Isabella Rotman

This book is so good that it is making me angry, which is a reaction I don't even understand. I love it. As a former teenager, I love it and wish I'd had it then. As a mother of a daughter, I love it and can't wait to give it to my kid when she's old enough to need it. As a midwife who works in sexual and reproductive health, I LOVE IT AND WISH I WAS RICH ENOUGH TO HAND IT OUT LIKE CANDY. Every kid needs this book. Probably a lot of adults, too.

It's fun, it's straightforward, it's honest, show more it's non-judgmental, and it's kind. It's loving and it's there for you, like an older pal who knows what things are like and cares about you and wants to save you some of the tough lessons they learned - but also wants to make sure you understand the truly important things and don't mess things up.

I would love a follow-up by the same team that gets into the nitty-gritty of STIs, contraception, and abortion. I know Isabella Rotman has her STI comic but I don't know if it's geared towards teens. Of course, that's what Scarleteen is for. But I'm a sucker for physical books, and I dream of having a waiting room packed with books just like this for my patients.

Everyone should buy this and read it.

I received a free eARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review, because I just couldn't wait until the release party on 9/4 to read it. show less

This is another fantastic guide from Isabella Rotman. I'd love to hand this out in middle schools and bars alike, not to mention to my patients. The art is warm and welcoming, the tone sounds like a friendly pal, and the subject matter is comprehensive and inclusive.

One quibble: I'd love for future editions to specifically include PrEP on the checklist in the back! Second quibble: I'd also love a specific mention of medical consent in the beginning when showing non-sexual forms of consent, show more since so many people don't realize they still have the right to withhold consent in medical situations. Or maybe another book about that? I can consult! Isabella, message me...

I received a free electronic ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. show less

Do you have a hard time talking to your teen about consent? Isabella Rotman to the rescue!

This zine/mini book is perfect size to gift to a young person as they start to head into the world. It goes over what consent is, how to be a good person and reject rape jokes, how to be an awesome person and be an active bystander, and even how to support a friend who is in a violent relationship. It really packs a lot in a short space. The beauty of this book is that it is written for anyone. There show more is no one gender or sexuality that is centered. Rather what is centered is the right for everyone to have agency over their bodies. And despite my opening line, there is no age limit for this book either. This middle-aged mom learned a lot too! The use of comics helped to convey big ideas in a simple, but not dumbed-down, manner. show less

A fun and informative introduction to puberty, gender, sex, and sexuality with lots of inclusivity and diversity. I like that emotional aspects of adolescence are given as much attention as the physical. It's too text heavy in many places, but puzzle and activity pages and topics like "weird genitals" help maintain a breezy quality.