Secret Girls’ Business: Book Review

Book Review

An overview of the book

Secret Girls’ Business by Fay Angelo, Heather Anderson and Rose Stewart is a book for younger girls that provides them with simple and age-appropriate information about puberty.

This book was published in 2003 but, despite being 10+ years old, the book has not dated at all. The authors come from a very hands-on background. Fay comes from a teaching background, Heather is a Sexual Health Nurse/ Sex Educator and Rose is a teacher and School Psychologist. So they are dealing with this stuff every day.

There is also one for boys, Secret Boy’s Business, and one for older girls, More Secret Girl’s Business. They have also published the next step in books, The Secret Business of Relationships, Love and Sex.

Secret Girls’ Business is a great first book for talking to girls about puberty. The authors wrote it for younger girls who are showing the signs of early puberty, which means that the language is simpler and the content is non-sexual. So you could use it for girls as young as 8.

This book covers a wide range of topics that are relevant for girls who are first learning about puberty.

It starts off by explaining that we all change as we grow older and that an important stage of change is about to happen ie puberty. It explains why puberty happens, what it means and when it usually happens.

The book then explains what changes happen. It starts off with the listing the changes that happen to girls and boys, reminding us that boys too go through puberty and that some of their changes are similar (and different) too.

Secret Girls’ Business then gets into what specifically happens with girls during puberty. Breasts are discussed. It talks about the differences between the shapes and sizes of breasts and the changes that happen to them. The need for support (bras) is discussed and the fact that sometimes it can all be a bit embarrassing. All very factual, which is what young girls need.

Hair is then talked about, in that it will start to grow in new places and vaginal discharge will start to occur. Periods are explained: when they happen, why they happen, and how to know when you have your period. It talks about mood swings and things you can do and how you might feel funny and stuff.

What to do when your period starts. Not flushing pads down the toilet, washing your hands. It does talk about tampons because as I have said girls do want to know about them, even though they may not be ready to start using them. And it talks about a period kit as in what you need in it, and where you can buy menstrual products. You can learn more in this article about which menstruation products to buy your daughter.

The book then finishes on a positive note, congratulating them on knowing about the forthcoming changes and how they can start to get ready for their first period. It is a really nice simple book. I love the fact that it specifically targets young girls, in that it provides much simpler, easier to read and more visual content, that is perfect for this age group. Most puberty books contain a lot of information, information that can be overwhelming when you are younger. But also overwhelming for us parents, especially when sexual content (such as STIs and contraception) is included, as younger girls are usually not yet interested in this stage of life.

The next level, More Secret Girls’ Business, covers the same information but adds in more details about the emotional and social changes of puberty. It also talks about sexual feelings and masturbation.

So, Secret Girls’ Business would be the main book that I recommend for young girls. I love the simplicity and the fact that it tells girls what they need to know without overloading them with too much information.

Secret Girls’ Business is the perfect book to get for younger girls who are either curious or are starting to show early signs of puberty. It tells them what they need to know without scaring them or overloading them with too much information.

This book DOES NOT talk about sexual intercourse.

Ideal Age

Ideal for children aged 8 to 10 years.

Buy this book

Buy a copy of Secret Girl’s Business by Fay Angelo, Heather Anderson and Rose Stewart from Amazon.

Video Transcription

A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener

Hey there! So, I came across this amazing book called Secret Girls Business, written by three incredible women from Australia. They really know their stuff when it comes to puberty and sexual education. One of them is an assistant principal and teacher, another is a sexual and reproductive health nurse and educator, and the third is a teacher and child psychologist. Impressive, right?

Now, let’s dive into the book itself. I personally think it’s the perfect first book to read with your daughter about puberty. My own daughter is ten, and I wish I had started reading it to her a year ago, but hey, better late than never! The best part is, you can finish it in just about half an hour during story time. It’s simple, straightforward, and covers all the important topics.

The book talks about body changes, periods, breasts, growing taller, and all the basics of puberty. It even has some helpful information for moms and dads at the back, which I think is really valuable. The words are kept to a minimum, and there are plenty of beautiful pictures to keep things engaging. Trust me, even at ten, my daughter still loves pictures!

One thing I really appreciate about this book is that it emphasizes diversity. It teaches girls that we’re all different, which is so important when it comes to understanding our bodies. It covers everything from the early signs of puberty to what to expect with periods, mood swings, and even tampons. Yes, tampons! Girls want to know about these things, and this book doesn’t shy away from it.

Oh, and there’s this cute section called the milk bar, although I’m not sure if that term is still used in Australia. But anyway, it talks about different places where you can buy period supplies. Isn’t that handy?

Now, here’s the best part. Once you finish this book, there are actually two more books in the series! They’ve broken down the topics into separate books, which I find really helpful. It prevents information overload and allows for more focused discussions. The next book goes into more detail about physical and emotional changes, confidence, self-esteem, and even sexual feelings. It’s like a natural progression from the first book.

And guess what? The third book just came out this year! It’s super diverse and covers a wide range of important topics like homosexuality and diversity. I haven’t finished reading it yet, but I’m really impressed with what I’ve seen so far.

So, to sum it all up, if you’re looking for a great book to start the conversation about puberty with your daughter without diving into sex and sexuality just yet, this is the book for you. It’s informative, engaging, and will help you and your daughter navigate this important stage of life together. Cheers!

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