Review by Booklist Review
Madaras, who has been teaching and writing about puberty for nearly 30 years, offers boys a companion to her 2003 Ready, Set, Grow for girls, writing with similar verve and consideration for her audience's embarassement and confusion. Along with clear explanations of changes in sexual organs and related topics such as wet dreams and masturbation, she includes chapters on good nutrition, body odor, and shaving stopping well short of the subject of reproduction. An integral part of the book are questions and comments from boys themselves. These are often very specific, covering things boys are unlikely to express aloud, especially to grown-ups. Madaras answers all clearly and with refreshing honesty, defining necessary terms (and clarifying some slang) as she proceeds. As in Ready, Set, Grow, cartoon illustrations leaven the seriousness of the topic, and Madaras maintains a casual tone, making this a prime choice for reassuring readers facing or undergoing change. Boys will come away armed with both facts and an understanding that there's no one right way to move from childhood to the other side.--Zvirin, Stephanie Copyright 2008 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-In this obvious but much-needed companion to her Ready, Set, Grow! (Newmarket, 2003) guide for girls, Madaras draws on her experience teaching sex education (called puberty classes here) to inform boys about the physical changes they will experience as they start to mature. Formatted to include quotes and frequently asked questions from the male students in her classes, the age-appropriate presentation includes cartoon art on almost every page and a sprinkling of humor. Along with covering sex-organ growth, height, weight, and muscle gain, Madaras also discusses health and nutrition, hygiene, and "becoming your own self." A reassuring tone pervades the text with the buzzwords "normal" and "perfectly normal" frequently appearing. Apart from a few odd artwork choices (a frog is a recurring character), this is an excellent resource for both children and parents.-Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
