We need to stop shaming kids for looking up books to figure out puberty for the mind and body. I was shamed for it, books get challenged for talking candidly about these changes, and we treat it like an elephant in the room, Maybe if we had standards, though, we can identify cases of chronic pain or redpilling.

Growing into You reminds kids there is no shame about the human body. Bodies are weird. So are minds and some social values; we get frank and simple definitions about "Toxic masculinity" and "mood swings". (We probably should talk about misandry as well, but no guide is perfect.) Diagrams depict what vulvas and vaginas look like, meaning we get a fairly decent education out of this.

I wish I had read this book when I was younger. It would have made me feel less weird and angry about my mom crying when I got my period.

Growing Into You is an informative and reflective guide to puberty aimed towards tweens and teens. Whilst it covers the stock standard ‘what is happening to my body’ questions, I really loved how it went more in depth on the mental and emotional sides of puberty, including more open minded and inclusive topics such as gender/sex not aligning. I really loved that whilst it included these topics, it wasn’t targeting these themes in a way that would exclude cis/het children from relating to it.

It poses many aspects of puberty changes through reflective questions that enable the young reader to think about their own body/mind and what they might be feeling like currently about these personal shifts. I feel this is a great way for children to prepare for these changes as well for those already entering puberty to be more self-aware and critical of their own minds and bodies to recognise the changes as they are happening.

I think this book would make a great addition to any middle/high school library for children to be able to learn about their bodies and minds in a very open and inclusive way.

An addition to books explaining puberty for preteens takes a new inclusive and informative take. The book overviews puberty, explains body changes, how to take care of their body and how to connect with self and others. Additional resources are also included in the end. The book that focuses on an inclusion is written by a nonbinary sexual health educator and social worker. The book is informative and helps tweens understand puberty in a way that fits them.

I received an electronic ARC from Quirk Books through NetGalley.
A realistic book that explains the physical aspects of puberty along with the emotional and mental ones. In these four chapters, readers see how puberty affects the entire body and outlook on life. The tone is friendly and encouraging in all areas but especially in those that can be difficult to discuss. I appreciate the writing/thinking/sharing sections to challenge readers to take a look at themselves and how they feel. The references section at the end is thorough for those who want to learn more. Well written for the target audience of tweens and young teens.

What an awesome resource! I'd venture to say that when most of us think about a puberty/sex-ed type of book, we just think of anatomy drawings. Growing Into You! provides so much more.

This is such an interactive and inclusive book. While the facts are presented in a clear, accessible way, there are tons of thought prompts and activities to really help make the knowledge relatable and memorable. The diversity of imagery and descriptions are perfect for representations of all body types, helping to foster empathy and teach about people's differences in a non-judgmental way. I really commend the author for their honesty, which I think anyone reading will immediately pick up on and admire.

While much of the book focuses (rightfully so) on the bodily aspects of puberty, it also does a wonderful job delving into the emotional and mental aspects of tweens/teens' development, helping them to understand what they may be feeling, how it's not wrong or shameful, and how to deal with it. In an era of increased social media distortions about bodies, relationships, etc. this book contains refreshing and truthful reminders of how to best navigate those misconceptions.

The best way to set someone up for success is to help them feel empowered, and this book does just that — and with some of the most taboo and stigmatized parts of our culture, no less. There's a consistent thread throughout the book of caring for and loving yourself, focusing on everything from affirmations of positive self-image to easy best practices for hygiene. If someone in your life is preparing for those potentially tough, confusing teen years, this is absolutely the book to gift them.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.