What do you think?
Rate this book
GIRL: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You
A guide for teen girls covering healthy sexuality, loving relationships, gender fluidity, sexually transmitted infections (STI), consent, sexual assault, and more.
Chicago Public Library's 2017 Best of the Best Books List for Teen Nonfiction!
Welcoming and inclusive of all self-identified girls, Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You is an uncensored, unbiased, and fantastically relevant guide, jam-packed with what you want and need to know. A growing-up guide for the 21st century, GIRL covers what everyone is talking about—healthy sexuality, loving relationships, and gender fluidity, as well as thornier subjects such as STIs, consent, and sexual assault. Plus you’ll find self-reflection quizzes, cool resources, and must-read real-life stories from girls like you!
From the
The language around sex and sexuality is so important. There are a lot of words, from anatomy to psychology to culturally evolving words. If you don’t know the definition of a word, don’t let this intimidate you. Many of the chapters start with defining words that are important to that particular topic; if you come across a word that you don’t know that isn’t defined in the book, just do a quick Internet search for it. The language around sexuality, particularly as it applies to identity, is changing quickly. If there are words about identity that feel outdated, replace them with words that resonate for you.
Chicago Public Library's 2017 Best of the Best Books List for Teen Nonfiction!
Welcoming and inclusive of all self-identified girls, Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You is an uncensored, unbiased, and fantastically relevant guide, jam-packed with what you want and need to know. A growing-up guide for the 21st century, GIRL covers what everyone is talking about—healthy sexuality, loving relationships, and gender fluidity, as well as thornier subjects such as STIs, consent, and sexual assault. Plus you’ll find self-reflection quizzes, cool resources, and must-read real-life stories from girls like you!
From the
The language around sex and sexuality is so important. There are a lot of words, from anatomy to psychology to culturally evolving words. If you don’t know the definition of a word, don’t let this intimidate you. Many of the chapters start with defining words that are important to that particular topic; if you come across a word that you don’t know that isn’t defined in the book, just do a quick Internet search for it. The language around sexuality, particularly as it applies to identity, is changing quickly. If there are words about identity that feel outdated, replace them with words that resonate for you.
345 pages, Paperback
Published July 18, 2017
6 people are currently reading
121 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 10, 2017
This book should be read by teenage girls everywhere. It's very updated for our time period and goes into discussions about topics such as gender and identity, sexual health (STI's, masturbation, first times, etc.), how to manage or end a relationship in a healthy manner, and how to handle decision making, communication, and responsibility. Definitely an LGBT friendly book, and includes diary entries from various girls who have went through many issues that teenage girls go through nowadays in regards to the above topics. It's easily relatable and a very informative read.
Read
October 2, 2018Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Girl is a non-fiction book that aims to equip anyone who identifies as a girl with information about the world, their bodies, relationships and their identities. On top of all of this, it's super inclusive and Rayne does her best to insure every reader feels included and can find information that will benefit them in some way.
For these reasons I think it's incredibly important for this book to be out in the world and I really do hope that it finds its way to those who need it. I think it would be a great addition to any library or teenagers personal library. If I could afford to buy this book for every single one of my cousins I would, but alas, I'm broke af and can't even afford to buy it for myself.
I don't really feel comfortable giving this book a star rating because a) I didn't read it in it's entirety and b) I feel like it's not really right to rate something that is purely presenting facts for people to learn from.
Like I said, I did not read this from cover to cover, it was mostly going over things I have already learned but I did pay close attention to the sexual and gender identities parts because there is always room to learn more in that area and I did!
I don't really know how to explain just how great and important this book is, because it just is. Highly recommend it to basically anyone and everyone, even those who don't identify as a girl.
___
│Blog│Instagram│Twitter│Tumblr│
Girl is a non-fiction book that aims to equip anyone who identifies as a girl with information about the world, their bodies, relationships and their identities. On top of all of this, it's super inclusive and Rayne does her best to insure every reader feels included and can find information that will benefit them in some way.
For these reasons I think it's incredibly important for this book to be out in the world and I really do hope that it finds its way to those who need it. I think it would be a great addition to any library or teenagers personal library. If I could afford to buy this book for every single one of my cousins I would, but alas, I'm broke af and can't even afford to buy it for myself.
I don't really feel comfortable giving this book a star rating because a) I didn't read it in it's entirety and b) I feel like it's not really right to rate something that is purely presenting facts for people to learn from.
Like I said, I did not read this from cover to cover, it was mostly going over things I have already learned but I did pay close attention to the sexual and gender identities parts because there is always room to learn more in that area and I did!
I don't really know how to explain just how great and important this book is, because it just is. Highly recommend it to basically anyone and everyone, even those who don't identify as a girl.
___
│Blog│Instagram│Twitter│Tumblr│
June 12, 2018
The subjects and topics included in this book are very important and I was hoping this book would be a great tool to teach these subjects to young girls. Unfortunately I think YA and teens will find it hard to connect with this book because of the writing style and format. Also, the books has too many topics that are addressed very superficially.
Daniela Ark
Bookworm, book blogger, writer, collector of stories that matter and passionate about diversity and equality [especially feminism!].
email: contactme@danielaark.com
Daniela ArkBookworm, book blogger, writer, collector of stories that matter and passionate about diversity and equality [especially feminism!].
email: contactme@danielaark.com
December 6, 2017
I have never said this about a book before, but I am very happy I didn't have this book as a teenager. So I have quite a few issues with this book. The first one and also a major one is that this book is too superficial. It contains many, many topics like gender, identity, online communication, sex, contraception, relationships, flirting, biology and a few more - but it doesn't go into detail. Instead, there are links and other books that you are supposed to read if you want to know more. I think that the author put way too many topics in there and should have better concentrated on less topics, but talked about them in more detail. One should also keep in mind that not every teenager has an unsupervised internet access to safely research things like abortion, orgasms and whatnot and/or access to a library or an allowance big enough to get all these other books.
The next problem lies within the links and resources. Some of them do not offer comprehensive informations, but instead are incomplete and even incorrect at times, such as the plannedparenthood and scarleteen site (especially the informations about birth control provided on these sites are not up to date, especially when it comes to NFP and FAM, but also about side effects of the pill etc.).
So a lot of the information provided in this book is just very vague and not really helpful. The bottom line of every chapter is "you decide whatever feels good to you" or "just make up your mind and choose anything, because every choice is good". Instead of offering guidance on how to make responsible decisions about sexuality, but also identity, it leaves the teenager on its own to figure it all out alone. The reader is encouraged to doubt her identity, lie to her parents and experiment with whatever feels good. But it would be so much better if teenagers were encouraged to make responsible and informed choices, to accept their body, to pursue intentional relationships and not to do anything they might regret later.
Another issue is that this book is not just for girls, but for "anybody who might feel like a girl but has a penis or is a girl but wants to be a boy instead". The language is very genderneutral and half of the time I felt like I as a girl wasn't meant or addressed at all. There was nothing about the uniqueness of womanhood and how to embrace your feminine gifts at all, but it was very generic instead and could have been written for both sexes as well.
The last thing might just concern the ebook or the review copy I've got, but the diary entries were almost impossible to read. About 50% I didn't or couldn't read because I couldn't zoom in close enough to read the handwriting or because the picture was split up over several pages.
So I do not recommend this book, except for maybe getting an overview over what the sex-positive & gender movement thinks teenagers should know...
For (at least heterosexual) high school and college-aged kids, I would recommend Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health to learn more about the female cycle, pregancy, female reproductive health and contraception, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married to learn more about relationships, Every Woman's Battle: Discovering God's Plan for Sexual and Emotional Fulfillment for info on sexuality and The Fantasy Fallacy: Exposing the Deeper Meaning Behind Sexual Thoughts on sexual fantasies, 21 Myths (Even Good) Girls Believe about Sex: Pursuing Love with Passion and Purity on general questions (this list is by no means comprehensive, just the ones that I have read myself).
Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The next problem lies within the links and resources. Some of them do not offer comprehensive informations, but instead are incomplete and even incorrect at times, such as the plannedparenthood and scarleteen site (especially the informations about birth control provided on these sites are not up to date, especially when it comes to NFP and FAM, but also about side effects of the pill etc.).
So a lot of the information provided in this book is just very vague and not really helpful. The bottom line of every chapter is "you decide whatever feels good to you" or "just make up your mind and choose anything, because every choice is good". Instead of offering guidance on how to make responsible decisions about sexuality, but also identity, it leaves the teenager on its own to figure it all out alone. The reader is encouraged to doubt her identity, lie to her parents and experiment with whatever feels good. But it would be so much better if teenagers were encouraged to make responsible and informed choices, to accept their body, to pursue intentional relationships and not to do anything they might regret later.
Another issue is that this book is not just for girls, but for "anybody who might feel like a girl but has a penis or is a girl but wants to be a boy instead". The language is very genderneutral and half of the time I felt like I as a girl wasn't meant or addressed at all. There was nothing about the uniqueness of womanhood and how to embrace your feminine gifts at all, but it was very generic instead and could have been written for both sexes as well.
The last thing might just concern the ebook or the review copy I've got, but the diary entries were almost impossible to read. About 50% I didn't or couldn't read because I couldn't zoom in close enough to read the handwriting or because the picture was split up over several pages.
So I do not recommend this book, except for maybe getting an overview over what the sex-positive & gender movement thinks teenagers should know...
For (at least heterosexual) high school and college-aged kids, I would recommend Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health to learn more about the female cycle, pregancy, female reproductive health and contraception, The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts, Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married to learn more about relationships, Every Woman's Battle: Discovering God's Plan for Sexual and Emotional Fulfillment for info on sexuality and The Fantasy Fallacy: Exposing the Deeper Meaning Behind Sexual Thoughts on sexual fantasies, 21 Myths (Even Good) Girls Believe about Sex: Pursuing Love with Passion and Purity on general questions (this list is by no means comprehensive, just the ones that I have read myself).
Disclaimer: I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2018
This is kind of like the grown up version of any American Girl "guide to life" kind of books. It covers a wide variety of topics, but for the most part, I found that the practical advice in most areas were fluffy, basic, and didn't dive deep into anything. I learned very little that was new to me. A good chunk of the book was also dedicated to personal stories from the authors, but they were done in a cutesy journal art style, so I was forced to skip most of them since I could barely decipher the handwriting. I think this book is a good first step for those who might be clueless on a lot of areas in sexuality, but I have the feeling that most girls who pick this up will find that they know everything in it already.
January 3, 2018
I never felt the need to read a book about what it means being a girl when I grew up, but I know many girls who did – and not all were successful in finding the right book.
I am unsure whether this is a book you read from beginning to end, or whether you rather read a passage here and there and skim-read others.
The general layout of the book is interesting and promising. Besides the basic content on everything girls might want to know more about, Rayne includes definitions, additional sources, questions you can ask yourself, and diary entries from a handful of women as well as little doodles. Often, it reads more like a website than an actual book, but not in a negative way. However, because of the short passages and ‘disruptions’ in form of subheadings, doodles, etc., I found it difficult to concentrate on the content at times. I could net really get into the flow of reading this book, thus it might be more convenient to read a chapter here and there instead of finishing the book in one go.
Moreover, I like how the author addresses the reader directly. ‘You’ is important on every page. Rayne tries to make the girl-readers reflect themselves and their identity and is trying to be as inclusive as possible, addressing girls from all ethnicities, sexualities, cultural backgrounds etc. Yet, by trying to address so many different people, and including a whole variety of aspects to write about, she is only able to give the basic outlines of every aspect. Not being able to get into the details makes for a rather superficial book, although Rayne encourages girls to do some research on their own regarding the topics they want to know more about. While I think it is important for every person to figure out their identity on their own, the author also addresses topics such as pregnancy or STIs in which case I believe girls looking for help will not find them in this book. What can be found are, for example, illustrations of the male and female sex, various types of period paraphernalia, tips on relationships, information about sexual assault and rape, but again, there is no time to get into much detail.
While Rayne is rather up-to-date on the information she includes, her writing is too forced and constructed at times. I understand that she is trying to be close to her audience and tries to achieve this by writing more informal and using the occasional slang words, yet I do not think this is entirely necessary and at times sounds a bit too ridiculous.
Girl does not include a lot of new information, but it might help girls figure out where to start or which specific topics to look up further. I cannot speak for the intended audience, but I believe this book would not have made a big difference on my had I read it in my youth. However, it might include significant aspects for some girls and help them growing up.
I am unsure whether this is a book you read from beginning to end, or whether you rather read a passage here and there and skim-read others.
The general layout of the book is interesting and promising. Besides the basic content on everything girls might want to know more about, Rayne includes definitions, additional sources, questions you can ask yourself, and diary entries from a handful of women as well as little doodles. Often, it reads more like a website than an actual book, but not in a negative way. However, because of the short passages and ‘disruptions’ in form of subheadings, doodles, etc., I found it difficult to concentrate on the content at times. I could net really get into the flow of reading this book, thus it might be more convenient to read a chapter here and there instead of finishing the book in one go.
Moreover, I like how the author addresses the reader directly. ‘You’ is important on every page. Rayne tries to make the girl-readers reflect themselves and their identity and is trying to be as inclusive as possible, addressing girls from all ethnicities, sexualities, cultural backgrounds etc. Yet, by trying to address so many different people, and including a whole variety of aspects to write about, she is only able to give the basic outlines of every aspect. Not being able to get into the details makes for a rather superficial book, although Rayne encourages girls to do some research on their own regarding the topics they want to know more about. While I think it is important for every person to figure out their identity on their own, the author also addresses topics such as pregnancy or STIs in which case I believe girls looking for help will not find them in this book. What can be found are, for example, illustrations of the male and female sex, various types of period paraphernalia, tips on relationships, information about sexual assault and rape, but again, there is no time to get into much detail.
While Rayne is rather up-to-date on the information she includes, her writing is too forced and constructed at times. I understand that she is trying to be close to her audience and tries to achieve this by writing more informal and using the occasional slang words, yet I do not think this is entirely necessary and at times sounds a bit too ridiculous.
Girl does not include a lot of new information, but it might help girls figure out where to start or which specific topics to look up further. I cannot speak for the intended audience, but I believe this book would not have made a big difference on my had I read it in my youth. However, it might include significant aspects for some girls and help them growing up.
May 11, 2018
Girl provides an honest approach to understanding sexuality. The author provides an overview of anatomy and pleasure that apply to everyone who identifies as a girl/woman (which is to say, the text is very trans* inclusive). Rayne is nonjudgmental in her description of sexuality, and she provides perspectives that allows readers to make balanced decisions about relationships, fantasy, and more! Moreover, she does an excellent job in guiding readers in how to think about an issue or decision rather than stating what choice would generally be best. This modeled behavior of self-reflection and researching information will certainly serve folk well as they incorporate thoughtful decision making into their own lives.
Though a fairly comprehensive text, Rayne could have spent more time on addressing nuances in relationships. For instance, is very little guidance for the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with friends and family (as appropriate) while also being in a romantic/sexual relationship with someone. In a sense, the focus on intimate relationships blocks out the fact that girls in relationships are also: students, daughters, friends, etc. and that it is important to maintain those relationships and your own goals and dreams. Like many other books in this genre, the chapter about "healthy relationships" unfortunately focused on unhealthy behaviors. As a final side note, there was no discussion about disability and its impact on consent or the nuts and bolts of sex.
Nevertheless, this guide provided a lot of information in a clear and accessible way. Each chapter has additional online and in print resources to guide readers to learn more. And if you can read it (the font is tricky at times) the journal entries throughout provide insight into all the different ways a person can be a girl.
Though a fairly comprehensive text, Rayne could have spent more time on addressing nuances in relationships. For instance, is very little guidance for the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with friends and family (as appropriate) while also being in a romantic/sexual relationship with someone. In a sense, the focus on intimate relationships blocks out the fact that girls in relationships are also: students, daughters, friends, etc. and that it is important to maintain those relationships and your own goals and dreams. Like many other books in this genre, the chapter about "healthy relationships" unfortunately focused on unhealthy behaviors. As a final side note, there was no discussion about disability and its impact on consent or the nuts and bolts of sex.
Nevertheless, this guide provided a lot of information in a clear and accessible way. Each chapter has additional online and in print resources to guide readers to learn more. And if you can read it (the font is tricky at times) the journal entries throughout provide insight into all the different ways a person can be a girl.
December 30, 2017
I received this book from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.
I got into this book with real curiosity on how to talk to teenagers in 2018 about sexuality, I sometimes come across kids that are confused, or are a bit too in touch with their sexual self. But I have never actually dive in and learn on how to address some things with my teen students.
This book is very open to discuss a large variety of topics, unfortunately it doesn't really go very deep into any topic, and the age group that would benefit from this read was very vague as well. I like all the links and extra material provided by the author, but then teens of this time and age would be searching online regardless of the book, so I felt I needed something a little more substancial. I think it would be better if it was a series of books so the topics aren't as superficial as they are presented.
I love that the language was gender neutral, and that there were "handwritten" notes from a variety of girls, I really enjoy the author's voice and the good advice give. I'd like to read more about the different genders and gender identities.
I got into this book with real curiosity on how to talk to teenagers in 2018 about sexuality, I sometimes come across kids that are confused, or are a bit too in touch with their sexual self. But I have never actually dive in and learn on how to address some things with my teen students.
This book is very open to discuss a large variety of topics, unfortunately it doesn't really go very deep into any topic, and the age group that would benefit from this read was very vague as well. I like all the links and extra material provided by the author, but then teens of this time and age would be searching online regardless of the book, so I felt I needed something a little more substancial. I think it would be better if it was a series of books so the topics aren't as superficial as they are presented.
I love that the language was gender neutral, and that there were "handwritten" notes from a variety of girls, I really enjoy the author's voice and the good advice give. I'd like to read more about the different genders and gender identities.
March 17, 2018
I don't often review non-fiction books on my blog, but this book is both well-written and important on a number of levels. Not only does it promote body positivity and access to non-biased, factual information, but it does so while being inclusive of *all* people who self-identify as a girl. #WeNeedDiverseBooks in YA non-fiction too!
Rayne very openly and honestly discusses topics like gender identity, sexual orientation, dating and relationships, masturbation, and sex. I especially appreciated her non-judgmental tone and how she made it a point to include different points of view [via diary entries from multiple women] so that girls who read this book will be more likely to find someone to whom they could relate. Because this book covers such a wide range of topics, I think it's awesome that Rayne provides resources for readers who are interested in delving more deeply. Aside from presenting factual information, though, I think it was helpful that Rayne provided questions for self-reflection. It's important for girls to consider who they are and how they feel before they can move forward with their evolution into becoming the women they wish to be.
Happy Reading!
Rayne very openly and honestly discusses topics like gender identity, sexual orientation, dating and relationships, masturbation, and sex. I especially appreciated her non-judgmental tone and how she made it a point to include different points of view [via diary entries from multiple women] so that girls who read this book will be more likely to find someone to whom they could relate. Because this book covers such a wide range of topics, I think it's awesome that Rayne provides resources for readers who are interested in delving more deeply. Aside from presenting factual information, though, I think it was helpful that Rayne provided questions for self-reflection. It's important for girls to consider who they are and how they feel before they can move forward with their evolution into becoming the women they wish to be.
Happy Reading!
January 19, 2018
Girl: Love, Sex, Romance and Being You is a unique book that would be helpful for any teenager that idenitifies as female. It is inclusive and accessible, and guides the reader to think about important aspects of growing up in the modern world. One of its strengths is its relatively brief discussion on many different topics, and posing discussion questions for the reader to contemplate herself. This encourages the reader to think for herself and make informed choices that are right for her. Another strength is the plethora of recommended resources (both books and websites) for more in-depth information of the topics addressed. Bravo! I am glad young women will soon have this book in their hands.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2018
A clear, well-grounded discussion for girls about love, sex, and romance. It is frank. It is open. It is written from multiple perspectives.
A lot of humans need this book. It provides information about biological realities. It provides information about non-normative gender and sexual realities. Both of these topics (biology and gender identity) would be tricky discussions; together in a single book, they may be overwhelming.
I wonder if my largely-protected adolescent library patrons can handle this much frankness. I suspect most of their parents will have problems with it.
A lot of humans need this book. It provides information about biological realities. It provides information about non-normative gender and sexual realities. Both of these topics (biology and gender identity) would be tricky discussions; together in a single book, they may be overwhelming.
I wonder if my largely-protected adolescent library patrons can handle this much frankness. I suspect most of their parents will have problems with it.
March 7, 2019
Reading this book was like listening to hundreds of people audition for American Idol singing Whitney, or Mariah, or Celine. It was just too big, too ambitious, and failed to hit the high note.. I understand having materials out there for youth who are questioning things, but trying to be everything to everyone, and delve into everything about everything at one time was just.....no.
January 19, 2018
This is one of the more informative books I've read about this topic. There's a lot of information here. Do you know the definitions of skoliksexual, cisgender, androphilic, and intersex? You should and you will find the answers here. Readable and compact.
June 27, 2019
A good resource for teens who identify as female (or any teen, honestly) looking for info about sex and sexuality, as well as gender identity. Pretty trans/nonbinary inclusive, although I'm sure it could be better. I would definitely recommend to teens.
December 21, 2019
What a great book that needs to be in the hands of everyone. Parents, teens, and teachers.
December 8, 2017
To read more reviews go to: http://literarylion.ca/
Disclaimer: A copy of this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rayne has taken great pains to write a book that is inclusive, honest and open about being a girl. She is careful to look at all the type of bodies, genders and sexualities that girls might have and tries diligently to dispel any myths that culture has given us.
I think that this book has a lot of good ideas. Rayne cares about young girls and wants to include all of them. She wants to cover a variety of important topics - and that I think is where the book ends up falling a little short. Nothing really gets the full depth it deserved. She wants to talk about kinks but only covers the most common and uncontroversial of kinks. She wants to talk about rape but only provides a short paragraph on how rape culture might affect girls. It’s clear Rayne could elaborate but opts to just give additional resources instead. Which is fine if the book needed to be brief - but it isn’t.
Rayne decided to cover every possible topic briefly which creates the double edged sword of both being not informative enough and being too lengthy. Reading this book as someone a little too old for it I didn’t learn anything I hadn’t already learned from the internet. Rayne didn’t go deep enough to teach me anything. As a teen I never would have bothered to pick this book up.
Girl could be a good primer for teens who want a wide range of light information but the fact is that it’s too long and boringly textbookish at points for a teen to actually want to read it. I imagine most teens are much more likely to do an internet search or find something less dry and more informative. As a source for teachers and parents it can be a useful jumping off point. There are a variety of important questions in each chapter that teens might want to consider. The diary entries from several women about various topics are interesting, but it wouldn’t be able to be a full basis of a health class.
I think Girl had plenty of great ideas and there was obviously a lot of care put into the book. The inclusivity is important and not often seen in health texts. I just wish it had been a little more decisive in what it was about. There is a book about discovering your sexuality and identity. A book about relationships. A book about a healthy sex life. There’s too much going on, so much that no topic gets sufficient coverage.
There is something to be said about covering all your bases but I don’t think all these needed to be done in one boo. Perhaps girl would have been better as a series, each book focusing on giving in depth information on a specific topic. As it is, Girl feels like homework. If I want information I have to look it up. There is nothing in this book that a teen couldn’t learn with a brief google or glance at wikipedia. If a teen is specifically curious about sexuality or gender or relationships then there are books that give a much better in depth exploration.
Disclaimer: A copy of this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rayne has taken great pains to write a book that is inclusive, honest and open about being a girl. She is careful to look at all the type of bodies, genders and sexualities that girls might have and tries diligently to dispel any myths that culture has given us.
I think that this book has a lot of good ideas. Rayne cares about young girls and wants to include all of them. She wants to cover a variety of important topics - and that I think is where the book ends up falling a little short. Nothing really gets the full depth it deserved. She wants to talk about kinks but only covers the most common and uncontroversial of kinks. She wants to talk about rape but only provides a short paragraph on how rape culture might affect girls. It’s clear Rayne could elaborate but opts to just give additional resources instead. Which is fine if the book needed to be brief - but it isn’t.
Rayne decided to cover every possible topic briefly which creates the double edged sword of both being not informative enough and being too lengthy. Reading this book as someone a little too old for it I didn’t learn anything I hadn’t already learned from the internet. Rayne didn’t go deep enough to teach me anything. As a teen I never would have bothered to pick this book up.
Girl could be a good primer for teens who want a wide range of light information but the fact is that it’s too long and boringly textbookish at points for a teen to actually want to read it. I imagine most teens are much more likely to do an internet search or find something less dry and more informative. As a source for teachers and parents it can be a useful jumping off point. There are a variety of important questions in each chapter that teens might want to consider. The diary entries from several women about various topics are interesting, but it wouldn’t be able to be a full basis of a health class.
I think Girl had plenty of great ideas and there was obviously a lot of care put into the book. The inclusivity is important and not often seen in health texts. I just wish it had been a little more decisive in what it was about. There is a book about discovering your sexuality and identity. A book about relationships. A book about a healthy sex life. There’s too much going on, so much that no topic gets sufficient coverage.
There is something to be said about covering all your bases but I don’t think all these needed to be done in one boo. Perhaps girl would have been better as a series, each book focusing on giving in depth information on a specific topic. As it is, Girl feels like homework. If I want information I have to look it up. There is nothing in this book that a teen couldn’t learn with a brief google or glance at wikipedia. If a teen is specifically curious about sexuality or gender or relationships then there are books that give a much better in depth exploration.
April 28, 2018
See my full review at https://mmbookshelf.wordpress.com/201...
Imagine having an highly discreet older sister who is there every time you have a question that there’s no WAY you’d ever ask your mum or coolest teacher or even your best friend. Questions about STIs and not getting pregnant or being bisexual or what to expect on a date or how to insert a tampon right so it doesn’t hurt or all the other things that crop up for young people who identify as girls. Written by psychologist and educator Karen Rayne, the book’s stated intent is to address what it means to be a girl, physically, emotionally, and sexually. Rayne offers a supportive, fact-based approach to the topic - exactly the kind of book I sought out in my questioning teen years. Excellent endmatter, diary entries to give personal perspectives, and a thoughtful,supportive and safety-minded informative approach. This belongs in both public and school libraries, and in homes where parents are wanting to walk the talk of inclusion. My thanks to Magination Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Imagine having an highly discreet older sister who is there every time you have a question that there’s no WAY you’d ever ask your mum or coolest teacher or even your best friend. Questions about STIs and not getting pregnant or being bisexual or what to expect on a date or how to insert a tampon right so it doesn’t hurt or all the other things that crop up for young people who identify as girls. Written by psychologist and educator Karen Rayne, the book’s stated intent is to address what it means to be a girl, physically, emotionally, and sexually. Rayne offers a supportive, fact-based approach to the topic - exactly the kind of book I sought out in my questioning teen years. Excellent endmatter, diary entries to give personal perspectives, and a thoughtful,supportive and safety-minded informative approach. This belongs in both public and school libraries, and in homes where parents are wanting to walk the talk of inclusion. My thanks to Magination Press for the digital reading copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
December 3, 2018
I had heard lots of great things about this book and so I read the book to decide if it would be something I should add to my library eventually.
GIRL is a great resource for anyone female identifying, or even if you think you might be transgender. This book has a chapter on everything, anatomy, cleanliness and puberty, sex, porn, and STI's. Everything. And there's information from every point of view, transgender, non-binary, straight and everything in between. It answers questions, shares personal stories and states the facts.
I'm excited to buy this book someday, and to have it as a recourse for my future children. It's not a book that you have to read all at once if you don't want, you can read just specific chapters or start from the beginning. I rated the book 4 stars on Goodreads, and I recommend it to you all.
GIRL is a great resource for anyone female identifying, or even if you think you might be transgender. This book has a chapter on everything, anatomy, cleanliness and puberty, sex, porn, and STI's. Everything. And there's information from every point of view, transgender, non-binary, straight and everything in between. It answers questions, shares personal stories and states the facts.
I'm excited to buy this book someday, and to have it as a recourse for my future children. It's not a book that you have to read all at once if you don't want, you can read just specific chapters or start from the beginning. I rated the book 4 stars on Goodreads, and I recommend it to you all.
Read
February 18, 2021Not Rating cause I didnt fully read it. I skimmed through every page and randomly read through what felt would be interesting. If I was a curious teenage girl, it could be a good read and very informative. As an educated, experienced adult, I found 345 pages of information I already know.
Do recommend for young girls who desire info on subjects that might be uncomfortable to have with others. Definitely not for everyone though. It has a lot of questions to ask yourself and journal about which is awesome.
Do recommend for young girls who desire info on subjects that might be uncomfortable to have with others. Definitely not for everyone though. It has a lot of questions to ask yourself and journal about which is awesome.
Read
June 10, 2017Reviewing for professional magazine, see review there.
January 23, 2018
What I like about this book:
Rayne has taken great pains to make this book as inclusive as possible. Information for teens who identify across the gender spectrum as well as the sexuality spectrum is included.
The tone of Rayne’s writing is informative and relatable. She shows respect for her teen readers by never talking down to them yet also using language that will be easily understood.
Rayne emphasizes that there are not always “right” answers when it comes to identity, relationships, and sexual activity. The most important consideration is what YOU want and feel comfortable with. She also endeavors to dispel myths and misconceptions about “normal” sexual desires and activities.
A Couple Issues:
There is a LOT of information covered in this book. As other reviews have stated, Rayne has packed a ton of topics/issues into one book and therefore has really only provided a brief overview of each topic.
Rayne does provide a list of suggested resources for each chapter that includes articles, help lines, TED Talks, etc. I did not take the time to review each of these recommended sources, but they did include sites that I am not familiar with. I would probably want to check out these additional sources prior to adding this selection to my library.
Overall, this book is well-written, informative, and contains information that teens NEED. But, any librarian who decides to add this to their collection should be prepared to defend their choice (particularly in more conservative areas).
Rayne has taken great pains to make this book as inclusive as possible. Information for teens who identify across the gender spectrum as well as the sexuality spectrum is included.
The tone of Rayne’s writing is informative and relatable. She shows respect for her teen readers by never talking down to them yet also using language that will be easily understood.
Rayne emphasizes that there are not always “right” answers when it comes to identity, relationships, and sexual activity. The most important consideration is what YOU want and feel comfortable with. She also endeavors to dispel myths and misconceptions about “normal” sexual desires and activities.
A Couple Issues:
There is a LOT of information covered in this book. As other reviews have stated, Rayne has packed a ton of topics/issues into one book and therefore has really only provided a brief overview of each topic.
Rayne does provide a list of suggested resources for each chapter that includes articles, help lines, TED Talks, etc. I did not take the time to review each of these recommended sources, but they did include sites that I am not familiar with. I would probably want to check out these additional sources prior to adding this selection to my library.
Overall, this book is well-written, informative, and contains information that teens NEED. But, any librarian who decides to add this to their collection should be prepared to defend their choice (particularly in more conservative areas).
April 26, 2018
**Note: I received a free ebook copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.**
GIRL is a sexual health and relationship book for anyone who identifies as female. It's an intense, but enjoyable, primer on modern sexual identity, sexual health, and relationship skills -- in all of their complexity. I would definitely recommend this to teens, and to parents of older teens. My two caveats are (1) I feel that this is for individuals in their late teens. It definitely feels like it might be too intense for younger teens, and (2) even though it mentioned that not all teens are sexually active, the vibe from most of the text seemed to assume sexual activity. I think that that was an unintentional part of speaking in an inclusive, welcoming manner. However, I can see that that might not resonate with all teens (or their parents). Otherwise, a wonderful, all-encompassing, modern, unflinching book. Recommended.
GIRL is a sexual health and relationship book for anyone who identifies as female. It's an intense, but enjoyable, primer on modern sexual identity, sexual health, and relationship skills -- in all of their complexity. I would definitely recommend this to teens, and to parents of older teens. My two caveats are (1) I feel that this is for individuals in their late teens. It definitely feels like it might be too intense for younger teens, and (2) even though it mentioned that not all teens are sexually active, the vibe from most of the text seemed to assume sexual activity. I think that that was an unintentional part of speaking in an inclusive, welcoming manner. However, I can see that that might not resonate with all teens (or their parents). Otherwise, a wonderful, all-encompassing, modern, unflinching book. Recommended.
Want to read
September 15, 2018Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.
This was a great book to read as a parent and a wonderful addition to any home or school,library.
I will be purchasing a hard copy of this great book for my tween age daughter.
This was a great book to read as a parent and a wonderful addition to any home or school,library.
I will be purchasing a hard copy of this great book for my tween age daughter.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews