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Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human
An inclusive, accessible and honest graphic novel guide to growing up, from gender and sexuality to consent and safe sex. Perfect for any teen starting to ask...Is what I'm feeling normal? Is what my body is doing normal? Am I normal? How do I know what are the right choices to make? How do I fix it when I make a mistake?
Let's talk about it.
Growing up is complicated.
How do you find the answers to all the questions you have about yourself, about your identity, and about your body? Let's Talk About It provides a comprehensive, thoughtful, well-researched graphic novel guide to everything you need to know but might not know how to talk about.
Covering relationships, friendships, gender, sexuality, anatomy, body image, safe sex, sexting, jealousy, rejection, sex education, and more, this is the go-to handbook for every teen navigating adolescence, and the first in graphic novel form.
Let's talk about it.
Growing up is complicated.
How do you find the answers to all the questions you have about yourself, about your identity, and about your body? Let's Talk About It provides a comprehensive, thoughtful, well-researched graphic novel guide to everything you need to know but might not know how to talk about.
Covering relationships, friendships, gender, sexuality, anatomy, body image, safe sex, sexting, jealousy, rejection, sex education, and more, this is the go-to handbook for every teen navigating adolescence, and the first in graphic novel form.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2021
89 people are currently reading
1579 people want to read
About the author
Erika Moen
30 books187 followersErika Moen is a freelance cartoonist born June 25, 1983 and graduated with an Illustrated Storytelling self-designed degree from Pitzer College in 2006. She lives in Portland, Oregon where she has been a member of Periscope Studio since 2008. Having created comics for well over a decade, her work has been published by Dark Horse, Image, Villard and Scholastic, among many others. In addition to creating comics, she also regularly teaches classes and guest lectures on the subject in high schools and colleges around the country. She has been happily married to Matthew Nolan since October 2008.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 301 reviews
July 14, 2021
Oh man, I don’t know if I want to give this one star or 4.5. it is so close to being the perfect book for middle school and early high school. So close! The stuff about relationships and bodies and masturbation and consent and rejection and all of it was so great. Inclusive! Incisive! The illustrations were spot-on. We talked a lot about having this be the text we give to our middle-school OWL sex ed students instead of the more dense and young-adult-focused book we give them now (Heather Corinna’s “s.e.x.: all you need to know to get through your teens and early 20s”).
But we just couldn’t do it. The places this book goes wrong it goes really, really wrong, enough so we are not even recommending it.
1. STIs. “No big deal” and emphasizing how curable/treatable they are is not age appropriate. I get that we don’t want to stigmatize folks who have STIs! I have an STI! But it is *not* “no big deal” - there are social and health repercussions to it that I have been dealing with my whole adult life. It’s not a message I felt okay giving kids, and it appears to be the primary message the authors want to give about STIs, though they cover prevention methods well.
2. Sexting. The book’s advice about sexting is all about how to do it only with trusted people in ways that keep your face/location out of it. I get harm mitigation, but really?! The purported audience here is (a) not of the age of consent and (b) dealing with a risk/reward imbalance in their brains that makes them *really bad* at considering the long-term consequences of things. They’re also not totally great at gauging who to trust. Sexting advice for this group should be more along the lines of “tempting, but don’t; maybe phone sex or something that doesn’t leave a paper trail is a better way to scratch the itch.”
3. Kink. “If you think you might have a kink, look on the internet” is terrible advice. “Teens” are the ostensible audience for this book, and while I love the internet and it’s more informative corners and they have taught me a lot about my sexuality, “search up your kink on the internet” is not something I would tell any 13-year-old. They more often need reassurance that just because something excites them sexually it *doesn’t* necessarily mean it’s something they want to try in real life. Porn can push some really unpleasant buttons, and so explaining to kids that it is monetized and optimized to do that - especially if you have had the body image industrial complex talk with them already - is more important than avoiding kinkshaming.
4. Porn. “Pay for your porn” is great advice for adults. It’s shitty advice for teens who don’t have a lot of money and are more likely to get trapped into subscriptions that they don’t realize they’ve committed to and don’t know how to end. There are ways to talk about being respectful and supportive of sex work to teens, but “pay for your porn” is not something they are ready to hear without a lot of caveats that this positive, upbeat book isn’t designed to give.
And less importantly, periods. I didn’t even think about it until I wanted a book to go with talking to my 11-year-old about her period, but it’s a big thing for teens with uteruses and there wasn’t really anything about it in there; just one page, really. Periods are one of the main things our teen students (regardless of gender identification) ask about with regard to bodies and more information would have been nice.
In the end, I’m kind of mad at the authors. They did such a good job of most of it, but they really fumbled the age-appropriate approach, which is what would have made this book so valuable to younger teens (and sex educators like me). If you’re going to write a book for teens, you have to know teens. I know these folks have written a lot of books for adults - I own some of them, they’re good stuff - but it really, really showed that they don’t know this audience. Did they not have veteran sex educators look at this? Sex-positive parents? Teens? What was their editor thinking? There is a market - a very eager market - for about 90% of this book, but the other 10% just ruin it.
We will be giving our 8th graders Corinna’s “Wait, What?” (a great book! just much less comprehensive than we would like) this year and offering their “s.e.x.” as a secondary option (it’s what we have given in the past, but it’s a little too comprehensive and wordy for the age level.) Phooey.
But we just couldn’t do it. The places this book goes wrong it goes really, really wrong, enough so we are not even recommending it.
1. STIs. “No big deal” and emphasizing how curable/treatable they are is not age appropriate. I get that we don’t want to stigmatize folks who have STIs! I have an STI! But it is *not* “no big deal” - there are social and health repercussions to it that I have been dealing with my whole adult life. It’s not a message I felt okay giving kids, and it appears to be the primary message the authors want to give about STIs, though they cover prevention methods well.
2. Sexting. The book’s advice about sexting is all about how to do it only with trusted people in ways that keep your face/location out of it. I get harm mitigation, but really?! The purported audience here is (a) not of the age of consent and (b) dealing with a risk/reward imbalance in their brains that makes them *really bad* at considering the long-term consequences of things. They’re also not totally great at gauging who to trust. Sexting advice for this group should be more along the lines of “tempting, but don’t; maybe phone sex or something that doesn’t leave a paper trail is a better way to scratch the itch.”
3. Kink. “If you think you might have a kink, look on the internet” is terrible advice. “Teens” are the ostensible audience for this book, and while I love the internet and it’s more informative corners and they have taught me a lot about my sexuality, “search up your kink on the internet” is not something I would tell any 13-year-old. They more often need reassurance that just because something excites them sexually it *doesn’t* necessarily mean it’s something they want to try in real life. Porn can push some really unpleasant buttons, and so explaining to kids that it is monetized and optimized to do that - especially if you have had the body image industrial complex talk with them already - is more important than avoiding kinkshaming.
4. Porn. “Pay for your porn” is great advice for adults. It’s shitty advice for teens who don’t have a lot of money and are more likely to get trapped into subscriptions that they don’t realize they’ve committed to and don’t know how to end. There are ways to talk about being respectful and supportive of sex work to teens, but “pay for your porn” is not something they are ready to hear without a lot of caveats that this positive, upbeat book isn’t designed to give.
And less importantly, periods. I didn’t even think about it until I wanted a book to go with talking to my 11-year-old about her period, but it’s a big thing for teens with uteruses and there wasn’t really anything about it in there; just one page, really. Periods are one of the main things our teen students (regardless of gender identification) ask about with regard to bodies and more information would have been nice.
In the end, I’m kind of mad at the authors. They did such a good job of most of it, but they really fumbled the age-appropriate approach, which is what would have made this book so valuable to younger teens (and sex educators like me). If you’re going to write a book for teens, you have to know teens. I know these folks have written a lot of books for adults - I own some of them, they’re good stuff - but it really, really showed that they don’t know this audience. Did they not have veteran sex educators look at this? Sex-positive parents? Teens? What was their editor thinking? There is a market - a very eager market - for about 90% of this book, but the other 10% just ruin it.
We will be giving our 8th graders Corinna’s “Wait, What?” (a great book! just much less comprehensive than we would like) this year and offering their “s.e.x.” as a secondary option (it’s what we have given in the past, but it’s a little too comprehensive and wordy for the age level.) Phooey.
September 4, 2022
Zero stars! pornography, directions on masturbation, sex toys. and anal play. Tells kids it’s safe to go online and research kinks and fantasies. Abusive material not suitable for teens
April 5, 2021
I wanted to like this. I really did. But their advice about STDs was ridiculously blase to the point of being dangerous:
"There are some (STDs) that are untreatable like HPV and herpes...But even those aren't worth fretting over beyond keeping some good practices.
There ARE some scary infections out there like HIV. But you know what? Even that can be treated with antivirals to the point where it becomes undetectable."
In trying to take the stigma away from STDs, they're telling sexually inexperienced kids that they are absolutely nothing to worry about. They don't mention the herpes sores or the cocktail of HIV drugs you'll have to take for the rest of your life or die. Very irresponsible.
"There are some (STDs) that are untreatable like HPV and herpes...But even those aren't worth fretting over beyond keeping some good practices.
There ARE some scary infections out there like HIV. But you know what? Even that can be treated with antivirals to the point where it becomes undetectable."
In trying to take the stigma away from STDs, they're telling sexually inexperienced kids that they are absolutely nothing to worry about. They don't mention the herpes sores or the cocktail of HIV drugs you'll have to take for the rest of your life or die. Very irresponsible.
February 6, 2022
This book is not for teenagers. Parent beware- soft prn and scary advise given… the author actually suggests going to the internet to find others in the community who have similar sx interest or “kinks.” Again, this is not a safe book for teenagers.
February 26, 2021
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars
I think there are things this book accomplishes really well, and some things that left a bit to be desired.
The good? This felt, overall to be a really comprehensive guide not just "about sex," but about that and everything that comes along with it. I really appreciated the sections for sexuality and gender, and those near the end of the book that were more focused on the non-sexual aspects of relationships (both romantic and platonic). I also loved how inclusive the illustrated components were when it came to depicting body types, and celebrating the vast variety of body shapes that exist.
Where this book falters for me is that, with all of that, the tone of some dialogue felt very...
It's clear this was a book written by adults.
Specifically by adults trying to convey this information in a way that is "cool" for the kids. The problem is that, to do this, the text relies on the use of language that was outdated even when I was a teenager.(which was...just shy of a decade ago; if it's dated for me, it's definitely even more dated for current teens) Honestly, it was the dialogue that made me feel uncomfortable—not the very detailed illustrations of reproductive organs or nude bodies that I've seen others be put off by. And this is a shame, because there's a lot of really beneficial information, and the format in theory makes the information really accessible. But when the dialogue is this cringeworthy, it made it extremely difficult to continuing reading at times.
Also, because this books serves to be a introductory guide, it can't cover everything. I get that. But I think there was definitely room to include discussion about things like oral sex, and I wish that there was some time spent further discussing sexual health in the section about anatomy.
Please note: In regards to the latter, I acknowledge that I am very biased. When all an educational book can say about menstruation is "It's normal, it happens, and it can cause cramps" ... That's a red flag for me. Emphasizing normalcy is great, but when there are health conditions that 1) involve menstruation, 2) can impact an individual's sex life, and 3) often becomes symptomatic during puberty and young adulthood... It's something that deserves mentioning in a book like this. I am dying on this hill.
3.5 stars
I think there are things this book accomplishes really well, and some things that left a bit to be desired.
The good? This felt, overall to be a really comprehensive guide not just "about sex," but about that and everything that comes along with it. I really appreciated the sections for sexuality and gender, and those near the end of the book that were more focused on the non-sexual aspects of relationships (both romantic and platonic). I also loved how inclusive the illustrated components were when it came to depicting body types, and celebrating the vast variety of body shapes that exist.
Where this book falters for me is that, with all of that, the tone of some dialogue felt very...
It's clear this was a book written by adults.
Specifically by adults trying to convey this information in a way that is "cool" for the kids. The problem is that, to do this, the text relies on the use of language that was outdated even when I was a teenager.
Also, because this books serves to be a introductory guide, it can't cover everything. I get that. But I think there was definitely room to include discussion about things like oral sex, and I wish that there was some time spent further discussing sexual health in the section about anatomy.
Please note: In regards to the latter, I acknowledge that I am very biased. When all an educational book can say about menstruation is "It's normal, it happens, and it can cause cramps" ... That's a red flag for me. Emphasizing normalcy is great, but when there are health conditions that 1) involve menstruation, 2) can impact an individual's sex life, and 3) often becomes symptomatic during puberty and young adulthood... It's something that deserves mentioning in a book like this. I am dying on this hill.
September 16, 2022
Chciałabym dożyć dnia, kiedy młodzież będzie dostawało tę książkę w prezencie od szkoły.
January 16, 2023
This book caused an outrage at my library, with some suggesting it should be removed. My view is you should look at something before judging it, so I took it out. I expected to think that the rightwingers in my town were overreacting, but …
Oh boy. This book could have been so good. By illustrating sexual topics with comics, it’s so accessible and easy to read, but it goes too far. Some of the topics could have been left for a Part 2 once the readers of an initial introductory volume were ready.
As it is, this is too much for kids new to sexuality. Transgenderism and changing pronouns like socks are treated like they are normal. So is pornography. Sexually transmitted diseases are not discussed seriously enough. And I can’t believe that kids just learning about sex need to read about sex toys and ass play.
I am not in favor of book banning, but this is not the book I would want a child of mine reading as an introduction to sex. Nice try, but this is a fail.
Oh boy. This book could have been so good. By illustrating sexual topics with comics, it’s so accessible and easy to read, but it goes too far. Some of the topics could have been left for a Part 2 once the readers of an initial introductory volume were ready.
As it is, this is too much for kids new to sexuality. Transgenderism and changing pronouns like socks are treated like they are normal. So is pornography. Sexually transmitted diseases are not discussed seriously enough. And I can’t believe that kids just learning about sex need to read about sex toys and ass play.
I am not in favor of book banning, but this is not the book I would want a child of mine reading as an introduction to sex. Nice try, but this is a fail.
March 15, 2023
If you believe the following is appropriate for minors, then give it a to your 14 year old child. If you are like me, you would start practicing book burning.
Has an anatomy section (with plenty of illustrations of people with having both male and female parts) but them admits that this section may make one horny and want to masterbate. So, admitting it is soft porn.
States STI is no biggie
Provides advice and various etiquette about sexting, with a note it might be illegal for minors...the targeted audience for this book
Provides indepth information and photograph of sex toys- with illustrations.
States that porn, which is again illegal for minors (but not stated in this book), is a surgary treat.
Tells readers that being friends with benefits is great.
Tells minors to go online and find communities to talk about their kinks.
Has an anatomy section (with plenty of illustrations of people with having both male and female parts) but them admits that this section may make one horny and want to masterbate. So, admitting it is soft porn.
States STI is no biggie
Provides advice and various etiquette about sexting, with a note it might be illegal for minors...the targeted audience for this book
Provides indepth information and photograph of sex toys- with illustrations.
States that porn, which is again illegal for minors (but not stated in this book), is a surgary treat.
Tells readers that being friends with benefits is great.
Tells minors to go online and find communities to talk about their kinks.
June 20, 2023
Part of my compulsive reading list in regards to all the books that legislators in ND want to criminalize librarians & booksellers for carrying. First and foremost, no book should be a crime. Are there parts of this book I wish were worded just a little better? Definitely. But the vast majority of it is such valuable information, handled in such a caring and inclusive way. A lot of the criticism this book gets is for its recommendation of using internet resources regarding some material - which I totally get, but I think since teens tend to already use the internet for this kind of information already, getting the extra encouragement to do it in as safe a way as possible is a net positive. I wish I had something like this when I was younger.
Read
May 2, 2021I hate to say it but I'm not a fan of this book. I don't think it's useful as a guide for teenagers because it has a big problem with and lack of structure (chapters feel out of order, and the subjects are muddled together throughout) and I think it's a little too enthusiastic with uh, "advanced" subject matter to be useful for younger teens or preteens. I think the group most likely to take the most from it are maybe, 17-25? But at the same time there are better resources that are more accessible, easier to understand, and take a deeper dive into various topics for folks of that age.
Some matters are covered with a lot of detail, but others are over and done with fairly quickly. I'm also not a big fan of the format/framing devise of conversations, but I can't nail down why and that could just be my nitpick.
As always with Erica Moen the art and representation is great. I'm sure they worked hard on this project which is why I'm refraining from leaving a star rating. Overall I think this book could have benefited from more of a textbook structure while still having plenty of fun with the art and graphics.
Some matters are covered with a lot of detail, but others are over and done with fairly quickly. I'm also not a big fan of the format/framing devise of conversations, but I can't nail down why and that could just be my nitpick.
As always with Erica Moen the art and representation is great. I'm sure they worked hard on this project which is why I'm refraining from leaving a star rating. Overall I think this book could have benefited from more of a textbook structure while still having plenty of fun with the art and graphics.
Read
December 31, 2021"The stuff that goes through your head is private and your alone. It doesn't define you. What you do in the real world - your verbal, online, and physical actions - that's who you are. It's OKAY to think weird and shocking thoughts accidentally or on purpose. Our brains do that a lot! We all get the occasional intrusive thought. Like that flash of feeling when you think about yelling something in a library, or punching out a window, or jumping off a cliff. It's important to remember that those thoughts don't necessarily mean anything about who you truly are. Your subconscious and conscious will naturally dish out all kinds of junk. It's just how you're built."
One thing I really appreciated about this book is it doesn't shy away from any topic a teenager is wondering about when it comes to sex and relationships. I liked how there were sections about both the physical and emotional sides of new relationships because let's be honest: teenagers are often navigating one or both of these at the same time. Overall, this book was fairly comprehensive and written in a way that young people will be able to understand. Coupled with the fact that this is a graphic novel, this is one of those books that will allow even the most inexperienced teenager to learn about things correctly without scouring the internet and finding who knows what.
With that being said, there were some things I found extremely troublesome and even problematic with this graphic novel.
1. I wanted there to be a longer conversation about periods. People with uteruses should be experiencing menstruation in their teenage years yet this discussion was limited to a page. And it is perfectly ok for those without uteruses to learn about how menstruation works. It is enraging that number of grown adults that know incorrect information about menstruation and are forced to relearn information they should know.
2. STI/STD. Ok, yes, most STIs are treatable these days. That's great! But to tell today's young folks that HIV can be treated with antivirals? No. I am not here for that. This is misleading and dangerous to share with young folks. I mean, I wish we lived in an age where HIV was also as easily treated as herpes or HPV. But to ignore the very real and harmful effects of HIV is not something I'm about to support.
3. We should not be encouraging sexting at this age. I mean, I know it happens, but yikes?! At this age, both parties are (likely) minors but if one of them isn't they could get charged with child pornography. And have we not learned that pictures never really go away and nudes often end up on the internet? (Because that's the type of sexting kids are doing, let's be real). I just can't endorse a book that encourages sexting with someone you trust.
4. Telling teenagers to pay for pornography. Can you imagine that conversation? "Hey mom and dad, sorry about all these charges. This book told me to pay for porn." Ummm just, no? I think it's important for teenagers to know porn exists and real sex isn't like porn but like... maybe you shouldn't be doing that at your age?
I really like what this book was trying to accomplish and there are so many positive things in this book. There are also some problematic parts of this book that made me halt in my endorsement of this book. I'm really not sure how to rate this one but I do think this book is a step in the right direction to getting correct, positive information in the hands of teens when it comes to sex and relationships.
One thing I really appreciated about this book is it doesn't shy away from any topic a teenager is wondering about when it comes to sex and relationships. I liked how there were sections about both the physical and emotional sides of new relationships because let's be honest: teenagers are often navigating one or both of these at the same time. Overall, this book was fairly comprehensive and written in a way that young people will be able to understand. Coupled with the fact that this is a graphic novel, this is one of those books that will allow even the most inexperienced teenager to learn about things correctly without scouring the internet and finding who knows what.
With that being said, there were some things I found extremely troublesome and even problematic with this graphic novel.
1. I wanted there to be a longer conversation about periods. People with uteruses should be experiencing menstruation in their teenage years yet this discussion was limited to a page. And it is perfectly ok for those without uteruses to learn about how menstruation works. It is enraging that number of grown adults that know incorrect information about menstruation and are forced to relearn information they should know.
2. STI/STD. Ok, yes, most STIs are treatable these days. That's great! But to tell today's young folks that HIV can be treated with antivirals? No. I am not here for that. This is misleading and dangerous to share with young folks. I mean, I wish we lived in an age where HIV was also as easily treated as herpes or HPV. But to ignore the very real and harmful effects of HIV is not something I'm about to support.
3. We should not be encouraging sexting at this age. I mean, I know it happens, but yikes?! At this age, both parties are (likely) minors but if one of them isn't they could get charged with child pornography. And have we not learned that pictures never really go away and nudes often end up on the internet? (Because that's the type of sexting kids are doing, let's be real). I just can't endorse a book that encourages sexting with someone you trust.
4. Telling teenagers to pay for pornography. Can you imagine that conversation? "Hey mom and dad, sorry about all these charges. This book told me to pay for porn." Ummm just, no? I think it's important for teenagers to know porn exists and real sex isn't like porn but like... maybe you shouldn't be doing that at your age?
I really like what this book was trying to accomplish and there are so many positive things in this book. There are also some problematic parts of this book that made me halt in my endorsement of this book. I'm really not sure how to rate this one but I do think this book is a step in the right direction to getting correct, positive information in the hands of teens when it comes to sex and relationships.
June 14, 2023
I picked this book up because it was the book that brought about some book-banning legislation in ND this year. I understand why people are angry, some of the drawings were a bit much. HOWEVER, I think that its better for teens to learn about sex with an informative, non-judgmental approach (what's found in this book) rather than trying to find out information online. The people who are angry about this book are the people who, I'm sure, only preach abstinence and will tell their children that they are a disappointment if they do anything else. Books like this are NECESSARY.
March 25, 2021
A frank, fun, and informative look at sex and the myriad issues tied to it. Moen and Nolan do a great job of keeping the pace fast and breezy while being inclusive and squeezing in so much info and advice. They drive home that, bottom line, the best sex comes from consent and communication.
May 28, 2023
My grandson is turning 13 and I checked out this new book thinking it would be a good resource for his questions. Excellent information with context....chapters on social emotional changes and not just physical. Very explicit and upfront so readers and parents must be comfortable with straightforward information with illustrations.
April 1, 2021
This was freaking amazing. Every teen needs to read this book.
April 25, 2022
I approciated the sex-positive tone, but had some concerns about a few of the details: 'Pay for porn' doesn't feel like age-appropriate advice for 13-15 year-olds. A lot of kids don't have money for that. And 'look up your kinks on the internet' also seems like a dangerous rabbit hole to send young teens down, although I agree that teens shouldn't feel ashamed of watching porn. And 'sexting is ok, just with people you trust' seems like better advice for the 20+ crowd. I worry about teens being good enough judges of character just yet, AND having a full enough understanding of having naked pictures of themselves potentially floating around the internet forever. Also, this book alarmingly downplays the risks of STDs and the lifestyle implications of having a permanent one. There just wasn't enough info to properly inform young teens.
The authors went a long way to present 'conversations' between teens or siblings that normalize various aspects of sexuality (gender identity, changing emotions, kinks, etc), but they were awkward and dated sounding. I thought the 'conversations' took up way too much valuable space in the book when actual info should have been given instead.
The authors went a long way to present 'conversations' between teens or siblings that normalize various aspects of sexuality (gender identity, changing emotions, kinks, etc), but they were awkward and dated sounding. I thought the 'conversations' took up way too much valuable space in the book when actual info should have been given instead.
October 17, 2023
GIVE THIS TO YOUR TEENS.
This should be required reading for all high school students. This is what sexual education should look like!
This book was clearly written for teens in a language and format they’d be drawn to. They are direct, use slang, and illustrate in ways to inform, not shock. I loved that the chapters showcased different partners in all types of relationships. There was a natural diversity to the text that didn’t feel performative or forced.
I loved every moment of reading this. I was getting information as a 33 year old that I never knew. It also puts things through both biological and emotional lenses. You see the science and get to work through the messy feelings. It takes so much shame out of the “sex talk” and instead empowers you to learn and grow and understand.
I wish I had this book as I was experiencing my first relationships and learning what sex was. This is such a valuable resource. Highly recommend.
This should be required reading for all high school students. This is what sexual education should look like!
This book was clearly written for teens in a language and format they’d be drawn to. They are direct, use slang, and illustrate in ways to inform, not shock. I loved that the chapters showcased different partners in all types of relationships. There was a natural diversity to the text that didn’t feel performative or forced.
I loved every moment of reading this. I was getting information as a 33 year old that I never knew. It also puts things through both biological and emotional lenses. You see the science and get to work through the messy feelings. It takes so much shame out of the “sex talk” and instead empowers you to learn and grow and understand.
I wish I had this book as I was experiencing my first relationships and learning what sex was. This is such a valuable resource. Highly recommend.
May 9, 2021
One of my kids has been seeing sex stuff on line occasionally and it's been freaking them out a bit, so I got this for them. I figured it would be good because I really like the authors' online sex ed comics, and I was right. It's inclusive and emphasizes communication, consent, self-knowledge, and acceptance of self and others. The people depicted are diverse: all races, a wide range of weights, different amounts of body hair, disabled people (amputees, including a person with only one hand who doesn't use a prosthesis, wheelchair users, a pair of people who communicate using ASL, people with top surgery scars), various gender presentations, etc. Special props to the authors for including both a list for how to spot when you're in an abusive situation and when you yourself might be abusive.
I may update my review after my kid reads the book, but for now I'm pretty impressed.
I may update my review after my kid reads the book, but for now I'm pretty impressed.
May 21, 2023
This will be a hard review. This book is meant to give information from a kid's perspective to other kids. It identifies itself as a sex-ed book. The illustrations are way graphic. Some might say that its no worse than what kids see on the internet anyway. It normalizes a ton of stuff, but then, so does Hollywood. It's got some good messages in the text, sprinkled in with some glaring downplaying of seriously bad stuff, like sexting ("I'm gonna want to be getting some photos of your cute self sometime soon")...
and HIV (There are some scary infections out there like HIV, but you know what, even that can be treated with antivirals to the point where it becomes undetectable, which means it can't be passed to someone else). I don't even know if that's true, but I sure as hell want my KIDS (for whom this is written, as early as 13) to not think people with HIV can be a safe partner. That's just irresponsible.
While there is some good info on safe sex and some positive messages, I think this could have been done a lot better. I guess I would not want my kids reading it before HS and maybe not at all. Normalizes a ton of bad crap.
and HIV (There are some scary infections out there like HIV, but you know what, even that can be treated with antivirals to the point where it becomes undetectable, which means it can't be passed to someone else). I don't even know if that's true, but I sure as hell want my KIDS (for whom this is written, as early as 13) to not think people with HIV can be a safe partner. That's just irresponsible.
While there is some good info on safe sex and some positive messages, I think this could have been done a lot better. I guess I would not want my kids reading it before HS and maybe not at all. Normalizes a ton of bad crap.
November 24, 2022
2.5/5 rounded down to 2.
Well-intentioned, but skims the surface of the emotional side of things, sexting (and if that includes nude photos, diving into child porn territory which is illegal), STIs, and handwaves societal judgments, which exist, whether one likes it or not. Also, you can't say sex workers aren't actors but then call what they do a performance. Also, uh, let's not promote something that's illegal for minors to view. Or how about *at all* since the large, large majority of porn is objectifying, based on trafficking, and builds largely negative views of sex, sexuality, and (mostly) women.
I read this for my YA Lit class and honestly struggled with it. There is a lot of body positivity, which is phenomenal! That was probably the only thing exceptional about it though. It is very detailed to the point of being overwhelming but still not in a good way. It seems geared toward the older spectrum of teens, but even...I don't know.
We need great books about sex education and navigating adolescence. This is not one of them.
Well-intentioned, but skims the surface of the emotional side of things, sexting (and if that includes nude photos, diving into child porn territory which is illegal), STIs, and handwaves societal judgments, which exist, whether one likes it or not. Also, you can't say sex workers aren't actors but then call what they do a performance. Also, uh, let's not promote something that's illegal for minors to view. Or how about *at all* since the large, large majority of porn is objectifying, based on trafficking, and builds largely negative views of sex, sexuality, and (mostly) women.
I read this for my YA Lit class and honestly struggled with it. There is a lot of body positivity, which is phenomenal! That was probably the only thing exceptional about it though. It is very detailed to the point of being overwhelming but still not in a good way. It seems geared toward the older spectrum of teens, but even...I don't know.
We need great books about sex education and navigating adolescence. This is not one of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2023
Jest to dobry podręcznik do edukacji seksualnej, ale nie doskonały.
+ obrazki z podpisami
+przystępna forma
+ciałopozytywność
+sekspozytywność
+lgbt+
+rzeczowe informacje podane przystępnie
+historyjki pozwalające wejść w tematykę
-cringe momentami
-specyficzne podejście do sekstingu
-brak słowniczka który by się przydał!
Pomimo wszystko polecam, przystępna edukacja dla każdego!t
+ obrazki z podpisami
+przystępna forma
+ciałopozytywność
+sekspozytywność
+lgbt+
+rzeczowe informacje podane przystępnie
+historyjki pozwalające wejść w tematykę
-cringe momentami
-specyficzne podejście do sekstingu
-brak słowniczka który by się przydał!
Pomimo wszystko polecam, przystępna edukacja dla każdego!t
September 2, 2022
3.5⭐
+ ładną kreską jest narysowany komiks
+ ładną kreską jest narysowany komiks
October 21, 2022
I've been following Erika Moen's work for years. I saw her speak and met her at a conference over a decade ago, bought one of her early collections (Dar: A Super Girly Top Secret Comic Diary, Volume One) and have kept an eye out for her stuff ever since. I really appreciate the work she and her husband, Matthew Nolen, have done for inclusive sex education on OhJoySexToy.
So of course they felt like ideal people to do a sex comic for teens.
And it's great! Love the diversity of skin-tones, identities, and body types that they center, the matter-of-fact approach to things like sexting, kink, and masturbation. Love that there's an entire chapter focusing on after-care.
The comic is in full color, but most of the illustrations are of humans, not settings so there feels like there's a lot of room on the page. The chapters are sometimes quite short.
I'm so glad this exists.
So of course they felt like ideal people to do a sex comic for teens.
And it's great! Love the diversity of skin-tones, identities, and body types that they center, the matter-of-fact approach to things like sexting, kink, and masturbation. Love that there's an entire chapter focusing on after-care.
The comic is in full color, but most of the illustrations are of humans, not settings so there feels like there's a lot of room on the page. The chapters are sometimes quite short.
I'm so glad this exists.
April 7, 2021
So impressed by how this book was put together and presented. It really got to the heart of what teens aren't necessarily taught in health or sex ed classes: "sex ed isn't just about how bodies smoosh together, but what it means to be a human who engages with other humans." It highlights and centers relationships and communication as the most important aspects of sex ed, and how that translates into every single facet of your relationships and health. I'm glad to have such a valuable and readable resource in our library's collection, and from an artist and creator I love too - even better!
April 18, 2024
I read this book because I heard it was one of the most banned/challenged books from last year.
I found it very informative and inclusive. It covers some topics that other sex-ed books for teens tend to keep away from, but that they nonetheless need to know, and has advice not only about sex ed but relationships in general. I appreciated that it showed a variety of different body types. The book was sex-positive while also being inclusive of asexuals or other people who aren't interested in sex.
I found it very informative and inclusive. It covers some topics that other sex-ed books for teens tend to keep away from, but that they nonetheless need to know, and has advice not only about sex ed but relationships in general. I appreciated that it showed a variety of different body types. The book was sex-positive while also being inclusive of asexuals or other people who aren't interested in sex.
March 13, 2021
If I ever grow up to be a sex ed teacher I’m using this for sure. I’m also buying copies for all the parents I know to share with their kids!
December 14, 2022
To spokojnie mógłby być podręcznik do edukacji seksualnej 😌
October 24, 2024
3,5
Mega fajna! W bardzo przystępny sposób ukazane dość istotne kwestie dla każdego człowieka. Myślę, że każdy nastolatek i nie tylko powinien się z tym zapoznać.
Mega fajna! W bardzo przystępny sposób ukazane dość istotne kwestie dla każdego człowieka. Myślę, że każdy nastolatek i nie tylko powinien się z tym zapoznać.
October 30, 2022
A comprehensive sex education book that is sex positive, LGBTQIA+ friendly, and addresses topics outside of the physical aspects of sex, including: body image, gender & sexuality, jealousy, enthusiastic consent, abusive relationships, rejection, etc. THIS is the book I wish I had in high school! I probably would have blushed at some of the pictures (it’s a graphic novel!) BUT is it any more blush-inducing than the horrific herpes pictures they showed us in class? I love how matter-of-fact this book is, as well as how inclusive it is. If I had a kid, I’d give them this book.
January 2, 2023
𖦹 Nie sądziłam, że książka tak zachwalana na bookstagramie okaże się aż tak zła i TOKSYCZNA. Większość z tematów jest bardzo słabo rozwinięta i jak na książkę edukacyjną, za dużo się stąd nie wyniesie. Jedyne plusy jakie widzę to ładna kreska i kilka informacji, które faktycznie są okej np. orientacje, tożsamości, temat zazdrości, anatomia (to akurat ciężko zepsuć).
𖦹 Dlaczego tak uważam? Na początek takie "błahostki":
- (s.23) przytulanie to seks (what?)
- (s.40) ,,Związki przyjacielskie - dla osób w takiej relacji najbardziej liczą się przywiązanie i intymność, a bliskość fizyczna i SEKS SĄ DLA NICH MAŁO WAŻNE lub w ogóle ich nie interesują." (Czy my mówimy o tym samym pojęciu przyjaźni czy ja czegoś nie zrozumiałam?)
𖦹 Jednak z tej książki dowiemy się też, że:
- infekcje płciowe (w tym np. HIV) nie są aż takie straszne i cytując ,,Nie martw się jeśli zdarzy ci się coś złapać".
- Jeśli się nie masturbujesz, nie będziesz szczęśliwy podczas seksu i w ogóle nie powinieneś go uprawiać.
- mamy przestać dążyć do "idealnego" ciała i zaakceptować siebie - oczywiście nie patrząc na aspekty zdrowotne, bo większość sylwetek, które są tam pokazane niestety pokazuje nadwagę. I tak, warto zaakceptować swoją sylwetkę, ale trzeba też patrzeć na zdrowie i nie iść w toksyczny body positive.
- Jeśli chcemy używać lubrykantu, musimy sami znaleźć w internecie, który będzie dla nas najlepszy - bo jak wiemy, internet wie najlepiej.
- To samo dotyczy fetyszy/kinku, gdzie jedyna rada, to ,,poszukaj w necie" - skoro ktoś postanowił podjąć się takiego tematu, dlaczego nie podał jakiś przykładów? Rad? Mówienie czegoś takiego osobie młodej (książka jest 15+), która odkrywa swoją seksualność i chciałaby się czegoś dowiedzieć jest złe i w pewnym sensie niebezpieczne. Temat fetyszy/kinku jest tak rozległy, że bardzo łatwo w internecie natknąć się na coś, co może a) wywołać traumę b) zranić kogoś. Tu dla przykładu mogę podać np. bicie, duszenie czy okaleczanie, które może doprowadzić do nieszczęścia.
𖦹 A na koniec "ciekawostka": wiedzieliście, że błonę dziewiczą posiada tylko CZĘŚĆ ludzi i że z czasem ZANIKA? Tak, ja też nie.
𖦹 Dlaczego tak uważam? Na początek takie "błahostki":
- (s.23) przytulanie to seks (what?)
- (s.40) ,,Związki przyjacielskie - dla osób w takiej relacji najbardziej liczą się przywiązanie i intymność, a bliskość fizyczna i SEKS SĄ DLA NICH MAŁO WAŻNE lub w ogóle ich nie interesują." (Czy my mówimy o tym samym pojęciu przyjaźni czy ja czegoś nie zrozumiałam?)
𖦹 Jednak z tej książki dowiemy się też, że:
- infekcje płciowe (w tym np. HIV) nie są aż takie straszne i cytując ,,Nie martw się jeśli zdarzy ci się coś złapać".
- Jeśli się nie masturbujesz, nie będziesz szczęśliwy podczas seksu i w ogóle nie powinieneś go uprawiać.
- mamy przestać dążyć do "idealnego" ciała i zaakceptować siebie - oczywiście nie patrząc na aspekty zdrowotne, bo większość sylwetek, które są tam pokazane niestety pokazuje nadwagę. I tak, warto zaakceptować swoją sylwetkę, ale trzeba też patrzeć na zdrowie i nie iść w toksyczny body positive.
- Jeśli chcemy używać lubrykantu, musimy sami znaleźć w internecie, który będzie dla nas najlepszy - bo jak wiemy, internet wie najlepiej.
- To samo dotyczy fetyszy/kinku, gdzie jedyna rada, to ,,poszukaj w necie" - skoro ktoś postanowił podjąć się takiego tematu, dlaczego nie podał jakiś przykładów? Rad? Mówienie czegoś takiego osobie młodej (książka jest 15+), która odkrywa swoją seksualność i chciałaby się czegoś dowiedzieć jest złe i w pewnym sensie niebezpieczne. Temat fetyszy/kinku jest tak rozległy, że bardzo łatwo w internecie natknąć się na coś, co może a) wywołać traumę b) zranić kogoś. Tu dla przykładu mogę podać np. bicie, duszenie czy okaleczanie, które może doprowadzić do nieszczęścia.
𖦹 A na koniec "ciekawostka": wiedzieliście, że błonę dziewiczą posiada tylko CZĘŚĆ ludzi i że z czasem ZANIKA? Tak, ja też nie.
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