A very helpful and straightforward guide to puberty. Chapters each cover a single topic, like acne, body odor, growth, sleep, etc. Each chapter starts with a scientific explanation of what happens, followed by "What's Changed Over the Past 20, 30, 40 Years" - quite helpful as today's puberty differs from the parents' own experience. The last two parts of each chapter cover how to talk about it, with dos and don't s, and then at least one brief personal essay from a teen or young adult that's out of puberty giving their own personal experience on the chapter's topic.
I enjoyed the science background and think it will assist with questions from my son, but the most helpful parts are how to talk and the personal experiences. I appreciate this book, and it's helping ease my anxiety as we approach this timeframe.

What sets this book apart from the myriad of other books about puberty is that this one focuses on the particular challenges that this generation faces. A good perspective, for parents trying to raise kids in the rapidly changing world.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own opinions.

For reasons of my own uneducated assumptions, I thought this book would have more question answer and IRL experiences. It was not as interactive as I thought it would be.

The information is accurate and there are a few true life experiences, perfect for parents who need up to date sex education. It is an important book, especially with more and more Schools cutting their sex education program

This is So Awkward indeed- but if we have to navigate modern puberty, I am so glad that we as parents have this thoughtful and funny guide. It contains all the science you could ever want, but more importantly the short and sweet conversations to guide parents in discussing it all with their children. Some of these talks we have already had in our house, but I've been avoiding others. With the help of the authors, I feel empowered to make them happen- in the car, so my son and I don't have to look at each other while we chat.

Five stars, highly recommended if you are helping a teen or pre-teen navigate their new world. Spoiler- it's a new world compared to when we were kids, too!

Showcasing the latest research on puberty, including what's changed and what hasn't, and sharing the science behind these bodily changes, this book is a great resource for caregivers of tweens and teens. I am a parent to two younger boys, but knowing that some bodily changes can occur earlier than I expected was very helpful information to have. Parents may think things haven't changed much since they were teens, but the authors helpfully point out what has and hasn't changed, and give a heads up of things to be aware of.

I have recommended this to other parents, and think it should be included in the parenting section of my library as well.

I am a school psychologist, and I love books like this. This is So Awkward is packed with information while providing practical tips on how to use it. Puberty and adolescence has changed so much so quickly that I was learning even from the first chapter. This book helped me reframe what I know about puberty and how it impacts adolescents and will be a valuable resource for parents. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This Is So Awkward is a well-written, accessible, plain-language book about navigating the changes which come with puberty, by Dr. Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett. Released 10th Oct 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Rodale imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. Especially with information-dense books, the interactive format makes text searches much easier.

This is a science based, best practice text, with info grouped into thematic chapters logically arranged. The language will be accessible and understandable to the majority of readers, and can be read and understood by middle grades up through adult ages. The chapters contain interesting overviews over current research into puberty in modern western society (beginning earlier and lasting longer), some content about what to expect for the majority of adolescents, what happens when the unexpected happens, and other "awkward" thoughts. It's a reassuring and honest book, written by medical professionals who are experienced in puberty subjects as well as "translating" info into layman accessible language.

The thematic chapters cover: breasts, male genitalia, periods, hair, acne, body odor, growth spurts, sleep (vital info here that most people don't know), brain development, mood swings, mental health, body image, youth sports overspecialization, sex, contraception (including STIs & STDs), sexual orientation, gender identity, and friendships & peer influence.

The authors/publisher have also included an abbreviated but useful bibliography and index. The text is annotated throughout.

Five stars. This would be an excellent (and important) choice for public and school library acquisition, as well as for adults in resource positions who work with adolescents and for the home library. Given the current state of book challenges and banning in the USA, acquisitions personnel and librarians should be aware that this book covers sexuality and gender issues directly and without covering up specifics. There are case studies throughout with personal revelations which are touching, sometimes funny, and often sad.

Puberty is a vulnerable and fast changing period of a child's life and having a good support guide for them and the adults in their lives is incredibly important.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

4.5 I have two teenagers already but two more just starting in in the midst of puberty so this book looked interesting. It did not disappoint! The science stuff was a repeat from nursing school but very well explained and a nice review. Overall I feel like I learned more what my kids are going through and how to best guide them into adulthood.

This was such a helpful book! I loved the format, I like that each section covered the "why" and explained what was happening biologically and otherwise. I thought the actionable advice was spot on. I also really appreciated that the authors emphasized where there wasn't a clear answer. I would definitely recommend this to all the caregivers in my life!

This was exactly what I needed. I have two young teenagers and we have entered an era that I was not prepared for. Things are so difficult and different now than when my parents were raising me. This book helps. Written in an honest and clear way it is a must have for parents. I cannot wait to get a paper copy.

Puberty can be such a stressful time for parents, and teens alike. There is so much change that is occurring and teens need reassurance from the grownups in their lives. This is so awkward: Modern Puberty Explained by Cara Natterson and Vanessa Bennett is a wonderful resource for parents as they attempt to navigate the journey of puberty with their tweens/teens. As a parent and/or trusted adult, it’s difficult to talk to children about puberty. In this book, you will find advice for how to broach the topic and updated information on the processes of puberty. There is so much that has changed, as children are developing quicker and in different ways than in previous years. This also helps you to understand the process as you are attempting to navigate it as a parent. There is a wealth of trustworthy information shared. I highly recommend this book to parents and trusted adults that are guiding children through this process. Thank you the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

As the mom of two teenagers, I thought I knew a lot about their developmental stages. While reading this book, however, I had MANY a-ha moments that helped to explain some behaviors past, present and potentially future! The anecdotes that the authors use help to tie their research back to every day experiences, making the book very relatable. I'm fortunate to have a daughter who spends enough time researching puberty that she has answered many of her own questions, but I found that this book provides some additional data that I use in our conversations as well. I'm grateful for the opportunity to review this book as I thought I knew it all (or at least enough!) It is a helpful guide that I'd recommend to anyone who interacts with teenagers or younger kids.

This book was good, it was helpful in that it offered a very different perspective than other books similar to it, and it had different advice, tips, and information. I liked that it was geared toward people living now, it had more modern information.

I have 10 year old, and found this book so very helpful! I really love the way it is organized. Each topic includes a section with the science behind the issue being discussed, then a consideration of how prevalent information and attitudes have shifted over the past few decades, followed by an extremely helpful section on how to discuss the topic with your child. There are also Live From The Trenches stories from young adults who have specific experiences in the relevant areas to share. It makes this not only an interesting informative book but a very helpful reference that allows you to skip around and find what you need most, be it information or a discussion guide, quickly. The writing style is easy and engaging and I found it immensely helpful.

I think this is so needed in todays society where puberty has changed from when we grew up. Highly recommend

Thank you Dr. Cara Natterson, Vanessa Kroll Bennett, Rodale Books and netgalley for the e-ARC. Opinions are my own.

I am a nurse; my husband teaches fourth grade and I have 3 nieces/nephew. I feel like even though we all (as adults) have gone through puberty, like they say in the book, times have changed. The ages which puberty is starting is earlier, in some cases it lasts longer, and the things we did 20 years ago when we started puberty have also changed. I am so glad this book is also inclusive to transgender children as I feel as a practitioner, I know little about how puberty will affect them. I feel like if you spend ANY time with children/teens you need to read this book.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley.
I have teens so I thought it could be an interesting read. It covers everything from body parts, to hormones to acne, body odor, weight/height, sleep, brain development, mood swings, mental health, sports, sex and related issues as well as gender identity and friendships. The most interesting (AKA new to me) chapters were about how dating works these days compared to when I was dating in the late 90's. I kinda wished there was a related teen workbook or book to go with this that I could just hand to my teen or a quiz to be like, what do you know already? This book covers everything from the basics to the not so basic. Some of it was a review for me, but there was enough of a new angle to keep me reading to the end.

This book is excellent for both youth and parents alike. It has a good balance of serious and accessible. Maybe skewing more toward accessible with words like boobs and balls intertwined with menarche and various 4-letter hormones (GnRH, LSH, FSH, ACTH). It features experiences from young adults and a useful tool on how to talk about things.

This book has been extremely helpful for me and my young son. I can see us learning and using this book over the next few years as we navigate this time!

This is an informative guide book to help parents and kids through tough times. It is nice to see the information presented in an easy to understand way. It addresses the awkwardness of the topic, but doesn't make it embarrassing.