Book Review
A short overview of this book
Everybody Has Those Thoughts. So It Doesn’t Mean You’re Gay by Christian YoungMiller is a book for tweens and teens that talks about same-sex attraction.
It talks about that confusing time during puberty and adolescence when you may start to have feelings, dreams and/or thoughts about being attracted to people of the same sex. It discusses why straight people can have gay thoughts, can be aroused by same-sex situations and what it all means.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 12 to 14 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of Everybody Has Those Thoughts. So It Doesn’t Mean You’re Gay by Christian YoungMiller from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hak, and welcome to Sex Ed Rescue, where we dive into all things related to sex education. Today, I want to share a book review with you. But first, let me quickly check on my kids from school. Alright, back to business!
Now, I don’t know much about the author’s background, but I’m grateful that Christian Young Miller keeps putting out these books. The one I want to talk about is called Everybody Has Those Thoughts. It’s a unique book because it addresses same-sex attraction and thoughts for kids around the ages of 9 to 12.
So, what’s this book all about? Well, it tells the story of a boy who’s feeling a bit worried. His dad takes him for a drive to have a heart-to-heart conversation. The boy opens up about having an erotic dream or feeling attracted to another boy, and he wonders if that means he’s gay. The book also touches on a game of spin the bottle where the boy had an erection when dared to kiss his best friend. One of the kids noticed and made a hurtful comment, saying he must be gay.
But here’s the important message: the book emphasizes that it’s okay to be same-sex attracted or gay. It challenges the insulting assumptions and stereotypes. Now, I’m not a psychologist, but the father in the book explains how our brains work and how our bodies can respond to touch, even in unexpected ways. He uses an analogy about a golf course to make it relatable and understandable.
Now, I have to admit, I’m not sure if all the explanations in the book are 100% accurate, but here’s the thing: when we’re talking to kids about these topics, it’s more about normalizing and reassuring them. Sometimes, we might simplify things or use examples that make sense to them, even if they’re not technically precise. The goal is to let them know that having certain thoughts or dreams doesn’t define their identity or who they are attracted to.
The book also touches on other topics like why straight people can have gay thoughts or become aroused by same-sex situations. It even mentions the Kinsey scale, which is a measure used in sexology. And hey, the author also covers masturbation, which is great because not many books tackle these subjects.
Now, keep in mind that the book suggests it’s suitable for ages 14 and up. Personally, I’d feel comfortable reading it with my daughter, but my son might find it a bit boring. However, rest assured, this book won’t harm them in any way.
Oh, and did I mention that it’s reasonably priced? It’s around 12 or 13 Aussie dollars, which is about 8 American dollars. So it’s definitely worth considering adding to your collection.
I’m actually quite excited to see what Christian Young Miller comes up with next, although this book was published back in 2010, so I’m not sure if there will be any new releases. But hey, I hope this review helps you out. Cheers!
