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Wait, What?

A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up

Published by Limerence Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

From Heather Corinna, founder and director of Scarleteen.com, and Isabella Rotman, cartoonist and sex educator, comes a graphic novel guide that covers essential topics for preteens and young teens about their changing bodies and feelings.

Join friends Malia, Rico, Max, Sam and Alexis as they talk about all the weird and exciting parts of growing up! This supportive group of friends are guides for some tricky subjects. Using comics, activities and examples, they give encouragement and context for new and confusing feelings and experiences.

Inclusive of different kinds of genders, sexualities, and other identities, they talk about important topics like:

- Bodies, including puberty, body parts and body image
- Sexual and gender identity
- Gender roles and stereotypes
- Crushes, relationships, and sexual feelings
- Boundaries and consent
- The media and cultural messages, specifically around bodies and sex
- How to be sensitive, kind, accepting, and mature
- Where to look for more information, support and help

A fun and easy-to-read guide from expert sex educators that gives readers a good basis and an age-appropriate start with sex, bodies and relationships education! The perfect complement to any school curriculum.

About The Authors

Art by Isabella Rotman

For nearly 20 years, Heather Corinna has been widely recognized as a pioneer and leader in the field of sexuality information, education and support for young people. Previously a Montessori and unschooling early childhood educator, Heather founded and directs the international organization Scarleteen (http://www.scarleteen.com), one of the first sources of comprehensive sexuality and relationships education online, an organization and resource that stands alone in its tenure, approach, reach, inclusivity and scope. Heather has also been a sexuality, contraception and abortion educator and counselor for the Cedar River Clinics/Feminist Women's Health Center. They are the author of the popular S.E.X.:the All-You-Need-to-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties, a highly comprehensive and inclusive young adult sexuality, sexual health and relationships guide, now in its second edition. Their work has also appeared in publications such as Teen Vogue, The Guardian, RH Reality Check (now Rewire) Issues Magazine, Women's Studies; an interdisciplinary journal; in anthologies such as Yes Means Yes: Visions of Female Sexual Power and A World Without Rape, The Adventures of Food, and Zaftig: Well-Rounded Erotica . Heather was a contributing writer and editor to the most recent edition of Our Bodies, Ourselves. Heather has won numerous awards for their work, including The Champions of Sexual Literacy Award for Grassroots Activism; The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, Western Region's Public Service Award; the Our Bodies, Ourselves' Women's Health Heroes Award; the Joan Helmich Educator of the Year award; The Woodhull Foundation's Vicki Award; the Steinem-Waters Award and the Golden Brick Award.

Isabella is a cartoonist and illustrator from Maine, living and drawing in Chicago. Her art is usually about the ocean, mermaids, crushing loneliness, people in the woods, or sex. Isabella is the author of You're So Sexy When You Aren't Transmitting STIs and Not On My Watch; The Bystanders’ Handbook for the Prevention of Sexual Violence. Isabella is the co-author and illustrator of Wait, What?; A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up. Isabella has been Artist in Residence at Scarleteen since 2013.

Product Details

Raves and Reviews

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY, 2019 Best of the Best

THE ADVOCATE, Best LGBTQ Graphic Novels of 2019

AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, Notable Children's Book by The Association for Library Service to Children

“It brings a loving, essential lens to matters of heart and soul, offering a roadmap not only to physical changes, but the complex social and emotional terrain of consent, crushes, and identity."

– Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, Nurture the Wow

"This dream team of creators came up with a book that is not only accessible but totally enjoyable to read! I'm so excited to see Wait, What? in every library, school and doctor's office in 2019!"

– Archie Bongiovanni, A Quick & Easy Guide to They/Them Pronouns

Wait, What? is straightforward and clear, exactly what’s needed to help kids develop authentic awareness and conversation about bodies, relationships, feelings and sexuality.”

– Peggy Orenstein, Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape

Wait, What? is a wonderful guide to topics adolescents are curious about, presenting information in relatable, gender-inclusive text and clever illustrations. This is the book adolescents—and their parents—have been looking for."

– Melanie Davis, PhD, CSE, Our Whole Lives Program Associate

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: Isabella Rotman