A Sex Positive Book + Guide for Teens

In honor of Sex Ed for All Month, we are excited to share some of our favorite books and resources related to sex, sex ed, bodies, and consent. People of ALL ages deserve access to information that is affirming, supportive, and honest.

“Purity culture” is a dominant vibe and set of “values'' that is forced on to most people growing up in the United States. Purity culture forces oppressive, gendered, and fear-based perspectives on young people from a young age. Check out this podcast by Shohreh Davoodi, featuring Sex Educator Erica Smith, if you’re interested in understanding and unlearning purity culture!

Non-Fiction Books:

In Case You’re Curious: Questions about Sex from Young People with Answers from the Experts by Planned Parenthood: In this book, you will find nonjudgmental (and fun!) answers that will normalize talking about bodies and sex and pleasure. No question is a silly question in this book!
Girl: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You by Karen Rayne: This book is for all girls. It covers topics like healthy sexuality, loving relationships, and gender fluidity, as well as thornier subjects such as STIs, consent, and sexual assault.
Trans +: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You by Kathryn Gonzales, Karen Rayne: This is an inclusive, uncensored guide for teens who are transgender, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, or gender-fluid. TRANS+ is all about gender, including mental health, physical health and reproduction, transitioning, relationships, sex, and life as a trans or nonbinary individual.
The ABC's of LGBT+ by Ashley Mardell: This book covers all things LGBT+. It features definitions, personal anecdotes, helpful infographics, links to online videos, and more.
Can We Talk About Consent?: A book about freedom, choices, and agreement by Justin Hancock: This book breaks down the basics of how to have healthy relationships in every aspect of life for readers aged 14 years and older.
Raising Them by Kyl Myers: While this book is specifically written for parents, it is accessible to anyone interested in exploring and dismantling the gender binary. Get a glimpse into the life of a family who has chosen to parent in a gender-neutral way.
Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen: Covering relationships, friendships, gender, sexuality, anatomy, body image, safe sex, sexting, jealousy, rejection, sex education, and more, Let’s Talk About It is the go-to handbook for every teen, and the first in graphic novel form.
Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement by Nadya Okamoto: This book explains menstruation, sheds light on the stigmas, and creates a strategy to end the silence and prompt conversation about periods.
The Body is Not an Apology The Power of Radical Self-Love (there’s a workbook too!) by Sonya Renee Taylor: This book offers radical self-love as the balm to heal the wounds inflicted by the oppressive systems we are living in.

Fiction Books:

With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo: An engaging book about parenting as a teen and following passions and gifts.
Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender: An honest and layered story about identity, falling in love, and recognizing the love you deserve. This book looks at the intersections of identity-- race, gender, and sexuality, as Felix secretly fears that he’s one marginalization too many—Black, trans, and queer.
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson: A space of exploration for teens who consider themselves allies, as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color. This book covers topics including gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy.
Honor Girl: A Graphic Memoir by Maggie Thrash: A book about an all-girl camp, first love, and first heartbreak. This graphic novel is brutally honest and full of humor.
Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon: This novel takes readers through the full spectrum of emotions. It's inspiring and heartbreakingly romantic.
Check out this list of 11 Powerful Books for the Queer Teens in Your Life (or for yourself if you’re a teen or young adult).

Other Resources:

Check out these printable, affirming, and sex-positive affirmations!
AMAZE: This interactive platform takes the awkward out of sex ed. Real info in fun, animated videos that give you all the answers you actually want to know about sex, your body and relationships.
Sex Positive Families: Browse the HUGE and interactive library on SPF to find other books, videos, and more!
Six Minute Sex Ed: An inclusive, informative, and sex positive podcast in brief, digestable episodes. Level One episodes cover the basics and can be a good starting point for teens. Check out this episode about consent.
My Sexual Values Workbook: A Purity Culture Dropout Resource by Erica Smith: If you really want to organize your thoughts, questions, and beliefs around sexuality in a cohesive way- this book will help you do that.
ScarleTeen: This is an online hub for all things sex ed and teenagehood.
Bedsider: Bedsider.org is an online birth control support network for women 18-29 operated by Power to Decide, the campaign to prevent unplanned pregnancy.
Search my blog-- Courtney Harris Coaching-- for articles about gender pronouns, healthy dating relationships, coming out, and more. I f you’re a parent of a teen, this article might offer some ideas and perspectives.
Explore the rest of our Project TeenBirth blogs for pregnancy-specific resources and this piece: How to Honor Your Sexual Health and Education.

Author: Courtney Harris is a witness, space-holder, supporter, and caregiver for families of all types and in all stages; she has worked with youth and their families since 2008. Currently, Courtney serves as a Life Coach for Teens and a Companion for Birth and Beyond. She is passionate about honoring life’s transitions and believes that all birthing people deserve compassionate, steady, and informed support throughout their unique reproductive journeys. You can connect with Courtney here and across all social media platforms at @companioncourtney.