About the Author

MAVIS JUKES is a mom, stepmom, teacher, and lawyer and the author of numerous books for children and teens, including the bestselling It's A Girl Thing: How to Stay Healthy, Safe, and in Charge and Growing Up: It's A Girl Thing, as well as I'll See You in My Dreams, Blackberries in the Dark, and the Newbery Honor Book Like Jake and Me. She lives and works with her husband, artist Robert Hudson, on a ranch in northern California.

Reviews

Gr 7 Up-This inviting book will appeal to boys experiencing puberty and those in need of information about their bodies, girls, and dealing with uncomfortable situations. Intended to provide "safety, maintenance, and operating instructions," the volume is packaged like an owner's manual for a car from the '40s through the '60s with black-and-white photos of vehicles and Caucasian teens from that period. Pictures of engine parts illustrate the first chapter, "Under the Hood," which covers male sexual organs and how they work. The absence of anatomical diagrams may reduce readers' embarrassment and focus their attention on the text. Sample chapters include: "Ignition System" (hormonal changes), "Exterior Maintenance" (hygiene), "Danger Zones" (drugs), and "Parking" (sex). Nutrition and diet advice and emotions are also discussed. "Getting to Know Your Fellow Drivers" covers girls' development, menstruation, dating, and pregnancy. The author also discusses a basic wardrobe, slow dancing, and appropriate ways to get noticed by girls. Nearly every chapter encourages readers to discuss problems with their parents, counselors, doctors, and other medical practitioners. This solid addition to the genre provides frank information in a creative way.-Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.