Book Review
A short overview of this book
Talking Sex. A Conversation Guide for Parents by Vanessa Hamilton is a fantastic book that will help Australian parents unravel the mysteries of sex education!
Now, I will be upfront… Vanessa is one of my peers and I like her approach to sex education because she’s a nurse. Why? Because nurses have a very different approach to sex education than non-nurses. Plus it is because of her, that I started to rethink how I explained penetrative sex, and to start including consent in the explanation.
So I was a little excited when Vanessa told me she was writing a book, as Australian parents are always asking me for a comprehensive book that is written for Australians (and not Americans).
The book is factual but written in a common sense and straightforward way that will get parents rethinking how to approach sex education. An essential read for Australian parents looking for a book that is relevant to the world that they live in!
You can learn more on this page, about how to talk to kids about sex education.
Video Transcription
A transcription in case you are more of a reader than a listener
Hey there! I’m Cath Hakanson your friendly Sex Educator here at Sex Ed Rescue. Today, I want to talk about an awesome book that can help parents have those sometimes tricky conversations about sex with their kids. It’s called Welcome to St. Helma: A Trans Teen Misadventure by Lewis Hancox.
This book is all about a young person who realizes that their gender isn’t what everyone expected it to be, and how they navigate through that journey. It’s a story that many kids can relate to, especially those who identify as gender diverse. It shows them that they’re not alone, and that there are others going through similar experiences. But even if your child doesn’t identify as gender diverse, this book can still be super helpful. It promotes acceptance and understanding, teaching kids to be more open-minded and supportive of those who are different from them.
Now, let’s talk about the book itself. It’s actually quite funny! The mom character is always rocking a dressing gown, and at one point she even jokes about it. And the dad? Well, he’s always got a cigarette hanging out of his mouth, which leads to some humorous moments too. These little touches of humor make the book even more enjoyable to read.
What I love about Welcome to St. Helma is that it’s not just educational, it’s also a comic book! They call them graphic novels now, but it’s basically a book with lots of cool illustrations. This makes it perfect for kids who might not be too keen on reading a book that’s just filled with text. The visuals really bring the story to life and make it more engaging.
Overall, I found this book to be both humorous and educational. It gave me a better understanding of what it’s like to be gender diverse, and I think it can do the same for you and your kids. So, if you’re looking for a great resource to help you have those important conversations about gender and identity, I highly recommend Welcome to St. Helma: A Trans Teen Misadventure.
I hope this review was helpful! Cheers!
