Book excerpt: An essential for every family's library, Dr. Ruth's forthright and always engaging discussion of growing up begins with the physical and emotional changes that take place during adolescence, and then explores such topics as masturbation, homosexuality, contraception, sexually transmitted diseases, as well as conception and birth. "Dr. Ruth offers her opinions freely, and states emphatically her belief that no teenager is ready for sex, but does not withhold information from those who are going to have it anyway". -- School Library Journal