Brave by Svetlana Chmakova

Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, your friendly Sex Ed Educator, here to give you the lowdown on a great book for tweens. It’s all about those social friendships and the awkwardness that comes with puberty and entering high school (or middle school, depending on where you are). Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, my YouTube channel and website where I review books that help kids navigate growing up and assist parents in starting the sex education conversation.

So, let’s talk about this book called Brave by Svetlana Chmakova. It’s a graphic comic, and I gotta say, I loved it! It’s part of a series, and I’ll be reviewing the next one about first love soon. But let’s focus on Brave for now.

What I really appreciate about books like this is that they’re not just about physical changes during puberty. They also explore how relationships and self-perception evolve during this time. It’s when kids start becoming more independent and rely more on their friends rather than family. But it can also be a time when they feel alone and like they’re the only ones going through it.

In Brave, we follow a kid who’s going through puberty and feeling different from everyone else. He’s a bit chubbier and gets teased because of it. He feels isolated and doesn’t have anyone to talk to. On top of that, he struggles with math and needs extra help. Sometimes his friends are too busy for him, and he starts questioning if they even like him. It’s a tough spot to be in.

But here’s the beautiful part: the book delves into the social dynamics and, towards the end, touches on empathy. Something happens that leads to a discussion about being nice and sensitive to others. Some of the kids who were mean to our protagonist realize their actions were hurtful and apologize. And those who were bullying actually face consequences. Then, there’s this moment where one of the kids who used to bully him is sitting alone, and our main character goes over and says hi. It’s a powerful moment of understanding that sometimes we go along with bullying because our friends pressure us, not because we’re inherently mean.

I think this book is fantastic because it tackles all these social issues and helps tweens feel less alone. It shows them that the awkwardness they’re experiencing is something everyone else is going through too. Plus, the illustrations are just stunning! Graphic comic books like this are quick and easy to read, and the visuals really bring the story to life.

I’ve already thrown these books at my 14-year-old, who initially turned her nose up, but they mysteriously disappeared into her bedroom. Fingers crossed she’s reading them! And my eleven-year-old, well, he’s going through a funny stage with books, but he’s always up for graphic comics like these. Sometimes we just need to find the right type of book to get them interested.

So, if you’re looking for books to start conversations about important topics with your kids, I highly recommend checking out Brave and the rest of the series. They’re a great tool for helping them navigate the ups and downs of growing up.

Hope this review helps! Cheers!