Puberty! It doesn't have to be so scary and confusing.

Puberty for me was a whirlwind of confusing changes to my body and roller coaster emotions which I can recall in vivid detail. I know that we learned about it in 6th grade health, but it seemed that those of us who hadn't gone through it yet were so busy laughing or being nonchalant that we didn't soak up any information for future use. Those that were going through puberty listened with open ears and blushing faces. Those that were further along the puberty path with their deep voices, hairy legs, and what seemed like giant proportions; those were the ones that had a certain pride and air of knowledge. Of course, I'm talking about the boys here. Girls were a whole other confusing subject.

I don't recall my parents ever talking to me about any of the changes I was going through. I went head first into puberty and searched out the answers in my health books. Back then we had no Internet or materials in the library like kids do today and the thought of asking my parents filled me with shame and embarrassment. I vaguely recall covering puberty in health class but then again I probably immediately shut out the voice of the teacher when she said the word "penis"...ewww (insert giggles).

While performing my page duties at my neighborhood library I noticed that the four books in my hand had similar call numbers. They were all 613 give or take a few decimal points. They were all books for boys about puberty. I chuckled to myself and at the same time felt a kinship with the young mystery patron who had recently returned the stack of books...most likely to the book drop while no one was looking. I thought it would be fun and interesting to read one of the books just to see how well it covered the subject of puberty for boys and while I was at it I found a similar book just for girls and decided to read that too. Here's what I checked out.

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The "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Boys by Lynda Madaras with Area Madaras


Martin Anderson, M.D., M.P.H. states in the foreword to this book that it "functions equally well as an owner's manual for teens and as a teaching guide for their parents." I totally agree with the doctor. The author, Lynda Madaras, suggests that parents and teens/preteens should read it together. I only partly agree with the author. I am torn when it comes to Madaras suggestion if only for the fact that puberty can be embarrassing for not only boys but for their parents too so reading it together may not be as productive as reading it separately and then coming together to talk about it. But then again every situation is going to be different. I know that if this book was available to me 25 years ago I probably would have read it alone and figured it out by myself. I would have been way too embarrassed to talk about these things with my parents and they definitely told me nothing about puberty. I went into it pretty blindly. This book covers a lot of information that is definitely valuable for all boys to know when going through puberty. Here is a list of the chapters and followed by some of the topics each chapter covers.

1. Puberty
Sex, Male/Female Sex Organs, Sexual Intercourse, Making Babies

2. Beginning Changes and The Stages of Puberty
Starting Early/ Starting Late, Developing Quickly/ Developing Slowly, First Changes, The Stages of Puberty, Feelings About Puberty, Am I Normal

3. An Owner's Guide to the Sex Organs: What's Normal? What's Not?
Penis Size, The Penis: Circumcised and Uncircumcised, Other Variations in the Penis, The Scrotum

4. The Puberty Growth Spurt
The Height Spurt, The Weight Spurt, Your Changing Shape, The Strength Spurt, Taking Care of Your Body, Feeling Good About Your Body

5. Pimples, Perspiration, Body Hair, Shaving, and Other Changes
Underarm and Body Hair, Facial Hair, Perspiration and Body Odor, Pimples and Acne, Voice Changes, Breast Changes

6. Changes in the Male Reproductive Organs: Erections, Sperm, and Ejaculations
Erections, The Male Reproductive Organs, Ejaculation, Health Issues

7. Spontaneous Erections, Orgasms, Masturbation, and Wet Dreams

8. Girls and Puberty
Similarities and Differences, The First Changes, Stages of Puberty, Sex Organs, Menstruation

9. Romantic and Sexual Feelings
"Just Friends", Crushes, Homosexual Feelings, Dating, Falling in Love, Making Decisions About How to Handle Your Romantic and Sexual Feelings, Sexuality: Feeling Private/ Feeling Guilty, Sexual Crimes

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Girl Stuff: A Survival Guide to Growing Up by Margaret Blackstone and Elissa Haden Guest


The authors open up this book by saying there are certain words that made them cringe when they were kids: menstruation, pimples, sanitary napkin, puberty, adolescent, "that time of the month", staining, and "how are you feeling?". As a person belonging to the male gender I can say that I can relate to a few of these cringe-worthy words, but I can't lie and say that I don't know what the other ones mean and if there was any confusion I definitely know what they mean after reading this very well written and informative book with it's fun sidebars and illustrations. Chapters and topics include:

1. What's Going On on the Outside
Hormones and glands, the outside for boys and girls, breasts, bras, body hair, body odor, eating disorders, healthy eating

2. The Zen of Acne
Causes, skin types, skin care

3. What's Going On on the Inside
Your amazing body, reproductive organs, menstruation, tampons and pads

4. What's Going on With Your Emotions
New things to worry about, How puberty affects friendships, What makes a good friend?, What makes the cool kids "cool"?, Coping with puberty, alternative medicine

5. Peer Pressure: The Good, the Silent, the Bad, and the Dangerous

6. Protecting Yourself
Trusting your instincts, How to be safe but not fearful

7. What You Never Wanted Anyone to Know You Want to Know About Sex
The prelude to sex, How does a woman become pregnant?, Making love, Waiting till you're older, Who are you attracted to?, If I have a crush on a girl am I gay?, STDs, Birth control

8. Many Rivers to Cross

Both books in my review conclude with a variety of important resources for tweens/teens if they have further questions, or want to get involved with specific organizations. Also included are books for further reading.

Again, I think its wonderful that kids have access to these kind of books! It sure would have helped me out a lot as a kid.