READY, SET, GROW!: A "What's Happening to My Body?" Book for Younger Girls
by Lynda Madaras
Newmarket Press
ISBN: 1557045658
Ages 8-up
128 pages

• Read an Excerpt

Lynda Madaras is the author of the popular "What's Happening to My Body" series, which is a group of books about growing up. In this new book, she's brought her warm and very funny writing style to younger girls. She talks about puberty --- a word that can inspire giggles, blushes and lots of questions.

She tackles subjects like breast growth, the arrival of pubic hair and B.O./zits with good solid information and humor. The whole tone of the book is like you are talking to a wise friend, instead of a preaching adult. And the illustrations by Linda Davick will have you laughing even when you are reading something serious, like what your body may look like, or how you look inside.

When Madaras wrote her first book, her daughter Area (isn't that a cool name) was going through puberty and most kids going through body changes were in sixth grade. Since kids' bodies are changing even younger now, often in third or fourth grade (wonder why that is?), she wrote this book for younger girls.

There's a lot of info packed into these 128 pages. Some might be too much to consume all at once, but it's a great reference to have around as you try to understand what's happening to your body as you mature. After all, information can make changes --- and anticipating changes --- a LOT less scary. P.S. This might make talking about all this stuff with your mom and your friends a lot easier since you will have the facts and the complete skinny on what is going on with your body.

   --- Reviewed by Carol Fitzgerald

Back to top.