The first and perhaps most impressive aspect of the book is that it not only helps you see your child’s sexuality through his/her eyes, it also portrays the parents’ point of view in a helpful and sympathetic way. The second element that makes the book so effective is its down-to-earth humor. The authors review the phases of children’s sexual development and parental experiences with many funny real life examples that get you chuckling and relaxing. The third aspect of the book is that the authors have really done their research. They are not just giving their opinions, they provide concise research information which adds perspective. Lastly, the authors are very comprehensive. They include savvy advice on everything from what to do if your child walks in on you, to internet and IM use, adolescent rebellion, how to talk about homosexuality, and what if you don’t like your child’s boyfriend/girlfriend. Both authors are very compassionate about parents’ tricky feelings on discussing sex, especially in addressing parents who may have a religious background that they are trying to rectify with their need to protect and inform their child. This is a guide for parents on dealing with their kids’ sexuality, but it is much more than that. It’s a primer about human sexuality in general, and hence of interest to parents and non-parents alike. Effortlessly mingling statistical data, anecdotal evidence, illuminating case studies and good, hard common sense, the book is marked by a calm, judicious tone as well as an openness to various cultural backgrounds and points of view. The writing style alone sets the book ahead of the pack, managing as it does to combine humor, erudition and page-turning readability.
Authors: Justin Richardson & Mark A. Schuster
Publishers: Crown Publishers
Date of Publication: 2003
No. of pages: 388