Passage into Puberty

POPPY PRETZEL - PASSAGE INTO PUBERTY

How did the book begin?

The book evolved from my own daughter's curiosity about the changes in her body.  At the time she was ten and asking lots of questions about the changes she was experiencing.  You know the sort of stuff - seeing friends not only growing upwards but outwards.  Noticing changes in her skin and hair.  And noticing boys.  We'd read textbooks about the biological changes it goes through but hadn't found any fictional stories written from a girl's perspective about what was happening and how they felt about it.  So I started to write something for her.  Although initially, the book was about my daughter and her experiences, and me reflecting on my own, it actually evolved into something more.  Eventually the character became someone completely fictional, in fact Poppy's probably a little bit of every one of us at some stage in our lives.  Unsure.  Questioning.  Scared.  Relieved.   

Here's a synopsis of the story...............

Poppy Pretzel is a happy, confident 12 year old that plays netball, loves the ‘P’ word and hanging out with her friends in the Mermaid group.  During a morning break, Poppy goes to the toilet and discovers her first period has arrived.  When her first period arrives, she finds the experience 'puzzling' and 'p'erplexing.  Mixed emotions and excitement overtake her as it dawns on her that she has now officially started puberty.  The change from girl to woman has begun.

Poppy finds what is happening to her body puzzling, perplexing and a bit embarrassing; and the words used to describe her body, menstrual cycle and ‘feminine’ products ridiculous, confusing and awkward.  Along with her friends in the Mermaid Girls Club, together they make their own special words for their periods, tampons, pads and parts of their bodies as they all realise that their first period is imminent. They make their own Mermaid Girls Club code words so they can share their stories secretly together.

With each passing month, Poppy becomes more comfortable with her period and an idea starts to blossom that she should make little 'first period pouches' for her friends, like the one she had prepared for herself before her own first period arrived.

Soon, her Pouches are a big hit with her friends at school and the project she is approached by a Community Group to help young teens coming to terms with the changes in their bodies.

This book is a great way to introduce puberty to young women. It can be read with an adult or girls can read it themselves.

I've aimed the book for 9 to 14 year olds although it seems many other girls are reading it too. 

Some book fact info:
ISBN: 9781742570303
Paperback
Dimensions 128mm x 198mm
160 pages

Included in book * Certificate of Celebration, Poppy's Bag Checklist, Glossary of Terms and a Resources Page.