March 9, 2009 | Published in * Feature Columns, 5 Minutes for Books, Giveaways, Parenting

5 Minutes for Books: My Little Red Book

Let me cut straight to the chase. My Little Red Book is an anthology featuring stories of first periods. If you are like me, that intrigues you and made you smile just thinking about it. If that grosses you out — well, come back next week because I promise the review won’t feature bodily functions.

So for those of you still with me. This is a delightful book! It made me remember that time in my life quite clearly even though I don’t have a clear memory of when my big day was (and it was over 25 years ago). The stories written by women around my age offered an extra shot of nostalgia (for example, the one who messed up her brand new OP swimsuit).

There are stories written by women who “started” as early as 1916 and as recently as this decade — as close as my home state and as far away as China. The essays from women of different generations and cultures and countries give a perspective so different from my own experience yet remind me of the common thread.

I wouldn’t recommend handing this book over to your tween to read, because some of the essays contain language or other themes that are a bit too mature. However, I have enjoyed sharing SOME of them with my 10-year-old daughter Amanda.

One of my favorites is “Hot Dog on a String” by Ellen Devine. Yes, it’s fairly explicit, but it was also funny, and I think it properly addressed the mysteries of the tampon that a young girl might have.

Amanda does NOT like to have conversations with me about these kinds of personal topics, but she did enjoy hearing the essays I read (even though she didn’t want to look at me or let me look at her while I was reading).

Like most girls who are expecting their first periods or who have recently become women, she’s curious, and this satisfied some of her curiosity. Instead of hearing, “Mom, I don’t want to talk about it!” she actually requested that I read her another one.

This book is sure to spark conversation or memories. I recommend it. This is great book for bedside (or yes — bathroom) reading, because the essays are short (as short as a paragraph or as long as a few pages) and to-the-point. Check out the fun website for more info about the incredible 18-year-old editor of this work, and to read even more stories.

We have five copies of My Little Red Book to give away. This contest is void where prohibited and subject to our terms and conditions.

Please leave a comment if you’d like to win. The winners will be announced in next week’s column.

The winners of The Laws of Harmony are

#124 Jeanine P
#5 Noreen
#121 Lily Kwan
#109 Ellie W.
#4 Carrie K.

This post was written by contributing editor Jennifer Donovan, who also blogs at Snapshot and is managing editor of 5 Minutes for Books.

Email Author | Website About Jennifer Donovan

Jennifer Donovan has been a part of the 5 Minutes for Mom team since 2007. She writes product reviews, covers events, and manages the 5 Minutes for Books weekly column and website. She lives in Houston and blogs at Snapshot about life with her family.

View all articles by Jennifer Donovan

{ 99 comments }

1 Serena March 9, 2009 at 4:29 am: Sounds very interesting!
2 Brandie March 9, 2009 at 4:32 am: oh the joys of being a girl into a woman..I would love to win a book..:) I hope I do
3 Michael Capp March 9, 2009 at 8:28 am: I’d love to win!
4 Cynthia L March 9, 2009 at 8:59 am: Wow – that sounds like a great book! I remember my first, and that no-one wanted to talk about it when I was young. I’ll definitely have to check it out!
5 Melissa March 9, 2009 at 10:05 am: My goodness, this looks like such a neat book! My daughter will be 12 next month and so we have been having the “talks” and she loves the funny parts about it like how we would give it a “code name”!! LOL! she has deemed hers “the enemy!” LOL! instead of your “friend!” I would love to win this book!
6 Kim March 9, 2009 at 10:28 am: My almost-10 year-old is getting very close to ‘her time.’ I like to keep getting her period a positive event. For her older sister (my step-daughter), we even had a cake to celebrate. But even though we’re open about it, it is still a big mystery that is simultaneously exciting and scary. This book sound fascinating. I’d love to be able to share other women’s stories with her.
7 Amanda Daybyday March 9, 2009 at 10:42 am: Sounds entertaining!
8 Brooke March 9, 2009 at 10:50 am: I would love to win, that sounds funny!
9 Vicki Wurgler March 9, 2009 at 11:21 am: I think every woman has a story on that subject
10 Denise March 9, 2009 at 11:38 am: I’d love to win this, thanks.
11 C. clemens March 9, 2009 at 12:02 pm: please enter me~ thanks
12 Elizabeth March 9, 2009 at 1:19 pm: I love the concept of this book, and I remember my story well. My 10-year would find it all very interesting!
13 Paper Bridges March 9, 2009 at 1:39 pm: ha! how hard did you laugh as you wrote this post, Snap??

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14 Shannon H March 9, 2009 at 1:57 pm: I’m curious and I’m raising a daughter, so count me in please. Thanks!
15 Kelly from Montana March 9, 2009 at 2:26 pm: could be a fun read…
16 Mozi Esmes Mommy March 9, 2009 at 2:36 pm: Would love to read this!
17 Jemrah Twitter: jemrah1 March 9, 2009 at 3:34 pm: thanks for the contest.
18 Kathy Scott March 9, 2009 at 4:02 pm: I need to feed my reading addiction.
19 Susan Smith March 9, 2009 at 4:22 pm: sounds like an interesting book
20 susan varney March 9, 2009 at 4:58 pm: i love to read
21 Laura Collins March 9, 2009 at 5:19 pm: would be great to read
22 Tee M. March 9, 2009 at 6:31 pm: I’ve had my eye on this book when it was listed on Powells.com. Would love to win this!!
23 edj March 9, 2009 at 7:09 pm: Hmmm….I’m intrigued. I have a daughter who just turned 12 who is an avid reader; I could see this being a good conversation starter between us. I’d love to win a copy.
24 shannon Baas March 9, 2009 at 7:42 pm: I would like this for my niece.
25 Deanna March 9, 2009 at 8:55 pm: I would love to win a copy. My almost 14 and 12 yod have not yet started their “monthly friend”.
Using this as a read aloud…pick’n'choose essays sounds like a great idea to have a starter conversation with the girls. Starter convo meaning…starting the convo for that moment as we discuss these things on a fairly reg basis…they do not like these convos. :0
26 christopher h March 9, 2009 at 9:08 pm: i’d love to win this
27 Andria March 9, 2009 at 9:22 pm: Sounds like a fun book. I unfortunately remember mine it was on my thirteenth birthday at my pool party.
28 Nancy March 9, 2009 at 10:49 pm: Sounds wonderful, I’d love to win!
29 Linda Chaput March 9, 2009 at 11:18 pm: I’d love to read this book.
30 Angela C. March 9, 2009 at 11:48 pm: Sounds like an interesting book. I would love to win a copy.

accoupons at gmail dot com
31 karly March 10, 2009 at 12:31 am: Your overview of the book definitely made me interested in reading this book (and it took me down my own memory lane!).
32 Jessica March 10, 2009 at 12:49 am: This looks like it would be a funny read!
33 Meredith Rogen March 10, 2009 at 2:36 am: This looks very interesting, cute cover design.
34 Djp March 10, 2009 at 6:00 am: great little read
35 Susan C March 10, 2009 at 12:01 pm: I just wrote an essay on this subject for my women’s study class.
36 Tarah March 10, 2009 at 1:53 pm: Interesting – but great to have on hand for your daughter who may just be starting this. It’s nice to know you’re not alone!
37 veronica sandberg March 10, 2009 at 2:10 pm: want to win this
38 Vmichelle March 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm: Count me in.
39 Angela J March 10, 2009 at 2:34 pm: Sounds like an interesing read.
40 Ellen C. March 10, 2009 at 2:34 pm: I would love to give this a read. Thanks for the chance.
41 Jennifer Barr March 10, 2009 at 2:45 pm: sounds like a great book
42 Karen Gonyea March 10, 2009 at 3:16 pm: Sounds good to me
43 Carol Lawrence March 10, 2009 at 3:29 pm: Enter me in the book giveaway.
44 gahome2mom March 10, 2009 at 4:43 pm: Where was this book when I was a young girl? lol Thanks.
45 Saly March 10, 2009 at 5:10 pm: I’d love to win this one
46 Gina Stratos March 10, 2009 at 5:11 pm: I would really love to win this
gkstratos@yahoo.com
47 Rebecca March 10, 2009 at 5:30 pm: Great contest! Wanted to let you know I just posted about it on our blog. Thanks for sharing!
48 Andrea March 10, 2009 at 5:39 pm: What a unique giveaway, I’m in!
49 tanya wilson March 10, 2009 at 5:55 pm: Sounds like quite a read.
50 Michelle D March 10, 2009 at 6:34 pm: I would LOVE to win this – it sounds great.
51 jayne March 10, 2009 at 7:59 pm: This would be a great read! Thanks so much!
52 Allison March 10, 2009 at 8:46 pm: What a fun idea!
53 Sharon Martin March 11, 2009 at 1:44 pm: Oh, the memories…. Would love to have a copy. Thanks, Sharon
54 Mia J. March 11, 2009 at 1:59 pm: This sounds like it would be so interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.
55 Jill March 11, 2009 at 4:02 pm: This is so timely for myself and my daughter. My daughter “Rachael” is preparing for her senior BFA art show at college. Her theme is women, menstraution and the role of women in society. She just became aware of this book and would love to have a copy. She hasn’t been able to find it in the bookstores. Thanks, Jill
56 Stacie March 11, 2009 at 4:56 pm: This book sounds fabulous…I want to share it with my daughter some day as well as with my book club gals now! Sign me up!
Staciele(at)netins(dot)net
57 Miranda Allen March 11, 2009 at 7:09 pm: I would love to win this
58 Gabriel J. March 11, 2009 at 10:27 pm: Please, enter me, great prize!!!
59 Alane March 12, 2009 at 1:39 am: Sounds like a fun read & a good rescource for future conversations with my daughter!
60 Sarah March 12, 2009 at 3:21 pm: enter me!
61 Jennifer C. (37 Questions About One Thing) March 12, 2009 at 4:09 pm: What a fun, useful book.
62 Molly Capel March 12, 2009 at 6:52 pm: Sounds like a great book.
63 Jill March 12, 2009 at 10:36 pm: This does sound like an Entertaining and Fun read!

Thanks for a Great Giveaway
64 Pamela S March 12, 2009 at 11:50 pm: Sounds like an interesting book that I could “maybe” share with my 18 year old daughter.
65 J Chaborek March 13, 2009 at 4:45 am: Sounds great! Would love to win. : )
66 Terra Heck March 13, 2009 at 9:43 am: I’d like to read this book. Thanks.
67 Wendy Wallach March 13, 2009 at 4:40 pm: I would love to share this with my daughter.

madamerkf at aol dot com
68 KarenPr March 14, 2009 at 8:40 am: Thanks for the contest, please enter me.
69 Diane Baum March 14, 2009 at 8:48 am: sounds like a fun read
70 Sarah Stern March 14, 2009 at 9:45 am: Sounds very interesting!
71 Carrie Baird March 14, 2009 at 12:43 pm: This looks like a good read – thank you for the chance to win!
72 Quanda March 14, 2009 at 12:51 pm: Sounds interesting. Please enter me.
73 Marianna Twitter: I March 14, 2009 at 2:38 pm: Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for a chance to win!
74 Lisa Taylor March 14, 2009 at 3:27 pm: Please enter me for the giveaway
75 Thomas Gibson March 14, 2009 at 4:26 pm: thanks for the giveaway
76 Marion B March 14, 2009 at 7:01 pm: This looks like a fun book!
77 Rosanna March 14, 2009 at 7:15 pm: Sounds great!
78 Jane March 14, 2009 at 7:15 pm: Thanks, would love this for my daughter!
79 Joanne March 14, 2009 at 7:16 pm: I wish I had this when it was time.
80 reana March 14, 2009 at 7:16 pm: This would be so great to give to my niece! That’d help her mom out a lot!
81 Jana March 14, 2009 at 7:17 pm: Oh just in time! I’d love to get it, I’m expecting to experience the “talk” with my kid.
82 Connie March 14, 2009 at 8:06 pm: Sounds very interesting!

thanks!
Connie
83 Cassandra March 14, 2009 at 8:12 pm: I’d love to win–thanks!
84 Kelly Grant March 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm: I love to read new books.
85 Kelly Grant March 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm: I love to read new books.
86 autie March 14, 2009 at 10:59 pm: Sounds intresting
87 Chrysa March 14, 2009 at 11:18 pm: Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!
88 Leann S March 14, 2009 at 11:52 pm: My daughter was 12 last month and this is very timely. Thanks for the giveaway.
89 prplrush March 15, 2009 at 12:08 am: I love the review for this book and would love to read it!
90 Adrian Lamont March 15, 2009 at 12:32 am: This is great,count me in.
91 Jammie March 15, 2009 at 2:33 am: I would love to win
92 Kelly Ferrari March 15, 2009 at 8:19 am: This sounds like a great book. Not only will it bring back memories, this book would be a great tool for younger girls that haven’t experienced it yet. Take away the unknown and make it less scary.
93 Lily Kwan March 15, 2009 at 11:18 am: Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!
94 Pat Connors March 15, 2009 at 11:36 am: Count me in.
95 Veronica Garrett March 15, 2009 at 11:41 am: I would like to win.
96 Donna R March 15, 2009 at 11:44 am: I’d love to win this book. Thanks for the contest.
97 Kathy Amos March 15, 2009 at 12:34 pm: This looks great
98 shawna f March 15, 2009 at 2:28 pm: This sounds really interesting!
99 Shauna O March 15, 2009 at 3:28 pm: This sounds like a really good book!