The Every Body Book of Consent

An unwanted hug, a forced kiss at the end of a date, and a secret shared by a close friend are all examples of nonconsensual acts that a person might experience in their life. Rachel E. Simon writes for adolescents learning about body autonomy and the power of their 'yes' and their 'no' in this powerful book.

Intended to be read alongside a trusted adult, this book covers a variety of situations where an individual gives consent and what that can look like. This book includes a range of body types and abilities, diverse gender and sexuality representation, and definitions of topics including 'neurodivergent' and 'transphobia'. This book includes examples of what to say in situations where boundaries have been crossed, these examples can be particularly valuable to those on the spectrum and others who 'script' what they say in different situations.

This book explains how consent does not only apply in sexual situations, though it can. The author writes about the different ways consent can be given, that it can be revoked at any time, and that a 'maybe' doesn't always mean yes. This book encourages readers to understand that 'no' is a complete sentence and that their words have power. It touches on topics such as grooming and pornography in a tasteful way that encourages readers to talk to a trusted adult if they or a friend are in an unsafe situation.

This book has beautiful, diverse illustrations that show an array of individuals in situations where consent can be given. The illustrations are appropriate and show a variety of ages. The illustrations fit in well to break up the text and show examples.

This is a lovely book and I will be recommending it to parents who are asking for books about consent, body autonomy, and adolescence. 5/5 stars!