For my sisters: Annie, Katie, and Jennie. Thanks for always being there— before, during, and after puberty. And for my daughter, Leigh. I will always be here for you. —S. B. Note: Names have been changed to protect girls who shared their stories. Text © 2014 by Sarah O’Leary Burningham. Illustrations © 2014 by Alli Arnold. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher. ISBN 978-1-45211625-9 The Library of Congress has catalogued the previous edition as follows: Burningham, Sarah O’Leary. Girl to girl : honest talk about growing up and your changing body / by Sarah O’Leary Burningham ; illustrated by Alli Arnold. pages cm Audience: 8-12. Audience: Grade 4 to 6. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-4521-0242-9 (alk. paper) 1. Girls—Health and hygiene—Juvenile literature. 2. Teenage girls—Health and hygiene— Juvenile literature. 3. Beauty, Personal—Juvenile literature. 4. Grooming for girls—Juvenile literature. I. Arnold, Alli, illustrator. II. Title. RA777.25.B87 2014 613’.04242—dc23 2013008427 Design by Jennifer Tolo Pierce. Typeset in Adelle, Galaxie Polaris, Girard Script, and Prater Block One. The illustrations in this book were rendered in pen, ink, and digital color. Chronicle Books LLC 680 Second Street, San Francisco, California 94107 Chronicle Books—we see things differently. Become part of our community at www.chroniclekids.com. Contents INTRODUCTION Girl Talk First Things First: Your Body’s Time Is the Right Time CHAPTER ONE Let’s Start at the Top!: Everything from Skin to Glasses, Hair, and Your Happy Smile CHAPTER TWO Body Basics: Growth Spurts, Body Odor, Sprouting Hair, and Other Changes Happening on the Outside CHAPTER THREE Bust-ed!: Buds, Breasts, and Bras CHAPTER FOUR Let’s Talk, Period: What You Need to Know About Menstruation CHAPTER FIVE Be Good to Your Body: All About Healthy Habits CHAPTER SIX You Are Still You!: Dealing with the Emotional Parts of Puberty ACKNOWLEDGMENTS INDEX INTRODUCTION Girl Talk As the oldest of four girls, I had plenty of girl talk while I was growing up. I was the first of us to develop, which means my sisters came to me with lots of questions. We talked about everything, from shaving our legs to wearing bras. Since then, I’ve written a few books for girls, and I’ve had the chance to interview thousands of teens. I’ve gotten countless questions—and real-life stories—from girls like you about what it’s like to grow up. So, while you read this book and go through puberty, think of me as a big sister. I’ve been there, and I’m going to share everything I know. I remember the day in fifth grade when I officially learned about puberty. The boys left the classroom with the gym coach, and the girls stayed with our teacher. She drew the shades and turned on an animated video about our bodies. It was hard not to giggle at the cartoon character on the screen, especially when she clutched her stomach and said, “I have cramps!” All of us were laughing nervously. Sure, it looked funny in the movie, but were cramps really going to be that bad? And what about all the other stuff—like wearing deodorant and actually getting my period? That night, my mom sat me down and asked if I had any questions. I’d had so many while I was sitting in class, but I was nervous—even with my own mom!—and the entire video was jumbled in my brain. My mom told me I would probably have lots of questions during the next few years. And I did! There’s no way I could’ve figured out the answer to every single thing in that one night. With every change, whether it was shaving my armpits or using tampons, I had new questions. And you will, too.