Sex: A Book for Teens: An Uncensored Guide to Your Body, Sex, and Safety

by Nikol Hasler

Paperback, 2010

Status

Available

Call number

7.32.02 N3 se 2011

Collection

Publication

Zest Books (2010), Edition: 5/16/10, 192 pages

Description

Family & Relationships. Health & Fitness. Young Adult Nonfiction. HTML:The co-creator of the popular online Midwest Teen Sex Show brings us a hilarious, honest, and in-depth look at every teen's favorite subject: sex. This isn't your mother's sex book: It's punchy and unapologetic. At the same time, it teaches teens the practical ins and outs of being sexually active and, above all, how to stay safe. With humorous illustrations by San Francisco Chronicle cartoon artist Michael Capozzola, this book features chapters on everything including: foreplay, different forms of sex (all of them!), masturbation, sexual orientation and gender identity, body issues, relationships, virginity, birth control, and protection against diseases. Modern teens are faced daily with making decisions about whether to have sex and how to protect themselves if they do, and they need an engaging and relatable resource for getting the right information. That's what this book is about.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member mamzel
I work in a high school library and requested this book from the list of ERs because kids can't have enough choices to get good information about sex and sexuality so they can make good choices. Sex: A Book for Teens is written in a conversational manner, not like a lecture, and the illustrations
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are simple line drawings. The only clinical language comes in a table of STIs, how one contracts them, their symptoms, tests to diagnose them, and treatments. At the end of each chapter is a question and answer section with the types of concerns that shy and confused teens may ask if given a trustworthy confidant.

One of the interesting things I liked about this book is that the second chapter concerns sexuality and the confusing feelings that teens are bombarded with. I thought that it was a logical place for this subject, rather than as an afterthought at the end of the book. This, and all of the subjects in this book, are treated in an offhand manner but with respect, letting the teen reader know that they are not the first (or last) to have these feelings and questions and they are indeed, normal.

If a teen cannot get answers in this book, there is a list of websites and phone numbers at the end such as Planned Parenthood, National Domestic Abuse Hotline, and their own Midwest Teen Sex Show, which provided much of the material covered.

The only unfortunate aspect of this book, in my opinion, is the cover art, a large profile of a bull mounting a cow. Since it screams the subject matter, I worry that a shy teen may not borrow this book since its topic can be identified at a distance. While I'm not suggesting that it hide in a plain brown paper wrapping, something more subtle might be better.
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LibraryThing member saltypepper
This book is funny, informative, accurate, and accessible. It is way better than anything that was readily available when I was growing up, that's for sure. The cover art was a bit of a surprise, but amusing. I'm not sure whether it will lead to potential readers being too shy to be seen with it,
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but it's unlikely they'd be reading this where others could see to begin with.

The questions and the slightly cheesy humor throughout are probably the best parts along with a range of resources for teens to follow up with for more information. It is a very good basic book, but no book can answer every question for everyone.

I would say this book is meant for kids middle school age and up. Most of the time adults err on the side of caution and give children this information later out of fear that they will encourage early experimentation, or with the idea that "She/he is not ready." I strongly believe it is better for kids to have access to this information before they need it. If they are not ready they will put it aside, usually with some comment along the lines of "EW." Ignorance is not bliss with regard to sexuality, as the There Are No Stupid Questions-- Except For This One section at the end of each chapter demonstrates.
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LibraryThing member Heather19
I really, REALLY wish there had been a book like this when I was a teenager. REALLY.

I requested this book from Early Reviewers because, honestly, I didn't have a lot of sexual education as a teen, beyond the clinical-talk from Sex Ed class. Yes, I'm an adult now and slightly more experienced, but
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in some ways I really still am a confused teenager when it comes to this stuff.

This is an awesome book. While the opening chapters cover the basic what's-what, this book goes far beyond that and actually answers questions and talks about things that most "sex guides" wouldn't dare. The author approaches topics such as masturbation, anal sex, the nervousness of the first time, and so on in a straight forward and completely non-condescending tone, joking and explaining in a way that makes it feel more like you are talking to your best friend instead of reading a sex guide.

I was also surprised at the sheer amount of non-"vanilla" information in this book. There are chapters on oral and anal sex, as well as a very informative chapter about kinks, and plenty of information for glbt teens as well. I looove the Q&A section at the end of each chapter.

I would definitely recommend this book to ANY teenager, regardless of their sexual experience/needs/wants/etc. This is the ONLY book geared towards teens that I have found to actually approach this subject in a teen-friendly way while not being condescending or overly-protective. This is REAL.
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LibraryThing member book_worm127
I thought that this book was great! I'm a teen, so as part of the target audience I loved it! It explained things well, and had jokes peppered through to keep things light. It had a lot of information for homosexual teens as well as straight teens, and information for guys and girls. I really liked
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the Q and A at the end of each chapter, because it covered a lot of things that could happen. I think that I learned a lot about safe sex, my body, and communication. I'll definitely be holding on to this for reference!
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LibraryThing member blancaflor
I thought this was a great book, as a teacher and step mom. I won't be walking around my house or classroom reading snippets of it to minors, nor will I be placing it in their 10 year old hands just yet. But when my 10 year old step child saw it on the end table after the initial, "Gross" she said
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she was going to read it. Dad said, "I think it's a little mature for you." To which I replied, "It's fine for her to read the first couple of chapters." So she picked it up and basically looked at all the illustrations, which was fine with me. It started a great conversation with her and I at the level she was ready for. If she were to start reading the stuff she wasn't ready for, I'm sure she would say, "Gross" and skip it or close the book.

I think if it seems like the need arises, I'll purchase for her a more basic or detailed book on development and reproduction. I personally enjoyed the condom PSAs throughout and I also liked the last chapter on communication. The first chapter was actually a bit short, I think young girls have way more questions about all that, but I don't really mind talking about that at all, and we have to put some stuff in it for the boys too.

I don't really think a child who isn't ready for sex who reads this book will go have sex.
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LibraryThing member meggyweg
This is a delightful little book which I think teens (especially of the junior high/early high school age) will love. Although sometimes the humor is a bit cheesy, this book is down-to-earth, has amusing illustrations (the humping cows on the cover being a case in point) and provides necessary
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information and cautions without scaring the crap out of the reader or making them feel guilty. Now that I'm done with it, I'm thinking of giving this book to one of my relevant-age nephews.
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LibraryThing member KClaire
This book covers all the bases (pun intended). I liked the humor, especially "There Are No Stupid Questions - Except This One, questions. I guess it has humping cows on the cover because it was written by the host of the "Midwest Teen Sex Show"? I doubt that very many teens would pick up or carry
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this book around in public. There is an index (yay!), and there are recommended websites, and other books listed in the back. As a basic book it is great. Of course no one book could ever get to the bottom of sex.
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LibraryThing member ametralladoras
Best sex book for teens I have ever seen. I might have shrieked with delight when I saw vocabulary like "cisgendered"...word I hadn't been introduced to until taking university level Gender Studies courses. Language is definitely at the teen level. Blunt and straight forward...as it should be.
LibraryThing member cfranson
VOYA:
My Rating: 3Q 4P

This book is not your grandmother’s sex education book! As the title indicates, it is an “uncensored” guide. It is an honest break down of everything a teenager should or would like to know about sex. Its subject matter encompasses just thinking about sex, dating and
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relationships, the physical act of having sex, the possible outcomes or consequences and most importantly, safety. It provides an open and humorous education for the questions that many teens want to ask, but don’t. I appreciate Hasler’s frank, non-apologetic presentation of material. The illustrations are quite funny as well. This book would be best suited for young adults in high school.
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LibraryThing member b3zsgirl
Great book for my 14 year old boy. Plain spoken, non-judgmental, addresses all sexualities. Talks about condoms, abuse, porn (as not a realistic depiction of sex), masturbation, etc. It asks key questions instead of leading you to think one way or another about touchy subjects. The abortion
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discussion is very frank about social stigma, how my may feel and what information you may need to make a decision like that. It also warns against false pregnancy clinics. It talks about the responsibilities of being sexually active, and ads humor to keep you comfortable. Important for a healthy sexual view.
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LibraryThing member b3zsgirl
Great book for my 14 year old boy. Plain spoken, non-judgmental, addresses all sexualities. Talks about condoms, abuse, porn (as not a realistic depiction of sex), masturbation, etc. It asks key questions instead of leading you to think one way or another about touchy subjects. The abortion
Show More
discussion is very frank about social stigma, how my may feel and what information you may need to make a decision like that. It also warns against false pregnancy clinics. It talks about the responsibilities of being sexually active, and ads humor to keep you comfortable. Important for a healthy sexual view.
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2010-05-10

ISBN

0981973329 / 9780981973326

Local notes

Thinking about having sex? Or just thinking about sex? Well, there's a lot to think about. And if you're a teen, you should get educated before you get busy so that you can makke healthy, informed decisisons. This honest, funny and in-depth read features chapters on all things sex, from sexual orientation and masturbation, to foreplay, first time concerns, birth control, and protection against diseases. It also provides answers to questions posed by real teens on things you definitely want to know but might be afraid to ask.

Call number

7.32.02 N3 se 2011
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