Body Talk

June 15, 2020
Although we often take them for granted, our bodies--no matter what they look like, how we feel about them, or how others feel about them--are inherently political. This anthology edited by Jensen contains a series of personal essays describing experiences that defined the authors' relationships with their bodies. Avid young adult readers will recognize popular authors like I.W. Gregorio, who, in her capacity as a urologist, answers frequently asked questions about penises; Anna-Marie McLemore, who writes about struggling to get a diagnosis for their severe dysmenorrhea; Eric Smith, who discusses puberty and facial hair; and Alex Gino and Julie Murphy, who reflect on their evolving relationships with fatness. The book also includes narratives from celebrities like gold-medal-winning gymnast Aly Raisman, model Tyra Banks, musician and free-bleeding marathon runner Kiran/Madame Gandhi, and trans rights activist Gavin Grimm. Each author fully and impressively engages with their intersecting identities and the ways in which these intersections affect the way their bodies are treated by society. Taken together with short FAQ sections that address everything from the difference between body positivity and fat acceptance to respectful terms to use when discussing disability, the anthology is a comprehensive, compulsively readable guide to growing into our bodies in a politically fraught world. A thoughtful, well-rounded anthology featuring diverse voices speaking out on essential topics. (further reading, contributor bios) (Nonfiction. 14-18)

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June 1, 2020
Grades 8-12 From the editor of (Don't) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health (2018) comes a similarly formatted anthology, this time on the topic of body image. Conversational and deeply personal essays with interspersed Q&As, lists, artwork, and comics address a variety of issues, beginning with the more visible, such as scoliosis and dwarfism. Other sections address different shapes a body can take, body differences below the belt (e.g., testicular cancer and endometriosis), and seemingly invisible differences (e.g., asexuality and Crohn's disease). Additional FAQs broach related educational and potentially controversial subjects, like menstruation and how straw bans affect the disabled. The authors and illustrators are diverse; some, such as Tyra Banks, Shane Burcaw, Aly Raisman, and Alex Gino will be more recognizable. Together, their contributions not only emphasize acceptance and self-love but reclaim identities like fat and disabled and span across gender, gender identity, race, and other intersections. Readers will find many commonalities among all these differences and may begin to embrace those differences in others and, most importantly, in themselves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

Starred review from July 1, 2020

Gr 7 Up-Jensen has collected personal narratives for a remarkable anthology that tackles various aspects of anatomy. Authors, athletes, celebrities, and other public figures share their experiences of negative self-image and how they came to terms with these feelings. Topics include visible "issues" (being overweight, having noticeable chin hairs, having scoliosis) and invisible ones (dealing with partial blindness, being Deaf, or having Crohn's disease). These individuals are not afraid to share what they have gone through and how they achieved self-acceptance. As with her previous anthologies, Jensen expertly organizes these stories into chapters on a common theme. The experiences are relayed with equal parts honesty and knowledge. Throughout the book, readers can find "Body Talk FAQs" that fit the section in which they are located. The further reading guide contains nonfiction titles and fictional works where characters contend with those topics. Teens may not find a touchstone in every story but are likely to have experienced insecurity about one or more of the subjects. VERDICT A must-have anthology collection on an evergreen topic.-Amanda Borgia, Uniondale P.L., NY

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