A very informative book. I have a pre teen and a teenage daughter so this book was so helpful for them to understand what is happening or going to happen to them. They loved going through this book with me and they weren’t embarrassed at all about periods. Thank you for the chance to review this book!

If i could get this in the hands of every middle school and high school, I would. This is such an incredible resource for those who menstruate, particularly younger readers who have so many questions and don't know who to ask or where to turn for accurate information. Easy to read and understand, this is a book I wish i had had when i started my period at 11 and I recommend you pick up for the young menstruators in your life.

I really wish I had this book growing up. Not only was it informative but it was also positive and inclusive.

A vibrant, fun, and powerful celebration of menstruation. It tells readers what they really need to know but presents the information in a way that is not only accessible but empowering. It's a great first step in teaching children to love and appreciate their bodies for all they can do and shed the shame around menstruation. Every kid needs a book like this in their life.

Rated 3 1/2 stars on my blog - Own Your Own Period is a valuable book for ages 9+ and aims it just right at this age group. It's informative and reassuring. It is warm and inviting and full of illustrations that go with the information provided. It will answer all those pressing questions without scaring pre-teens and teens alike. In doing so it will debunk myths, presumptions, misconceptions. It will prepare older children and teenagers for starting their periods and take away some of the awkwardness. The tone of the book also assists in this and makes it readable for this age group and makes it less text book like. The title is also great because it isn't anyone else's period but your own, but what the book shows is shared experiences that some may be able to relate to with their own periods.

There are sections about what you may feel when you get your period as well as the biology so you can understand your body more. The environmental part isn't quite so well done and could have been done a bit better so it doesn't feel so pressurised as people try to find what works best and feels comfortable for them.
The explanation of how to use some sanitary products is good enough.

There is some wit in some of the anecdotes provided and this lightens the mood and will make it feel more comfortable for readers experiencing or going to experience their periods for the first time. The fun-facts also make this easy for information to digest, as does the structure of the book that also goes some way into encouraging the end of period shame. The cover is also great at showing girls, that whatever your skin colour, you're likely to have a period and hopefully it can go someway to help break down barriers in all cultures and backgrounds. The chatty layout normalises it to a certain extent and brings some positivity in the fact that this can be used to enhance, gain knowledge in a real way.

The book can also be used as a tool for 9 plus year olds to start a conversation with their parents because when with something like a book, it can make this easier as it arms you with info that you may want to talk about, and the same goes with parents/carers too with their children or young people in their charge.

A must for everyone, not only people that menstruate. i found that the illustration helped a lot in explaining and helping various public to understand the different parts of the body and period. A must to end period stigma.

I honestly love reading to know as much as I can about menstruation and any book talking about periods while not directing it to "only girl child" is something I like forward to reading. And this book did well in expressing periods through an inclusive lens and I also loved how it provided period positivity for the younger audience - from discussing various stereotypes and stigmas and breaking them and also discussing menstrual and vaginal health. It also discussed products that can be used while menstruation and basically provided an information guide to physiological, anatomical and psychological conditions that might be present due to menstruation. Another thing that I really liked was the discussion about menopause and the hormonal changes that usually take place in menstruators due to menstrual cycle throughout the month. And not gonna lie, I am very happy that I got to read it and my much younger self would have appreciated it.

But, well, there were certain things that could have been included in the book because they are equally, if not more so, imperative to talk about. There are a lot of illnesses related to periods and just giving mentioning it and saying that diagnosis might help doesn't really helps. This is actually more important keeping in mind that many people don't go for a diagnosis that easily. A more detailed discussion could have taken place for the same.

Another thing that I wasn't personally comfortable with is the supposed "normalization" of period pain. I guess it is safe to assume that people who will be aware about period positivity so highlighting it as something really, idk, fascinating? won't be comfortable with everyone. I know about this because of two reasons: a) I love being sensitized about menstruation and at the same time letting others know about it and b) I personally don't like periods at all. It is a personal discomfort I have been dealing with since a long time and honestly the period books should really also talk about the not so okay parts about periods that menstruators have to deal with.

So informative and helpful. I couldn't recommend this book enough. If only every single school had books like this one on their shelves... The author did an incredible job writing this. It is so easy to understand and it is not a boring book at all. For anyone looking for books on menstruation, this one is a must!

Thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – QEB Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This empowering book is full of period positivity. It aims to take the stigma out of menstruation and teach readers that periods are just a normal part of life and a regular bodily function like breathing or sleeping. It's full of facts and even includes up-to-date information on gender identity as it relates to periods. The illustrations are mostly black and white line drawings, but in the colored pictures, a variety of skin times are represented.

I learned so much in this book as an adult and I think it would be a great resource for young girls to understand everything that is happening with their bodies.

i think this book is a really important one because I feel that we do not get enough period education. I really liked how this book was inclusive and talked about periods not just for female identifying folks. However, I do think this book makes it look like it could be for all ages with the illustrations, but it does use a lot of bigger words and describes complex body processes that might not be easily understood by younger readers, so I would recommend this for older kids and beyond for the most part.

I liked that the book is written in a fun/engaging style with lots of illustrations, without being flippant. The author also includes her own experiences throughout the book, which adds a personal note to the book

Correct words are used throughout, like the fact that people sometimes use the word vagina, when it's actually the vulva, and there are detailed, labelled illustrations of the parts of the vulva.

It does cover a lot, so parents, teachers need to be aware, while there's not much about sex and sexuality in it, there is some explanation of what the clitoris is, and how touching it can be enjoyable and lead to an orgasm. There's also a section on STI's when talking about different types of discharge. It's worth noting this, as these pieces of information may lead to a more in depth discussion.

The best thing about this book is that it's current. Most 'old favourite' books about puberty show two options of dealing with your period, pads or tampons. These days there are so many more options, such as menstrual cups and period undies and other reusable products. This book includes all of these options, and talks about how our choices affect the environment.

First of all, the illustrations were so cute and amazing. They were bursting with colour, and definitely engaging. Giovana Medeiros did such a great job.

This covered EVERYTHING. I was so impressed by how much it covered, and is such a dynamic, interesting way. Through out this entire guide, all I could think of was, how much easier puberty would’ve been with this. How much I wished I had read this when I was younger. There was so much I didn’t understand, and this would’ve answered all of my questions.

I was so surprised by the section on sustainability. I even learned a little something. I think this was definitely a great, informative step forward.

This was witty enough to keep you reading and interesting, but the humour didn’t overwhelm the information and its importance.

I read through some reviews, and found that a lot of people were unhappy with some of the topics broached and that some of it was too informative. I think, the whole point is to break some boundaries, and normalise these topics. Which is done well. As time goes on, younger kids are learning more and faster. But not always in the right ways, they stumble onto myths or information that may not be comfortable. Own Your Period provides a good way to manage how teens are accessing this information and to also debunk these myths.

If you know a younger girl, give this to them. This is a game changer. Even if you’re an adult, pick this up. I guarantee, you’ll learn something new, or at least feel a little more empowered, and comfortable in your skin.

An informative and inclusive look into periods that empowers those who have them and helps any reader feel more comfortable to discuss menstruation and fight period shame.

Chella Quint has done an amazing work with this book by including valuable information and answering common questions about menstruation, while occasionally adding personal anecdotes and experiences that are often funny and witty. The detailed and colorful illustrations by Giovana Medeiros are also a great addition to this handbook and make it more fun while giving a further insight on how our bodies and periods work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! Let's keep informing one another and create more opportunities for such conversations.

This book is an informative guide to all things menstruation that celebrates what the body can do. From menstruation to menopause and everything in between this fact filled handbook busts common myths, promotes owning your period and fights period shame. The science is explained well and is presented in a way that would help readers of any age understand the process of menstruation. At times the book comes off as pushy (right to the point of judgement) with the continued attempt to persuade the reader to use reusable menstrual products instead of traditional disposable ones. It glossed over PCOS and PMDD making them sounds rare and uncommon which I didn’t appreciate on a personal level but it also isn’t a good perspective to give readers who are unfamiliar with these conditions especially when the target audience for the book is people who are first starting their period.

Special thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the perfect book to talk about menstruation with anyone. The target audience is supposed to be those people who are about to get their first period, and yes, it makes sense. There are entire sections devoted solely and exclusively to what it feels like to get your period and the most common symptoms, but anyone can learn something from this little gem.


It is divided into different sections from biology (which I think is the most complex part for the target audience) to the myths surrounding periods. It is very comprehensive in all areas and I think it brings a fresh look at this biological process. I think the part I liked the most is the part about menstrual products not only because they describe the product, but also explain how to put them on, obviously focusing more on the menstrual cup and tampons because they are the most difficult to put on.


The only thing I would change is the environmental part for something very simple: it's not my fault that I can't afford reusable products. It's not from guilt or criticizing those people who don't use these products. However, I am sick of consumers being blamed for climate change. I think it's great to talk about these options, but we have to take into account the economic capabilities of each person, nothing more.


This book is going to be a great help. If it is used, which is my biggest doubt. It is a great book, very useful and well structured. My main fear is that it will not be used, that it will remain a well-done book but will not be implemented in classrooms. There is still a lot of taboo about it, research regarding menstruation is minimal and what is done in classrooms is lousy. This book is the right step in the right direction. Now we just have to use it.

A huge thanks to the publisher for my e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a fact-filled pocket-size book on periods every girl needs and has to read. It is an important read that is colorful and wonderfully illustrated. The book goes in-depth on the period, the misconceptions, and what exactly happens when one gets their period. Highly recommend it!

Every generation gets a new anatomy book for young people and Own Your Period is the new guide kids and adults alike deserve. Cute, educational and endearing, this book is exactly what all period-havers and anyone who knows someone who has a period needs.

This book should be given to all kids to read and look at. This is truly a gem that is beautifully inclusive and normalizes any and all differences that any child may experience when it comes to their period. This book takes all genders and identities into account and validates them. I am deeply impressed. This book should be used as an example to demonstrate how we can approach various topics in a respectful, inclusive, kind, and non-discriminatory kind of way. I will definitely want a copy of this for my classroom and sexuality education program. Outstanding!

The title tells you all you need to know. Not “manage” your period, not “handle“ your period, but “OWN your period. That’s the best period-positive title I’ve seen in a book dealing with periods. The content of the book is in sync with the title. But sometimes, I felt that it went into an information overdrive, especially considering that it is aimed at preteens and above.

This feedback comes from me as an Indian parent. I am sure the response will differ from country to country and culture to culture. I have tried to provide all relevant information so you can decide if your child is ready for this book or not.

On the pro side, the book talks of everything to do with understanding and managing menstruation.
👉 A lot of the content is praiseworthy: understanding the appearance of period blood and discharges, how to handle emotional changes, charting the period cycle with appropriate apps, the various menstrual products available (with the stress being on sustainable products), dealing with menstrual stains without shame, tips for navigating periods in school, myths about periods and a lot more. All of these were practical topics and dealt with a great deal of maturity and a good deal of humour.
👉 I loved the stress on open communication and driving away menstrual shame.
👉 The author includes quite a few anecdotes about her own period problems. This makes the awkward topic more personal and will help children understand that every female goes through the same concerns during periods.
👉 The illustrations, though too much in detail at times, are informative and ease the understanding of the concept at hand.
👉 Inclusivity is taken care of wonderfully as the sketches includes children of various races and there is also mention of the different types of modern family combinations. I appreciate this open-mindedness, something so needed in today’s times.

However the author declares in the introduction that she “included everything”, and in this “everything”, I feel that some things were not appropriate for the younger section of the target age group, which is 9+. A few of these topics were too complicated and multifaceted to be introduced at this young age. Here’s what might help you decide if the book is right for your child:
👉 The book has mention of orgasms, ovulation (especially that you get aroused more easily during ovulation – not always true and not relevant for a youngster to know), fertility and some other such topics which are connected to menstruation but not necessarily age-appropriate for preteens.
👉 The first section on body basics (what’s a vulva, a look inside your body, understanding hormones and so on) is quite difficult for a younger preteen to comprehend in terms of the language used and the complexity of the content.
👉 A couple of sections mention that you can insert your finger inside the vagina to feel the cervix or that people enjoy touching different parts of the clitoris to have an orgasm. If a child does this improperly, there are chances of internal injuries. Such pointers, if they need to be included, should come with a cautionary note.
👉 Some sections don’t seem to fit in the book: why should a book about periods include “fertility support” or “surrogacy”? If this is aimed at adults, then it would be fine. But as an illustrated book aimed at preteens and teens, these topics were superfluous.
👉 There are mentions of an interest in being sexually active but this could have been accompanied with a small advisory note on safe sex and consent and not succumbing to peer pressure. If a book mentions arousal, ovulation, surrogacy, fertility, etc. but doesn't talk about more important and pertinent topics for teens such as safe sex and consent, it's not just incomplete, it’s irresponsible.
All these issues made me feel that the age of the target audience needs to be revised, at least for some countries, and that parents need to know what the book entails before handing it over to their children.

I expected this book to be a good introduction to periods for children, covering every relevant information about periods, hygiene and health. After all, the initial days of getting the first period are quite scary and it helps to have as much information about it as possible. The book does manage to do this very well. But it seems aimed more at teenaged children who are somewhat aware of periods and are mature enough to understand not just menstruation but also pregnancies and sex. It might also work for adults who aren’t yet completely aware of what exactly a period entails and are too embarrassed to ask a friend or search online. But is it suitable for a preteen? I don’t think so. Of course, this is just my personal opinion. The book is intended for Western countries so it might be that children and parents there find the above topics perfectly fine and acceptable for 9 year olds.

To sum up my opinion, the book seems to have its heart in the right place. But its suitability is dependent on the cultural mentality and teenage sexual activity in various countries. The book has a great approach towards owning your period and having a period-positive attitude. But it also has content that parents might want to look through before handing it over to their child so that they can have a guided discussion rather than giving the children something they aren’t ready for. On my part, I would recommend this to the 13+ age group, because of both the difficulty level and the suitability of the content. As a parent, you would know the right time to broach such topics with your children. Decide accordingly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.