Books for Older Girls
The Thundering Years: Rituals and Sacred Wisdom for Teens by Julie Tallard Johnson. On the way to adulthood, we need to listen to our intense feelings, dreams, desires, and goals. Drawing on wisdom from cultures around the world, the author offers ideas for teens to creatively harness the powerful emotions and energy of the teen years. Chock full of insight, exercises, rituals, and resources.
S. E. X.: The All-You-Need-To-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and College, Heather Corinna, Da Capo Press
Doing It Right: Making Smart, Safe and Satisfying Choices about Sex by Bronwen Parde
Changing Bodies Changing Lives: A Book for Teens on Sex and Relationships, Ruth Bell, Three Rivers Press
Cycle Savvy: The Smart Teen’s Guide to the Mysteries of Her Body, Toni Weschler, Harper Paperbacks, 2006. Should I be concerned if my cycles are rarely 28 days? Why do I often feel so emotional before my period? And how can I know when my period’s really going to start?! … Explore the fascinating world of ovulation, fertility, and why you even have periods at all! And learn all about the body signals, mood changes, and other signs that accompany your cycle. With brainteasers, sample charts, and first-person tales of experiences that every girl can relate to, Cycle Savvy takes the mystery out of your amazing body. – adapted from Editorial Review. *Highly recommended!*
GLBTQ: The Survival Guide for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Teens, Kelly Huegel, Free Spirit, 2011. Straightforward information, practical advice,… a contemporary look at society and its growing acceptance of people who are GLBTQ, and updates on efforts to promote equality, including the current status of legislative initiatives concerning safe schools, gay marriage, workplace equality, transgender expression, and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Issues-based information and advice address coming out, prejudice, getting support, staying safe, making healthy choices, and thriving in school. This frank, sensitive book is written for young people who are beginning to question their sexual or gender identity, those who are ready to work for GLBTQ rights, and those who may need advice, guidance, or reassurance that they are not alone.
LAID. Young People’s Experiences with Sex in an Easy-Access Culture by Shannon Boodram
The Little Black Book for Girlz: a Book on Healthy Sexuality: By Youth, for Youth (St. Stephen’s Community House)
The “Go Ask Alice” Book of Answers: A Guide to Good Physical, Sexual, and Emotional Health, Columbia University’s Health Education Program, 1998. Topics include relationships, sexuality (anatomy, physiology and sexual response), sexual health (reproduction, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases), emotional health, fitness and nutrition, alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, and general health. Whether about nose piercing or sniffing lighter fluid, from a worried lesbian or anxious bulemic, all questions are taken seriously, treated respectfully and given straightforward, nonjudgmental answers. A word to parents of the college-bound: don’t let them leave home without it. – Publishers Weekly
Sexpectations: Sex Stuff Straight Up by Leissa Pitts and Craig Murray. An upfront, matter-of-fact, and teenage-friendly sex education and sexual health guide book, for both boys and girls, in one easy-to-use flip volume. Designed to help teens make healthy, positive choices based on the right information, this guide explores the complex issues teenagers face around sexual exploration, sexual desire, and making the right decisions about sex. Always providing honest and straightforward information, it talks about when to have sex, how sex happens, why you might or might not have sex, what sex feels like, and other important things to know if and when a girl or guy has, or is about to have, sex. But sex isn’t just about one person, and the material here goes way past how to put on a condom to explore the tricky areas of pleasure and desire and discuss what’s happening with relationships and friends, family, sexual identity, and cultural influences. It takes teens through knowing themselves and their bodies, keeping safe, protecting themselves, thinking through pregnancy, knowing about relationships, and tapping into their personal power to make positive choices. With comments from other guys and girls facing the same experiences, this book talks honestly and respectfully about the hard questions and gives teens some answers they might need. ~ from the publisher
Sexual Decisions: the Ultimate Teen Guide by L. Kris Gowen
The Underground Guide to Teenage Sexuality, Michael J. Basso, Fairview Press, 2003. This guide is comprehensive and treats readers with honesty and respect. The author is a sexuality educator who knows his stuff and communicates mainly in a question-and-answer format. …Basso covers all the basics (physical, emotional, and social) as well as facts about contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, and homosexuality. He also makes a strong case for abstinence without appearing to be pushing that agenda… [Includes] help on how to say no and deal with peer pressure to have sex, drink, or do drugs. – School Library Journal
101 Ways to Dance by Kathy Stinson. In this risqué collection, award-winning author for young people Kathy Stinson offers characters and plotlines that reflect the many ways teens learn about lust and love. From the first stirrings of same-sex desire on a lakeside beach to troubling paternity questions around a teen pregnancy, Stinson’s stories reflect both the sweetness and the scariness of teenage sexuality. Offers many opportunities for discussion, and also a great choice for reluctant readers. A must-have for all junior high and high school libraries.
Websites for older teens
Very comprehensive; detailed info about sex and sexuality:
http://www.sexetc.org/ A program of Rutgers University, this website offers sex education by teens for teens. It covers a variety of topics, including a lot of information about decision-making and values, without being preachy.
www.plannedparenthood.org/ Teen-talk Planned Parenthood’s website for teens offers a plethora of information about all aspects of sex and sexuality.
http://www.teenvoices.com/ Teen Voices is an online and print magazine written for teen girls by teen girls in Boston. Their mission is to support and educate teen girls to amplify their voices and create social change through media.
http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/ Reliable information about decision making, how to talk openly with your partner, how to prevent unintended pregnancy, and how to stay healthy by using protection and getting tested regularly for HIV and other STDs.