Book Review
An overview of the book
More Secret Girls’ Business by Heather Anderson, Faye Angelo and Rose Stewart is a book for girls that explains puberty and early sexual feelings with a simple but age-appropriate approach.
This book was first published in 2008 but, despite being nearly ten years old, it 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 a book for boys, Secret Boy’s Business, and one for younger girls, Secret Girl’s Business. They have also published the next step in books, The Secret Business of Relationships, Love and Sex.
More Secret Girls’ Business is different from Secret Girls’ Business, in that it provides more detailed information and it begins to talk about masturbation and sexual feelings. It is targeting those girls who are that little bit older, 9 – 12 years of age. Like the earlier books, this book follows the same format. It provides a lot more written words but is still illustrated throughout.
More Secret Girls’ Business starts off by explaining that we all go through puberty and what it all means. It talks about the general changes that both boys and girls experience, and then jumps straight into the physical changes: body hair, breasts, pimples, body odour, your genitals and reproductive organs and periods. There is lots of factual information and advice and tips on how to manage the changes. Emotional changes are also discussed.
This bookthen goes into the sexual aspects of puberty – sexual intercourse, how babies are made, pregnancy, sexual feelings, private moments and masturbation.
They talk about the arrival of sexual feelings, and that you may start to see people in a different and romantic way. Reassurance is given that this is all quite normal and that it happens a lot during puberty. And that sometimes you can have a crush on another girl but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you are gay although some girls are same-sex attracted.
Private moments are then discussed in regards to touching your genitals. You might do this for comfort or you might now do it because of the sexy feelings that you are now experiencing. A nice description of how the body changes when you feel sexy is also given. Masturbation is then explained in a non-judgmental and informative way. Orgasm is also explained.
So this book is different in that it starts to talk about sex. It talks about how babies are made when an egg from a female joins with the sperm. This happens through sexual intercourse. The bodies move together and after a short time semen containing sperm comes out of the penis. The sperm then travels up to the uterus into the fallopian tubes.
At the back, you will also find tips, hints and advice for parents on how to talk at this important time in a child’s life. It doesn’t have too much information but it has enough information. It tells girls what they need to know and doesn’t overload them with too much information. And don’t forget that boys need to know about the changes that girls go through too.
More Secret Girls’ Business by Heather Anderson, Faye Angelo and Rose Stewart is a fantastic first book for girls that explains puberty, sexual feelings and how babies are made. The information is very straight forward and presented in a very age-appropriate way.
This book DOES talk about sexual intercourse.
Ideal Age
Ideal for children aged 9 to 12 years.
Buy this book
✅ Buy a copy of More Secret Girl’s Business from Amazon.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! So, I just finished reading More Secret Girls Business by Heather Anderson, Fay Angelo, and Rose Stewart. And let me tell you, it’s a fantastic book! But before we dive in, I have to apologize for the background noise of my cat and dog having a little tiff. They always seem to choose the most inconvenient times to start their little battles, don’t they?
Now, this book is actually a follow-up to Secret Girls Business, which covers the basics of puberty. More Secret Girls Business takes things a step further and provides more detailed information. Let me give you a quick rundown of what it covers.
First off, it talks about things like breasts, pimples, and wearing a bra. And yes, it even delves into the topic of how babies are made. So, it does talk about sex. I know that might be a bit sensitive, especially when discussing it with kids, but it’s important to know what’s in the book before sharing it with them.
Let’s skip ahead to that page because I find it interesting to see what topics might make people a little uncomfortable. It explains that a baby is made when an egg from a female joins with sperm, and this happens through sexual intercourse. Bodies move together, and after a short time, semen containing sperm comes out of the penis. Now, I understand that might not mean much to a kid, but it goes on to explain how the sperm travels up through the uterus into the fallopian tubes. It gives them enough information about sex, but it might not be everything they need to know. The book also covers the development of a baby, which is pretty cool!
Let me quickly check the index to see what else it talks about. Ah, it covers periods and fertility, using pads and tampons, and even touches on boyfriends and girlfriends. It also addresses masturbation and private moments, emphasizing that you’re the boss of your own body. Plus, it helps kids feel good about themselves and offers some helpful hints for parents at the back.
There’s a page called private moments where the character is sitting and looking at a picture. It explains that as hormones kick in during puberty, you might start experiencing those sexy feelings. It also talks about boyfriends, girlfriends, exercise, and a bunch of other things. It’s a great book because it strikes a balance between providing enough information without overwhelming kids. It’s like the next level of puberty talk, you know?
If you’re looking to buy some books on puberty, I highly recommend starting with Secret Girls Business. And if your girl is a bit older, then More Secret Girls Business is the way to go. And if you’re curious, there’s even a green book that covers relationships, love, and sex. I’m really excited to see what they come up with next, although I’m not sure if they’ll release another book since older kids tend to find information online, and things can change pretty quickly.
All in all, More Secret Girls Business is a must-have book for anyone with a child going through puberty, especially girls. But hey, even boys should know about this stuff because they’ll always be around women, right? It’s important to have an understanding of these topics. So go ahead and grab a copy for your shelf. Trust me, it’s worth it!
I hope this review helps. Cheers!
