Staying Safe : A Teen's Guide to Sexually Transmitted Diseases

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Each chapter in these titles begins with a vignette that focuses on a teen's experience or dilemma. These sections are followed by pages of factual information. In Safe, the vignettes tell of young men and women who have made decisions resulting in sexually transmitted diseases. The authors are generally nonjudgmental in tone, explaining the risks of certain behaviors as well as the options available when the outcome is an STD. In spite of this, there is evidence of gender bias, with the implicit message that males will have more sexual partners than females. Major STDs warrant their own chapters with discussions of transmission, symptoms, and treatments in accessible language. There is no mention of homosexual relationships. Responsibility covers contraception, unplanned pregnancy, fetal development, and childbirth. Some surprising omissions include the effectiveness of various methods of contraception, abstinence as a method of birth control, and childbirth classes. Information about the morning-after pill is also limited. Thorough coverage is given to the emotional and physical aspects of childbirth and a pregnant teen's options. The vignettes present a fictionalized story of Shawna, who finds herself with an unwanted pregnancy. While they are realistic, it's unfortunate that there's no discussion of the fact that her boyfriend steps out of the picture once the teen discovers that she is pregnant. Photographs and cartoon drawings are interspersed throughout both books. While these titles offer useful information, neither should be a teen's only source on the topic.-Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.