Product Description

Becoming a teen is an important milestone in every girl’s life. It’s even more important to get answers and advice to the most common health issues girls face from a trusted source. The American Medical Association Girl’s Guide to Becoming a Teen is filled with invaluable advice to get you ready for the changes you will experience during puberty. Learn about these important topics and more:

• Puberty and what kinds of physical and emotional changes you can expect—from your developing body to your feelings about boys
• The importance of eating the right foods and taking care of your body
• Your reproductive system inside and out
• Starting your period—what it means and how to handle it
• Thinking about relationships and dealing with new feelings

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #45785 in Books
• Published on: 2006-05-19
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. Published in conjunction with the American Medical Association,

Girls covers the physical and emotional changes that puberty brings, along with solid tips about grooming, diet, exercise, and other health issues, such as eating disorders. The cartoon drawings of stylish teens resemble wide-eyed dolls and grate somewhat against repeated messages about self-esteem and embracing imperfections. Still, the clear text communicates concepts clearly: "hormones are chemicals that control many activities in your body, including growth," and girls will find plenty of useful information.

Like the companion volume Boy's Guide to Becoming a Teen (2006), by the same author, this closes with an extensive resource section, including hotlines. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Back Cover
Sound Advice for Pre-Teens on Puberty and Life Changes

Becoming a teen is an important milestone in every girl's life. It's especially important at this time to get answers and advice from a trusted source. The American Medical Association Girl's Guide to Becoming a Teen is filled with invaluable advice to get you ready for the changes you will experience during puberty. Learn about these important topics and more:

• Puberty and what kinds of physical and emotional changes you can expect—from your developing body to your feelings about boys
• The importance of eating the right foods and taking care of your body
• Your reproductive system inside and out
• Starting your period—what it means and how to handle it
• Thinking about relationships and dealing with new feelings

The American Medical Association Girl's Guide to Becoming a Teen will help you understand the health issues that are of most concern to teenage girls, and will teach you how to be safe, happy, and healthy through these years.

About the Author
Amy B. Middleman, MD, MSEd, MPH, is a board-certified Adolescent Medicine specialist and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. She is a practicing and teaching physician specializing in the care of adolescents at Texas Children's Hospital. In addition to her Doctor of Medicine degree, she has a Master of Science in Education and a Master of Public Health degree.

Kate Gruenwald Pfeifer, LCSW, is a licensed clinical social worker. She has a master's degree in social work from Columbia University as well as a certificate in psychodynamic psychotherapy with children and adolescents from NYU Psychoanalytic Institute.

Customer Reviews

Not for the tween
I had ordered this book for my twelve year old and was really disappointed. I was hoping for a tasteful book that talked a little about the birds and the bees as well as body changes. What I got was a book that dicusses oral sex, anal sex and it's Ok to be gay. Too much for the child barely becoming a teen.I would not recommend it. I returned it.

Section on sex too much for young readers
Until the very end of the book, I was impressed and my daughter seemed pleased. However, I found the chapter on sex to be bothersome. My daughter is 10 and while we have discussed sex, I don't feel that a book of this type for this age group (grades 4-7) should be defining anal sex. I am not opposed to discussing sex openly and opening dialog in which we can bring up our morals, but I don't see the purpose in explaining oral sex and anal sex in a book intended for this age group.

A Good Guide With Good Messages
I bought this for a gift for a girl about to turn 12. I looked it over before actually giving it and was impressed. It was a good mix of information presented -- not just the biology of what is happening but also emotional and social changes. There were even sections about dealing with bullies and how your friendships may change as you grow. The wording was matter of fact, but casual enough to appeal to a tween. I liked the message that waiting to have sex was the best choice, and the book substantiated this message with the reasons why. I think when the time comes for my own children to start reading up on these topics I'd like to supplement this with something that goes into more detail about the biology -- but this is a great overview.