Book Review
A short overview of this book
Bunk 9’s Guide to Growing Up: Secrets, Tips, and Expert Advice on the Good, the Bad, and the Awkward by Adah Nuchi is a diary styled book for girls about puberty.
This book is very different to other puberty books. As it is based around the journal of a bunch of girls who meet up each year at Summer Camp (Amercian themed camps where they go for a couple of months every Summer).
So this book shares facts but tells it as the stories of the girls. Their bodies are all different shapes and sizes, and puberty happens a little differently to each of them. So this book is great in that it normalises puberty and reminds girls that their experiences may be different. Periods are also discussed in great detail.
This book also discusses the changes that happens to boys. This section of the book is told by the boys who steal the journal from the girls, and they share the changes that are happening to them.
All in all, this book takes a unique approach to teaching girls about puberty. I really do wish they would do a version for boys!
Sexual intercourse is NOT discussed in this book.
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 8 to 11 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Bunk 9’s Guide to Growing Up: Secrets, Tips, and Expert Advice on the Good, the Bad, and the Awkward by Adah Nuchi from Amazon.
Transcription of the video
Hey there! Welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, I’m Cath Hak, and I’m here to give you the lowdown on all things puberty and growing up. On my YouTube channel and website, Sex Ed Rescue, I review a ton of books on these topics and help parents find better ways to talk to their kids about sex. Today, I want to talk about a book that’s really different, in a good way.
It’s called Bunk Nine’s Guide to Growing Up: secrets, tips, and expert advice on the good, the bad, and the awkward all about your changing body from the girls at Camp Silver Moon, written by Adenucci and illustrated by Meek Hunt. This book came out in 2017, and let me tell you, it’s not your typical book with pictures and information. It’s more like a diary, a story of what happens to these girls when they go to camp every year and end up in the same bunk.
What I love about this book is that it’s not just factual, it also tells a story. It’s like reading a journal, following these girls as they grow up. Let me show you a page so you can see the different topics they cover. Each week of the seven-week camp focuses on a different topic. And guess what? The boys’ bunk is right next door, and they even sneak in and write some stuff in the diary. They also talk about the changes that happen to boys’ bodies. How cool is that?
Now, I want to be upfront with you. This book isn’t inclusive when it comes to transgender or nonbinary kids, and it doesn’t talk about sex or how babies are made. But it does cover important topics like puberty, hygiene, breasts, menstruation, boys’ health and feelings, and more. It even has some anatomical illustrations to show the changes that happen during puberty.
But what really sets this book apart is how interesting and engaging it is. Seriously, just look at all the stuff happening on every page – little notes, tips, and all sorts of great information. I can’t even imagine how much time and effort went into creating this book, but they did an amazing job.
I do wish there was a version for boys, but I couldn’t find one. Maybe it’s in the works, who knows? In any case, if you’re looking for a puberty book that’s a little different for your child, I highly recommend considering Bunk Nine’s Guide to Growing Up. It’s a fantastic resource that presents information in a fun and engaging way.
I hope this review was helpful for you. Cheers!
