Review by Booklist Review
The cover image of one cow mounting another in silhouette is the first signal that this excellent resource takes a frank, funny approach to sex education. Hasler, a columnist who answers teens' questions in her own webisodes and on the school speaking circuit, is more colloquial than clinical as she delivers a wealth of accurate information. Readers will find basic facts about anatomy, hygiene, and birth control ( Toothpaste is not a spermicide ), but they'll also discover straightforward coverage of more typically taboo subjects, such as sex toys, fantasies, and fetishes. From definitions of GLBT terms to guides to safe sex, regardless of teens' sexual orientation, the book's inclusiveness is rare and welcome. Never judgmental (one section is entitled Shame, Guilt, and Other Nonsense ), Hasler encourages teens to take ownership of their bodies, make informed decisions, and get help when necessary, especially if they think they have an STD: Don't sit around . . . writing e-mails to online health forums. Lighthearted cartoons and well-chosen resources complete this indispensable guide for teens seeking reliable, explicit facts about healthy sex.--Engberg, Gillian Copyright 2010 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 10 Up-Hasler, the host and writer of the popular web series "The Midwest Teen Sex Show," offers a book that's funny (a silhouette of two cows engaging in the book's said topic is on the cover and introduces chapters), accurate, and packed with the information readers need to make informed decisions. Her focus is on keeping the mind, body, and spirit safe, and no topic is considered taboo. From explaining the ways people might identify themselves sexually to birth control and good communication to "Kinks, Fetishes, and Fantasies," Hasler offers down-to-earth advice in a nonjudgmental tone. She uses slang teens will most likely be familiar with, as well as technical terminology ("blue balls" and "vasocongestion"). The questions from teens at the end of each chapter will be of particular interest to readers, and the author's answers often serve to dispel commonly held myths. The book contains an extensive chart on sexually transmitted infections, anatomical drawings, and spot-art cartoons that add levity to serious discussions. Hasler is a clear and precise writer, and her book can be referenced either by chapter or read cover to cover. This frank and unflinching book is perfect for older teens.-Traci Glass, Eugene Public Library, OR (c) Copyright 2011. 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.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This guide to teen sexuality by the host of the hilarious comedy podcast The Midwest Teen Sex Show is chatty and expansively informative. Maintaining an offhand, non-judgmental tone throughout, it concisely covers topics from sexual identity to STIs and the basics of reproduction (and avoiding it), as well as some less commonly explored territory in books on sex for teens, such as fetishes and kink. Though Hasler's deadpan style plays better on the show than on the page, there are plentiful flashes of humor, and the simple cartoon-style graphics aid in both a comedic and an informational sense. While a lot of the content is not new, the highlight is the QA at the end of each chapter, which includes such timely gems as a warning about the possible legal and emotional repercussions of digitally sending or even printing out naked pictures to give to others. Readers will likely giggle over the cover graphic of a bull mounting a cow, but this is a solid, frank resource for teens. (resource list, index) (Nonfiction. 12 up)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
