Body talk A girl's guide to what's happening to your body

Gr 6-8-These books point out strategies to help girls not just to cope but also to thrive during the middle-school years. While at times the vernacular is overused, this is meant to be "straight talk" about eating well, body changes, and self-discovery through journal writing. The advice throughout is simple and direct, and complex concepts are clearly explained. Fuel Up! discusses the food pyramid, snacking, weight, and the relationship between diet and disease. Though many facts are presented here, there are no footnotes to authenticate the information. For example, who says that "As many as 86 percent of teenage girls are not getting the calcium their bodies need every day?" The message that balance is needed in life is made clear without overemphasis. Body Talk begins with frank questions about physical changes. The book promises to deal with "everything ya ever wanted ta know" about puberty-a bit too ambitious-though it does cover often overlooked information such as how to buy a bra that fits and tips for first-time tampon users. The diagram on menstruation is unclear and needs textual clarification. Write It Down! has very practical advice about creating and keeping a journal, what to write about, and how to handle snooping. It also explains the therapeutic value of writing about one's experiences. All three entries contain frequent, cropped, color photos and computer graphics. Accessible and informative approaches to what can be difficult topics.-Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The standard explanations and advice about body changes, bra buying, and tampon insertion are here in this conversational puberty overview for girls, but nothing really makes this book stand out. Despite the color photos and graphics, the volume's design is too textbookish to be welcoming. Other books, such as Mavis Jukes's [cf2]It's a Girl Thing,[cf1] cover similar ground in a more engaging fashion. Bib., glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.