Growing into You!: An Inclusive, Shame-Busting, Get-Real Guide to Your Changing Body and Mind - Softcover

Carnagey, Melissa Pintor; Gilmartin, Brianna

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1683694317 ISBN 13: 9781683694311

Publisher: Quirk Books, 2025

Synopsis

For tweens of all gender identities ages 10 to 14 and their trusted caregivers, Growing into You! is a shame-busting, interactive guide to puberty and changing bodies by the founder of Sex Positive Families.

Body hair. Changing friendships, feelings, and fluids. The tween years can be awkward and confusing—but with enough information and an open mind, you can thrive! Growing into You! has all the facts you’re looking for and more. For example, did you know that . . .

• Voice changes happen to people of all genders?
• Breast buds aren’t something only girls develop?
• Sleep actually helps your bones and muscles grow?
• Everyone has their own unique relationship to gender?

By the founder of Sex Positive Families, a groundbreaking education platform dedicated to shame-free, inclusive conversations about bodies and sexuality, Growing into You! is a modern primer on the puberty years for Generation Alpha.

Packed with essential information, conversation starters, surprising facts, fun activities, and more, you’ll find plenty to take into the real world with you. After all, growing into you is a journey—so it’s time to embrace curiosity, ask questions, and treat your body with respect and care!

About this title

About the Author

Melissa Pintor Carnagey, LBSW (she/they) is a Black, Puerto Rican, and Mexican sexuality educator and licensed social worker who believes that all children deserve holistic, comprehensive, and shame-free sexuality education. Her professional experience spans 15 years in the field of sexual health. She is the creator of the Growing Into You! virtual puberty education program, and is based out of Austin, Texas.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

HOW TO GET STARTED


Throughout the book, you’ll find journal prompts (Let’s Write About It!) and activity ideas (Let’s Have Fun with It!). I recommend keeping a pen and a notebook or piece of paper nearby while reading so you can write down your responses, thoughts, and questions. You can keep them to yourself, but I also encourage you to share any questions and feelings that come up with your trusted adults, if you feel safe to do so. You might feel weird at first if you aren’t used to talking about these subjects with them, and it might not go “perfectly” the first few times you try—but don’t let shame join the conversation. To help you connect with trusted adults on these puberty topics, you’ll notice that each section of this book also includes a Let’s Talk About It! section with conversation starters. Talking openly is the best way to learn from one another!

Who counts as a trusted adult? Trusted adults can be found in many different roles and parts of your life. They could be a parent, stepparent, older sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent, godparent, older cousin, teacher, counselor, youth leader, coach, pastor, mentor, nanny, neighbor, or other member of your community. They could also be a professional provider you go to for services like therapy or medical care.

However, their title or the role they play in your life doesn’t guarantee that you’ll see this person as someone safe and trustworthy to turn to when you have questions or need support during puberty. You get to determine who is a trusted adult in your life.

To help you identify a trusted adult in your world, think about someone who has
some of these traits:

* Easy to talk to
* Kind
* Makes time for you
* A good listener
* Patient
* Respectful
* Honest
* Trustworthy
* Reliable
* Affirms and respects your identities
* Nonjudgmental
* Respects your boundaries
* Feels safe to you (this is a big one!)

Which qualities feel most important to you when you are looking for support? Are there other qualities you would add to this list? As you navigate changes to your body and mind during these years, you can refer to this list when you encounter new people and situations.
It’s also possible that a trusted adult is not available to you right now, or that you may prefer to keep the things you’re learning to yourself. That’s okay, too. Use this book and its resources in whatever ways feel most comfortable to you.

Finally, I invite you to use this book at your pace—because puberty is a journey, not a race. You might skim some of the chapters, try out some of the conversation starters or activities, skip around, or go through the entire book from start to finish. Some of the information may not apply to you yet, but you can revisit it when you’re ready. Some of the information may never apply to you, but I encourage you to read those sections, too. Learning about bodies, identities, and puberty experiences that are different from your own is an important way to foster empathy for and appreciation of others. You’ll notice this book was written inclusively to help you and other tweens and young teens of many different bodies, gender identities, and puberty journeys see yourselves reflected and learn many different facts about growing up.

No matter how you experience this book, I hope it becomes a useful guide to support you along the journey of growing into you!

Edition details

• Publisher: Quirk Books
• Publication date: 2025
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1683694317
• ISBN 13: 9781683694311
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 128