I think that the book was very well written and accurate about and Appalachian childhood.

Though this book is aimed at teenage adoptees, older adopted persons, birth parents and adoptive parents, not to mention "official helpers" too, will gain insight into what it is like to be cut off from one's own roots. It is easy to read and puts many of the issues around the normalacy of the right to know into perspective, especially for the non-adopted who all too often have no frame of reference and just don't "get it." -Holly Kramer, President, Parent Finders, Toronto Canada

I wanted something that would help me to explain the real situaion without going into sexuality. (I beleive there is one mention of why we have a period is that if you haven't had intercourse and gotten pregnat then the lining of the uterus will shed). At first I was a little put off by the drawing (cartoony) about tampon use... but then realized, you know, that is what they really are thinking and feeling and wondering about. I know I was way back when. I read the whole thing first then gave it to my oldest daughter at about 10/11 yrs old. She read it and we had some very open communication about things. It was a great way to open the door for conversation. I have loaned it to several other friends with daughters approaching that age. It was very helpful with information about breastbuds, and how it's 'normal' to not develop at the exact same rate and size... (I wouldn't have thought about telling her that!), and gave good practicle information about what to do if you start in public and having nothing with you, or various other situaions. The author and her neice did an excellent job of giving good practical information that girls really do need to know, and are probably wondering about. Make sure your daughter is at the stage where she can handle the information... I am not sure when to give it to my next (less mature) almost 10 yr old daughter... one day she'll need and be ready for the same information. A very good book! We also bought 'Period. A girls guide' it was a little more basic, but also a good first book.

I bought this book for my daughter after she and I had our first "talk" about periods and sex. It's a light-hearted book, written by a woman and her teenaged neice, and it is fairly specific in that it pretty much only addresses issues about getting one's period (not boys, nor sex, much).

The book outlines the changes which young girls go through as they mature, and discusses the various things which happen, both mentally and physically, as they approach their first period. It covers the options young women have to deal with their period, what to do if there are problems, how to talk to your parents about it (and listen to them try to talk to you!), and has a list of "What If..." questions which covers most issues.

The book is illustrated with line drawings (almost cartoons) which deal with issues in a sensitive but easy manner. There's even a spot in the back for notes or letters to one's parents. I'd rate the age range for this book from about 10 and up. All in all it's a good value for its price, and answers many of the questions a young girl has about this touchy subject.

Every young girl who is worried or just curious about her period should have this book. It explains what happens to your body during puberty, the what ifs and freaquently asked questions from many girls.Parents- if you are looking for a book on this type of thing, this is the book you are looking for. "It's A Girl Thing" by Mavis Jukes is great, too.

The tone of this book is definitely geared toward the pre-teen male. There are funny cartoons about embarrassing situations and almost any weird question you ever had as a kid is addressed.

I have one major problem with the book, however. Throughout the discussion of intercourse and birth control, the words "boys" and "girls" are used repeatedly and interchangeably with "men" and "women." I don't consider myself terribly prudish, but the image of "boys" and "girls" deciding which birth control to use before they have sex isn't necessarily an image that I want to instill in my young son's mind.

I ordered several books of this type for my 11 year-old and read them all cover-to-cover. This is the best of the bunch in it's coverage of diverse topics and its practical, non-techinical tone. As a mom, I especially liked the section which throoughly explained the ramifications of an unwanted pregnancy. In contrast, the book "Asking About Sex and Growing Up" dealt with pregnancy via sections such as "Why would a girl let herself get pregnant?" (sometimes a girl secretly wants to get pregnant...) and "What happens when a girl gets pregnant?" (she may be upset for a long time afterward.) This isn't how I want my son to understand his role. "What's Going on Down There" gets my top grade.

We are at a time in society where 10 year old kids are making babies. My son was 10 when he read this book and I must say I couldn't have bought it at a more perfect time. This book explains the changes his body is going through and will go through in a few years. When I asked him if he understood what he was reading, he told me that he already knew or was feeling some of what the book outlined - He just didn't understand "WHY." He even translated to me in his own words what each chapter was about. I remember thinking to myself, not only is this book educational, it's also an easy and interesting read. I am a single mother and there is no way I could have ever answered his questions without this book. This book has made me and my son's life a little less complicated. Thank you Karen Gravelle, et al - Me and me son really needed this book.