For the pre-teen or teen navigating the complexities of puberty, body changes, and mental health, this book offers a warm, scientific, and empowering guide to growing up.
A parent should reach for this book when their pre-teen or young teen starts asking questions about their changing body or expressing anxiety about growing up. Written by neuroscientist and actress Mayim Bialik, "Girling Up" is a comprehensive, science-based guide to the physical, emotional, and social journey of puberty for girls. It warmly and directly addresses everything from hormones and menstruation to mental health, friendships, and self-confidence. This book is perfect for families who want a resource that is both medically accurate and deeply reassuring, empowering girls with knowledge and normalizing their experiences.
The book is very direct in its discussion of sensitive topics. It covers menstruation, breast development, body image, eating disorders, mental health (anxiety, depression), sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity. The approach is entirely secular and scientific, aiming to inform and destigmatize. The resolution for these topics is always one of empowerment through knowledge, self-care, and seeking help when needed. The tone is hopeful and clinical yet warm.
Ideal Reader
The ideal reader is a girl aged 10 to 14 who is curious or anxious about puberty. She appreciates science and facts and wants straightforward answers to her questions. This book is perfect for a child who is just beginning to notice changes and wants to understand what is happening to her body and brain, or for one who is already in the midst of these changes and needs context for her experiences.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared for the book's directness, especially in Chapter 8, "Dating, Mating, and Relating," which discusses sexuality. Previewing this chapter and the discussions of mental health will help parents prepare for follow-up conversations. While a child can read it independently, the book is an excellent tool to open up dialogue between parent and child. A parent might seek this book after their child asks a direct question like, "When will I get my period?" or expresses insecurity, saying, "My body is so weird," or "Am I normal?" The trigger is the child's overt curiosity or anxiety about the changes associated with growing up.
Age Experience
A younger reader (10-11) will likely focus on the concrete, physical aspects: body changes, periods, and the basic science of hormones. They will find comfort in the factual explanations. An older reader (13-14) may gravitate more toward the chapters on mental health, social dynamics, romantic feelings, and identity, using the book's scientific framework to better understand their complex inner world and social life.
What Makes It Special
The author's unique identity as both a celebrity and a Ph.D. in neuroscience sets this book apart. Mayim Bialik's voice is trustworthy, intelligent, and relatable. The emphasis on the neuroscience behind adolescent behavior and emotions provides a unique layer of understanding that most puberty guides lack. It treats the reader as an intelligent person capable of understanding complex science presented clearly.
Read plot summary
This is a non-fiction guide covering the science of growing up for girls. The book is structured into sections that detail the physical, emotional, and social changes of adolescence. Mayim Bialik uses her expertise as a neuroscientist to explain the 'why' behind everything from hormonal shifts and menstruation to brain development, social anxiety, and the importance of nutrition and sleep. It is a comprehensive manual that blends scientific facts with personal anecdotes and practical advice.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Mayim Bialik talks about the science of the brain and how it affects feelings and decisions. Did learning about this change how you think about your own moods or reactions?
2
In the chapter on presenting ourselves to the world, the book discusses pressure from media and peers. What is one 'rule' about being a girl that you've heard that this book made you question?
3
The book covers many different ways to be healthy, from nutrition to sleep to taking care of your mental health. Which piece of advice seemed most useful or surprising to you?
4
Mayim Bialik shares some of her own personal stories from when she was growing up. Which of her experiences, if any, felt similar to something you've gone through?
