Book Review
An overview of the book
What’s happening to me? A guide to puberty is written by Peter Mayle who also wrote the classic book that many parents would remember from their own childhood, Where did I come from?
This book was first published in 1975 – over 30 years ago. Despite its age and the fact that it hasn’t been updated, it is still one of the top-selling books on puberty.
It is a really nice book which provides an introduction or guide to puberty and is written in a very casual, honest, sympathetic and humorous style.
This book shows penises with a foreskin (intact) as well as penises with a foreskin (circumcised).
What’s happening to me? starts off with the fact that everybody goes through puberty but nobody likes to talk about it. It says that the book is there to answer all of their questions about puberty because a school teacher just doesn’t have the time to answer everybody’s questions. Now, you have to remember that this book was written in the ’70s when sex ed used to be seen as a school responsibility. It then talks about the fact that everyone goes through puberty, so you’re not alone.
So why do we go through puberty? It’s quite simple, it’s all about reproducing. Everyone reproduces, from fleas to flowers to elephants. Your body needs to wait until it is ready. It jokes about you being a grandparent at the age of twelve, imagine if you could have a baby at the age of five. It talks about the fact that your body waits until your body’s big enough to really start having babies. Is puberty catching? Well no, it’s something that happens to all of us. So the fact that we go through puberty is normalised and some basic information is given as to why it all happens.
What’s happening to me? then looks at the changes that happen to the different genders. It talks about what happens with girls, so it has a guide through from eight to ten, eleven to twelve, right up to seventeen and eighteen and has some little black and white drawings there. Then it has the boy’s guide, so it talks about what actually happens, how it happens and with more pictures.
It then explains that it can be a little bit embarrassing going through all this stuff. Then it talks about hormones, what they are and how they work and why they work and then the world’s most embarrassing questions. It talks about the fact that puberty happens to children all over the world.
The bookthen looks at providing detailed information about all of the individual changes, answering questions like:
- What’s an erection?
- Why is my chest getting bumpy?
- What’s a period?
- Why is my voice acting so funny?
- Why do I get pimples?
- What’s masturbation?
- Why am I getting hairy?
- Why is mine not like his?
- What’s a wet dream?
It talks about breasts, why is my chest getting bumpy? A little bit more about breasts. It talks about erections in boys and about how it’s embarrassing, and why it happens.
Periods for girls. Your first period is not a sign that you’re becoming a woman. Why is your voice acting so funny? Why do you get pimples, so everyone gets them, what can you do about it.
It talks about masturbation as well. Often when we think of masturbation, we tend to think of boys, but it does talk about girl masturbation as well as orgasm. As kids get older and the sex hormones of puberty start to kick in, they will start to experience sexual feelings. Which is why some will masturbate. They will masturbate because they feel sexual desire (or horniness).
What’s happening to me? also talks about what wet dreams are. Boys need to know about this stuff and about the fact that they’re now able to ejaculate. It then talks about differences in regards to penis sizes, and that at the end of the day, that sizes really don’t matter. The one thing that I’ve learned after my many years in sexual health is that you’ll have some guys come in with a really large not erect penis, but when it’s actually erect it’s pretty much a similar size. Then you can have some guys who come in with the tiniest little flaccid penis but when it’s erect, it’s pretty much almost the same size as that big long one that came in, so when they’re erect, they’re all pretty much the same.
It’s just that when boys are young and are standing in a locker room and one of their mates has got a big long penis and they’ve only got a little one, they tend to think that there’s something wrong with them. They forget that, or they don’t know that when they’re erect penises are all very similar in size.
What’s happening to me? A guide to puberty by Peter Mayle is a lovely little book that explains puberty in a lovely casual style. But it does just focus on the physical changes whereas modern books also look at the emotional and psychological changes, which are equally as important.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 10 to 13 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of What’s happening to me? by Peter Mayle from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Alright, let’s dive into the transcript and summarize the key points from the book Okay, What’s Happening to Me? A Guide to Puberty by Peter Mayle. This book has been a top seller on puberty since 1975, which is pretty impressive! It’s actually a companion book to Where Did I Come From?, another popular sex ed book. Although Where Did I Come From? is a bit outdated and needs an update, people are still buying it like crazy. But let’s focus on Okay, What’s Happening to Me? for now.
This book is a friendly and informative guide to puberty. It acknowledges that puberty is something everyone goes through, but not many people talk about it openly. That’s where this book comes in handy. It’s here to answer all your questions because, let’s face it, your school teacher doesn’t have time to answer everyone individually.
The book explains that puberty is all about your body preparing for reproduction. It’s a natural process that happens to all living beings, from fleas to flowers to elephants. But don’t worry, your body knows to wait until you’re older and ready to have babies. Imagine being a grandparent at the age of twelve, that would be quite a surprise!
The book covers the changes that happen to both girls and boys during puberty. It breaks down the different stages of puberty, from ages eight to eighteen, with helpful black and white drawings to guide you along the way. It talks about what happens to girls and boys, how it happens, and even throws in some jokes to lighten the mood.
Puberty can be a little embarrassing, and the book acknowledges that. It talks about hormones, what they are, how they work, and why they’re important. It also addresses some of the most embarrassing questions that may come up during this time. Remember, puberty happens to children all over the world, so you’re not alone in this journey.
The book covers a range of topics, including breasts, erections, periods, voice changes, pimples, and even masturbation. It’s important to note that masturbation is something both boys and girls experience, and the book addresses it openly. It also touches on orgasms and sexual feelings that may arise as teenagers.
Hair growth, wet dreams, and differences in penis sizes are also discussed in the book. It reassures boys that there’s a wide range of normal when it comes to penis size and that comparing themselves to others isn’t necessary. Girls’ differences are mentioned too, although not as extensively.
While this book mainly focuses on the physical changes of puberty, it’s worth mentioning that there are other books out there that delve into the emotional and psychological aspects as well as peer group pressure. But overall, Okay, What’s Happening to Me? is a great little book that has stood the test of time.
I hope this summary helps you get a sense of what the book covers. Remember, puberty is a natural and normal part of life, and this book is here to guide you through it in a friendly and informative way. Cheers!
