think the novel points out that 1) abstinence doesn't stop them from having sex and 2) they need to get accurate information from somewhere.
Also, Phoebe and Jorge were adorable. The plot was good. The intention was good. I just didn't like some elements of the plot w/ the mayoral campaign because it felt semi-unresolved.
Oh my god. This is SUCH an important novel for young adults, especially in regards to the discussion of sexuality and teenagers engaging in sexual activity. Phoebe writes a sex blog under the pseudonym "Pom" after finding a research interest as a 14 year old purchasing boxes of materials from an OB-GYN's estate sale. Pom's exposure explodes after a local mayor candidate -- who represents the right Christian morality group -- makes the blog go viral.
The novel deals with Phoebe's own conceptions of sexuality, hiding her identity, and helping those who attend their school (and the world) with their questions and concerns -- all while a nasty mayoral election campaign is going on AND Phoebe is dealing with bias from the school newspaper she works at.
The amount of information in this would be SO beneficial for teenagers and yeah, it might make them uncomfortable but I think the novel points out that 1) abstinence doesn't stop them from having sex and 2) they need to get accurate information from somewhere.
Also, Phoebe and Jorge were adorable. The plot was good. The intention was good. I just didn't like some elements of the plot w/ the mayoral campaign because it felt semi-unresolved.
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