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5 Minutes for Books: My Little Red Book

March 9, 2009 by Jennifer Donovan

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

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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.

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The Little Blog that Could
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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.

Reader Interactions


101 Comments

  1. Shauna O says

    March 15, 2009 at 3:28 pm

    This sounds like a really good book!

  2. shawna f says

    March 15, 2009 at 2:28 pm

    This sounds really interesting!

  3. Kathy Amos says

    March 15, 2009 at 12:34 pm

    This looks great

  4. Donna R says

    March 15, 2009 at 11:44 am

    I’d love to win this book. Thanks for the contest.

  5. Veronica Garrett says

    March 15, 2009 at 11:41 am

    I would like to win.

  6. Pat Connors says

    March 15, 2009 at 11:36 am

    Count me in.

  7. Lily Kwan says

    March 15, 2009 at 11:18 am

    Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!

  8. Kelly Ferrari says

    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.

  9. Jammie says

    March 15, 2009 at 2:33 am

    I would love to win

  10. Adrian Lamont says

    March 15, 2009 at 12:32 am

    This is great,count me in.

  11. prplrush says

    March 15, 2009 at 12:08 am

    I love the review for this book and would love to read it!

  12. Leann S says

    March 14, 2009 at 11:52 pm

    My daughter was 12 last month and this is very timely. Thanks for the giveaway.

  13. Chrysa says

    March 14, 2009 at 11:18 pm

    Looks great! Thanks for the giveaway!

  14. autie says

    March 14, 2009 at 10:59 pm

    Sounds intresting

  15. Kelly Grant says

    March 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    I love to read new books.

  16. Kelly Grant says

    March 14, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    I love to read new books.

  17. Cassandra says

    March 14, 2009 at 8:12 pm

    I’d love to win–thanks!

  18. Connie says

    March 14, 2009 at 8:06 pm

    Sounds very interesting!

    thanks!
    Connie

  19. Jana says

    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.

  20. reana says

    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!

  21. Joanne says

    March 14, 2009 at 7:16 pm

    I wish I had this when it was time.

  22. Jane says

    March 14, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    Thanks, would love this for my daughter!

  23. Rosanna says

    March 14, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    Sounds great!

  24. Marion B says

    March 14, 2009 at 7:01 pm

    This looks like a fun book!

  25. Thomas Gibson says

    March 14, 2009 at 4:26 pm

    thanks for the giveaway

  26. Lisa Taylor says

    March 14, 2009 at 3:27 pm

    Please enter me for the giveaway

  27. Marianna says

    March 14, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    Sounds like a fun read. Thanks for a chance to win!

  28. Quanda says

    March 14, 2009 at 12:51 pm

    Sounds interesting. Please enter me.

  29. Carrie Baird says

    March 14, 2009 at 12:43 pm

    This looks like a good read – thank you for the chance to win!

  30. Sarah Stern says

    March 14, 2009 at 9:45 am

    Sounds very interesting!

  31. Diane Baum says

    March 14, 2009 at 8:48 am

    sounds like a fun read

  32. KarenPr says

    March 14, 2009 at 8:40 am

    Thanks for the contest, please enter me.

  33. Wendy Wallach says

    March 13, 2009 at 4:40 pm

    I would love to share this with my daughter.

    madamerkf at aol dot com

  34. Terra Heck says

    March 13, 2009 at 9:43 am

    I’d like to read this book. Thanks.

  35. J Chaborek says

    March 13, 2009 at 4:45 am

    Sounds great! Would love to win. : )

  36. Pamela S says

    March 12, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    Sounds like an interesting book that I could “maybe” share with my 18 year old daughter.

  37. Jill says

    March 12, 2009 at 10:36 pm

    This does sound like an Entertaining and Fun read!

    Thanks for a Great Giveaway 🙂

  38. Molly Capel says

    March 12, 2009 at 6:52 pm

    Sounds like a great book.

  39. Jennifer C. (37 Questions About One Thing) says

    March 12, 2009 at 4:09 pm

    What a fun, useful book.

  40. Sarah says

    March 12, 2009 at 3:21 pm

    enter me!

  41. Alane says

    March 12, 2009 at 1:39 am

    Sounds like a fun read & a good rescource for future conversations with my daughter!

  42. Gabriel J. says

    March 11, 2009 at 10:27 pm

    Please, enter me, great prize!!!

  43. Miranda Allen says

    March 11, 2009 at 7:09 pm

    I would love to win this 🙂

  44. Stacie says

    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

  45. Jill says

    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

  46. Mia J. says

    March 11, 2009 at 1:59 pm

    This sounds like it would be so interesting. Thanks for the giveaway.

  47. Sharon Martin says

    March 11, 2009 at 1:44 pm

    Oh, the memories…. Would love to have a copy. Thanks, Sharon

  48. Allison says

    March 10, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    What a fun idea!

  49. jayne says

    March 10, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    This would be a great read! Thanks so much!

  50. Michelle D says

    March 10, 2009 at 6:34 pm

    I would LOVE to win this – it sounds great.

  51. tanya wilson says

    March 10, 2009 at 5:55 pm

    Sounds like quite a read.

  52. Andrea says

    March 10, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    What a unique giveaway, I’m in!

  53. Rebecca says

    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!

  54. Gina Stratos says

    March 10, 2009 at 5:11 pm

    I would really love to win this
    [email protected]

  55. Saly says

    March 10, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    I’d love to win this one

  56. gahome2mom says

    March 10, 2009 at 4:43 pm

    Where was this book when I was a young girl? lol Thanks.

  57. Carol Lawrence says

    March 10, 2009 at 3:29 pm

    Enter me in the book giveaway.

  58. Karen Gonyea says

    March 10, 2009 at 3:16 pm

    Sounds good to me 🙂

  59. Jennifer Barr says

    March 10, 2009 at 2:45 pm

    sounds like a great book 🙂

  60. Ellen C. says

    March 10, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    I would love to give this a read. Thanks for the chance.

  61. Angela J says

    March 10, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    Sounds like an interesing read.

  62. Vmichelle says

    March 10, 2009 at 2:16 pm

    Count me in.

  63. veronica sandberg says

    March 10, 2009 at 2:10 pm

    want to win this

  64. Tarah says

    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!

  65. Susan C says

    March 10, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    I just wrote an essay on this subject for my women’s study class.

  66. Djp says

    March 10, 2009 at 6:00 am

    great little read

  67. Meredith Rogen says

    March 10, 2009 at 2:36 am

    This looks very interesting, cute cover design.

  68. Jessica says

    March 10, 2009 at 12:49 am

    This looks like it would be a funny read!

  69. karly says

    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!).

  70. Angela C. says

    March 9, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    Sounds like an interesting book. I would love to win a copy.

    accoupons at gmail dot com

  71. Linda Chaput says

    March 9, 2009 at 11:18 pm

    I’d love to read this book.

  72. Nancy says

    March 9, 2009 at 10:49 pm

    Sounds wonderful, I’d love to win!

  73. Andria says

    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.

  74. christopher h says

    March 9, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    i’d love to win this

  75. Deanna says

    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

  76. shannon Baas says

    March 9, 2009 at 7:42 pm

    I would like this for my niece.

  77. edj says

    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.

  78. Tee M. says

    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!!

  79. Laura Collins says

    March 9, 2009 at 5:19 pm

    would be great to read

  80. susan varney says

    March 9, 2009 at 4:58 pm

    i love to read

  81. Susan Smith says

    March 9, 2009 at 4:22 pm

    sounds like an interesting book

  82. Kathy Scott says

    March 9, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    I need to feed my reading addiction.

  83. Jemrah says

    March 9, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    thanks for the contest.

  84. Mozi Esmes Mommy says

    March 9, 2009 at 2:36 pm

    Would love to read this!

  85. Kelly from Montana says

    March 9, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    could be a fun read…

  86. Shannon H says

    March 9, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    I’m curious and I’m raising a daughter, so count me in please. Thanks!

  87. Paper Bridges says

    March 9, 2009 at 1:39 pm

    ha! how hard did you laugh as you wrote this post, Snap??

    m

  88. Elizabeth says

    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!

  89. C. clemens says

    March 9, 2009 at 12:02 pm

    please enter me~ thanks

  90. Denise says

    March 9, 2009 at 11:38 am

    I’d love to win this, thanks.

  91. Vicki Wurgler says

    March 9, 2009 at 11:21 am

    I think every woman has a story on that subject

  92. Brooke says

    March 9, 2009 at 10:50 am

    I would love to win, that sounds funny!

  93. Amanda Daybyday says

    March 9, 2009 at 10:42 am

    Sounds entertaining!

  94. Kim says

    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.

  95. Melissa says

    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!

  96. Cynthia L says

    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!

  97. Michael Capp says

    March 9, 2009 at 8:28 am

    I’d love to win!

  98. Brandie says

    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 🙂

  99. Serena says

    March 9, 2009 at 4:29 am

    Sounds very interesting!

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