The Girls' Guide to Growing Up Great: Changing Bodies, Periods, Relationships, Life Online

by Sophie Elkan, Laura Chaisty, Maddy Podichetty, Flo Perry (Illustrator)

Overview

Going through puberty? Thinking about puberty? Worried about growing up? Don't worry! This book is for you.

Packed with facts and thoughtful advice, plus words of wisdom from older women and quotes and questions from girls who are also going through it, this book covers every aspect of going through puberty for girls (and even has a chapter on what's going on with boys because knowledge is power, after all).

Also filled with quirky illustrations from the fabulous Flo Perry, coupled with space to scribble your own thoughts and ideas.

From body basics like breasts, spots and periods, to the questions with no easy answers (Does how you look matter? Is a crush ever wrong? Is it bad to be jealous of your best friends – and does having a best friend even matter?) Plus, of course, clear and empowering information on sex, sexuality and gender and a whistle-stop guide to the wonderful world of online.

Written by women who just happen to be mums: word whizz Sophie Elkan, psychotherapist Laura Chaisty and GP Dr Maddy Podichetty.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472973580
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/19/2020
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.75(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	9 - 11 Years

About the Author

Sophie Elkan has a background in Marketing and PR and now works in communications. She started her career working on women's magazines, including Marie Claire, as well as teen titles Mizz and 19.

Laura Chaisty is a qualified Art Psychotherapist with over fifteen years of experience working in the National Health Service.

Dr Maddy Podichetty is a GP based in Oxford.

Flo Perry is a freelance illustrator and writer. She's a former editor at BuzzFeed, and has a passion for drawing funny pictures, especially about boobs and cats. She lives in London with her girlfriend, her best friend and a large, annoying, deaf cat.

Table of Contents

Welcome! (and a bit about us) 6

Part 1 Your Body 13

Different starting places 14

Breasts 20

What's going on down there? 32

Periods 39

Looking after your body: spots, hair, sweat & shape 55

Nice feelings 75

Am I pretty? 78

Am I normal? 89

A final point on bodies in general 92

Part 2 The People Around You: your friends and your family 93

So, what's going on with the boys? 94

Friends IRL (In Real Life) 99

The wonderful world of online 122

Difficult feelings: angry, jealous, mean, moody, anxious & totally depressed 138

Life at home 156

Boys, girls or no thanks? 166

Part 3 SEX: one word, many meanings 179

Part 4 Last Thoughts 188

Further reading 194

Acknowledgements 204

Index 206

Editorial Reviews

Funny, kind and wise.” —Daisy Buchanan

“Brilliant, accessible sensitive and funny – get this book for your children, your godchildren, your grandchildren and then everyone else's children!” —Emily Maitlis

“This book frees girls from any ill-conceived myths about what they should or shouldn't be feeling as they go through puberty. It says that you are ok the way you are - a message that could not be more important particularly during this crucial time where our bodies are going through a revolution.” —Brita Schmidt, Women for Women International -UK

“Wise, kind, non-judgemental and empathetic. This book should be within every girl's arm's reach” —Sali Hughes, columnist, mother and author

From the Publisher