From School Library Journal
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 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
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. Grades 10-12. --Gillian Engberg
About the Author
Nikol Hasler is a journalist and filmmaker, as well as the co-creator and host of the Midwest Teen Sex Show, a comic Internet video series (and soon to be Comedy Central show) that focusing on the issues of teens and sexuality.
