Growing Up: It's a Girl Thing (Paperback)

by Mavis Jukes (Author) "When I was in elementary school, I grew two small breasts..." (more)
Key Phrases: bra inserts, maxi pads, breast buds

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-A slimmed-down version of Jukes's It's a Girl Thing (Knopf, 1996) that explores puberty firsts such as bras and periods. The author imparts the essential information vital to a young woman's early development. Speaking with the sensitivity of an older, trusted sister, Jukes assures readers that the changes, or lack of, in their bodies are perfectly normal. She covers body hair and shaving, perspiration and deodorant, and how to buy your first bra. The second half of the book is devoted to what to expect and how to plan for your first period. Jukes details the pros and cons of pads and tampons and gives practical, safe advice for alleviating cramps. Sexual intercourse is defined as an activity for adults and used to describe the reproductive organs. Sexual activity in teenagers and birth control are not covered. The narration has an easy, comfortable voice and imparts accurate and important information while assuring readers that they can still be children even though they've entered puberty.
Katie O'Dell Madison, Multnomah County Library, Portland, OR
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The title gives a slight hint, but librarians and readers may still be surprised to discover that despite a few organizational changes, some slight rewriting, and the addition of a short section dealing with privacy issues, this is basically little more than the first three chapters of Jukes' 1996 It's a Girl Thing. The openness and warm, if sometimes gushy, enthusiasm ("the bra smelled so new and delicious") of the first book are still apparent, and once again Jukes calls up personal anecdotes about her own puberty during the late 1950s as she introduces girls to their sexual anatomy, menstruation, and a few related topics. Although a number of more detailed books on those subjects exist--among them, The Period Book (1996), by Karen Gravelle and her daughter, Jennifer--this one, which has an excellent section on bras, may suit girls on the new end of the puberty continuum. Stephanie Zvirin --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers; 1 edition (September 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679890270
• ISBN-13: 978-0679890270
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,123 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

164 of 165 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect first "growing up" book for the preteen girl, June 4, 2001

By A Customer

I have been searching for a book for my daughter (she turned 10 today!) that will help me to explain some of what will be happening to her body over the next few years. So many of the books contain too much information about sex, birth control, etc., that I feel is more appropriate for an older girl (say, 13 and up). This book, though, is just perfect for her age. It touches on all the things I think are important (breast development, first period, pubic hair and so forth). The information, language and tone of this book are just right for a girl who is still a little girl but who will not be for much longer. I am totally comfortable with reading this book to my daughter and then discussing it with her over time. I am sure she will want to take it to read on her own later, too. A wonderful book that I cannot recommend strongly enough for 9-13 year old girls.

102 of 103 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 8 Yr Old Daughter Thanks Mom for Bringing Up "Yucky Stuff", January 17, 2001

By A Customer

I was sure that my 8 year old daughter would find this book "yucky" and it started out that way: She colored while I read, pretending to ignore me completely as I described the changes to her body which will occur over the next few years. Occasionally, she'd say "gross" or act shocked that I would even mention such things. But as time went on and I continued reading, she slowed coloring and over time began asking tentative, then more direct questions. Several times, things had to be re-read. A few times, she mentioned that what I read was different, and less scary, than the information she had learned from kids at school. (I hid my surprise that I wasn't the first to mention these topics.) Over the next few days, I continued to read the book to her during times we were alone and during times she appeared receptive. I was amazed that basic information about one's body would be perceived as it were the holy grail of third grade. By the final chapter my daughter was drilling me with questions that amazed me, showing a very basic and non-judgmental understanding of the topics covered. Over a few days, she had transformed into a child who could look me in the eye and talk about the "yucky stuff" without any hesitation, embarrassment or guilt. When I finished the book, she asked if she could keep it in her room and read it again. Then, to my surprise, she hugged me and said "thank you, Mom. I'm not so afraid of growing up now. You're the best!" Thank you, too, Mavis Jukes. Your book will help lay a foundation from which my daughter, her father and I can carry on an on-going dialogue in the years ahead about all the "yucky stuff"... which we've found is not so "yucky" after all.

75 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent source of information for young and older., July 9, 1999

By A Customer

My 10-year old stepdaughter started her first period while staying with us for the summer. I was worried about her comfort level with me in regards to the subject. I found this book in the local library and it was perfect. It is written in a straight-forward, but very comfortable manner. She read it front to back in about an hour, then she came to me and we looked through it together. It made conversation on the subject of puberty very easy. I learned things that nobody ever told me. I give it two THUMBS UP !!