Sex in the Library
Books for teen readers about SEX: sexual decision-making, sexual preferences, sexual identity, birth control decisions, abstinence, and personal responsibility. Do these books belong in your library? Decide for yourself!
Thursday, June 13, 2024
Gooseberry
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
Breathless
Breathless by Jennifer Niven
Alfred A. Knopf, 9781524701963
Claudine’s pleasant, ordinary life is suddenly disrupted by the news: her parents are divorcing, and instead of heading off on a long-planned road trip with her best friend, Claude will be spending the summer on a remote island off the coast of Georgia with her mom. It’s a low-speed disaster…until Claudine meets Jeremiah “Miah” Crewe, the fascinating and enigmatic bad-boy trail guide.
The story is predictable, but pleasant: the teens swear not to fall in love (but they do). Claudine is certain her life will never recover (but it does). The world seems like it will end (but it doesn’t). There is sex on the page, quite a lot of expectation vs. reality about “first times”, and a few funny parts too, as well as some good discussions about consent and what women really want. Ages 14 to adult.
Alcohol use, birth control, cussing, friendship, gender diversity, high school, kissing, on-page sex, parents.
Red
Red : a novel by Annie Cardi
Union Square & Co, 9781454951308
Her grandparents insisted that Tess and her mom attend Grace Presbyterian Church as a condition of allowing them to move in, but Tess thought she experienced strength, community, and a connection with God there. But when Tess becomes pregnant and opts for an abortion everything changes, and she is promptly cast out by the church and her own grandparents, labeled inwardly as well as publicly by the scarlet letter “A” spray-painted on her school locker.
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne was required reading in high school and college when I attended (back in the late Jurassic), and I participated in many classroom discussions about the story. None of those ever mentioned statutory rape, grooming or sexual abuse, which I see now as a disservice both to the book and to the students. This modern retelling clarifies the point, and in the process tells a graceful story of redemption, forgiveness, and love–but not for the abuser, just in case you were worried. Although readers never see punishment meted out to the present-day incarnation of Arthur Dimmesdale, never doubt that the “Me Too” movement is coming for him, slowly and inexorably. Extra gold stars for church-going people who are not all painted with the usual stereotypical brush. Recommended for ages 12 to adult.
Abortion, birth control, bullying, cussing (mild), friendship, high school, kissing, mental health, off-page intimacy, parents, pregnancy, rainbow+, religion, sexual assault, straight friends, teachers.
Camp Quiltbag
Camp Quiltbag by Nicole Melleby and A.J. Sass
Friday, February 9, 2024
Heartstopper
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman (graphic novel)
Graphix, 9781338617436
Charlie is skinny and gay (he was outed last year, and then bullied as a result). Nick is a big rugby player with a kind heart. They become friends…and then more. There is a lot of confusion as both boys try to sort out what labels they want to claim, and who they will allow to influence them. Their affection grows stronger throughout the story, even when things go completely sideways. Best of all: even when they doubt themselves they are both adorable.
Oseman’s art is friendly and accessible, depicting the emotions of characters beautifully. Be ready to have volume 2 in the series ready to read, because the first book ends on a cliff hanger! Highly recommended for ages 12 to adult.
bullying, cussing, cussing (mild), friendship, gay friends, gender diversity, graphic novel, high school, homophobia, kissing, mental health, off-page intimacy, parents, rainbow+, sports, Star Trek sex, straight friends
Gender Queer
Gender Queer : a memoir by Maia Kobabe
Lion Forge, 9781549304002
In 5th grade, Maia Kobabe, who uses e/em/eir pronouns, had the feeling that everybody else had access to information that e lacked — not an uncommon feeling for 5th graders. This feeling persisted through high school and college, and always seemed to center around gender identity. Maia doesn’t identify as female, but e doesn’t feel like a guy, either. What is e?
There is a lot of controversy over this book, including attacks by politicians, school boards, and parents upset about certain sexual situations and images. Significantly, many of these would-be censors say that they have not read the entire book, and are reacting only to a few select pages and images. Maia’s story is 239 pages long, and taking a few pages out of context destroys the entire purpose of the book: to tell about eir entire journey.
bullying, cussing (mild), diversity, friendship, gay friends, gender diversity, graphic novel, high school, homophobia, kissing, mental health, non-fiction, on-page sex, parents, rainbow+
Fourth Wing
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Red Tower Books, 9781649374042
Violet Sorrengail is small, brittle, and well-prepared for the quiet life of a scribe. But after the death of her father, Violet’s mom orders her to change her plans and pass the stringent ordeal to become a dragon rider instead–or die trying. Almost every other cadet in the Quadrant will try to get her to fail (with a few notable exceptions), and a dragon who finds her unsuitable will simply incinerate her.
This book was originally marketed for adult audiences, but teen readers have run away giggling with it. The characters are young adults in their 20’s dealing with teen issues, most especially the task to to define themselves as separate from their parents. Non-binary gender expression and sexual diversity is presented as normal. The on-page, window-shattering sex scenes do not seem to alarm younger readers but might concern their elders.
Action, adventure, magic, intrigue, loyalty and betrayal keep the pages turning. Recommended for ages 14 to adult.
Bullying, cussing, death, dragons, friendship, gender diversity, kissing, magic, off-page intimacy, on-page sex, parents, straight friends, teachers.
We Need to Talk About Vaginas
We Need to Talk About Vaginas : an important book about vulvas, periods, puberty, and sex! by Dr. Allison K. Rogers
St. Martin’s Press 9781684492848
A gynecologist explains, examines, and answers questions about female bodies and the changes experienced in the transition from childhood to adulthood. Topics (in addition to those called out in the title) include: public hair, ovaries, cramps, hymens, masturbation, sexually transmitted diseases, gender identity, and the history of flying vaginas! The narration is honest and straightforward, using correct medical vocabulary. The illustrations show a variety of differently colored and shaped bodies. Recommended for age 8 and up.
Birth control, diversity, gender diversity, graphic novel, masturbation, mental health, non-fiction, on-page sex, parents, pregnancy, rainbow+, sexual assault, teachers
Different for Boys
Different for Boys by Patrick Ness, illustrations by Tea Bendix
Walker Books, 2023 978-1-5362-2889-2
Anthony (Ant) Stevenson has a lot of questions about sex, but most especially, “at what point is a person not a virgin anymore?” Is it when they >redacted<? Or when they’ve >redacted< with >redacted<? Or >entire sentence redacted<?
Ant wants to know more…about himself, and about his friends, and about, well, everything. But it’s hard to learn things when so much is >redacted< – and that’s how this book is written, with big black boxes (which the characters all comment on) obscuring some text the reader will intuit and some that isn’t quite so obvious, even with pictures to help.
Short, quiet, powerful, poetic, and real. Sex on the page, but it’s >redacted<, of course. Highly recommended for ages 14 to adult.
cussing, friendship, gay friends, high school, homophobia, kissing, masturbation, on-page sex, parents, rainbow+, redactions, sports, straight friends, teachers
How Not to Fall in Love
How Not to Fall in Love by Jacqueine Firkins
Clarion Books, 9780358467144
After years of watching Bridezillas parade through her mom’s wedding shop, Harper is pretty convinced that “love” is something invented to sell stuff. She wants nothing to do with it. This is exactly opposite to the feelings of her neighbor and best friend, Theo, who falls in love on each first date. The two offer to trade tips: Theo will help Harper ace the ACT vocabulary test, and Harper will teach Theo how to avoid falling in love. The vocabulary part goes well. The rest…not so much.
Predictable but sweet boy-next-door romance made MUCH BETTER because the characters–including supporting characters–engage in honest, heartfelt conversations about self-care, birth control, and what they want (or think they want) from relationships. Sweet and tactful sexual situations on the page.
Birth control, friendship, high school, kissing, mental health, neurodivergence, off-page intimacy, on-page sex, parents, rainbow+, Star Trek sex, straight friends