Best puberty books for your teen daughter
Helping them navigate adolescence
Puberty. The word alone can make teens (and even parents we speak to) squirm.
But a good book can make this whole “growing up” thing a lot less scary and awkward, and even empowering.
So we’ve rounded up some of the best puberty books for girls that are informative without being boring, supportive without being preachy, and even a little funny when it’s needed most.
Whether your daughter is just starting out on their puberty journey or already rolling their eyes at deodorant adverts, these books are designed to help them feel confident, capable, and less alone.
The Girls' Guide to Growing Up by Anita Naik
This classic guide covers the puberty basics – body changes, emotions, and all those “what on earth is happening to me?!” moments.
It’s straightforward, friendly, and easy to dip in and out of, which is perfect for the teen who would rather scroll TikTok than read a whole book in one go.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.7/5
- Age range: best for ages 9 to 12
- Reviewers call it ‘easy to understand’ and ‘insightful’
The Body Image Book for Girls by Charlotte Markey
Puberty is about more than just biology, it’s also about how your daughter feels in their changing body.
This book dives into the world of body confidence, self-esteem, and navigating the sometimes toxic messages of social media.
It’s practical, evidence-based, and empowering, with a tone that feels more like an older sister than a lecture.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.6/5
- Age range: best for ages 9+
- One grandparent said it helped them love themselves when they read through it with their granddaughter
What’s Happening to Me? by Susan Meredith
This one has been around forever (you might even remember it from your own tween or teen years).
It’s straightforward, funny, and packed with illustrations that make the whole puberty thing feel less terrifying.
Covering everything from developing crushes to types of bras, this book is a great tool for teens and tweens.
It’s especially good for younger girls who are just starting to notice changes and need reassurance that it’s all totally normal.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.7/5
- Age range: best for ages 9 to 11
- One reviewer said they wish they had had this book thirty years ago because it would have made them feel ‘less lonely’.
Growing Up Powerful by Nona Willis Aronowitz
This isn’t your standard puberty guide – it’s all about empowerment.
Instead of just talking about periods and pimples, it helps girls think about their voice, their place in the world, and their confidence as they grow up.
It’s bold, inspiring, and a fantastic reminder that puberty is about more than hormones, it’s about stepping into power.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.8/5
- Age range: best for ages 8 to 14
- Parents have found that, unlike other books, their daughters don’t find it ‘cringey’
The Girl Guide: 50 Ways to Learn to Love Your Changing Body by Marawa Ibrahim
This book makes puberty fun.
With colourful illustrations and 50 practical tips, it’s like a survival guide for growing up that your teen can actually enjoy reading.
It covers everything from dealing with new emotions to figuring out deodorant, all with a sense of humour that makes the awkward stuff feel less…well, awkward.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.7/5
- Age range: best for ages 8 to 12
- A reviewer said that the writer is like the friend we all wanted growing up’. How cute!
Welcome to Your Period by Yumi Stynes and Dr. Melissa Kang
This book talks about periods in a way that actually feels normal.
It covers everything from period party ideas to dealing with cramps and period products.
Comprehensive and jam-packed with information, Welcome to Your Period has all the information your teen needs. However, it never feels overwhelming!
Reassuring and funny, this book is one of the best period guides out there.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.7/5
- Age range: best for ages 9 to 12
- One reviewer thinks that this book is ‘something every young girl should have’
Puberty Is Gross, but Also Really Awesome by Gina Loveless
The title alone will probably grab your teen’s attention.
This book takes a brutally honest (and funny) approach to puberty, covering all the gross bits with humour while delving into the changes that happen in both male and female bodies.
It’s refreshingly frank and perfect for teens who like their information straight-up and unfiltered.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.7/5
- Age range: best for ages 10 to 13
- This book is great for non-binary teens, using "assigned male/female at birth" rather than "boy" or "girl" in its language.
Girlology: A Girl’s Guide to Stuff That Matters by Patricia Hutchison and Melisa Holmes
With a title like that, you know it’s going to cover more than just biology.
Girlology gets into the real stuff, from friendships and emotions to periods and body changes,
The information is delivered in a reassuring, positive way.
It’s like having a supportive mentor guiding your teen through all the weird and wonderful bits of adolescence.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.3/5
- Age range: best for ages 8 to 12
- One reviewer said that it was great for exploring topics that are ‘sometimes hard to talk about’.
The Rough Guide to Girl Stuff by Kaz Cooke
This chunky book is basically an encyclopedia of girlhood.
It covers everything, and we mean everything.
It's jam-packed with information on skincare, school stress, bullies, drinking, and drugs.
It’s the kind of book they can flip through whenever they need advice or reassurance, and it will likely become a long-term companion during the teenage years.
What parents need to know:
- Amazon rating: 4.6/5
- Age range: best for ages 13 to 17
- When discussing sex and drugs, this book sticks to the facts and neither encourages nor discourages
Helping your daughter through the awkward years
Let’s face it – puberty can be weird and messy sometimes. It's really not easy!
But having the right guide on hand can make your teen feel informed, supported, and confident about the changes happening in their life.
But if you worry your teen will never pick up a book because they prefer their smartphone in hand, you should introduce them to the luna app. It's recommended for ages 11-18.
luna is basically all these books wrapped up into one easy-to-use app!
We like to think of it like the antidote to social media, because it's something they can turn to for information and advice that's safe and engaging and always up to date – whether that's tracking their periods and moods or asking an anonymous question to luna's team.
With content reviewed by experts and NHS doctors, luna brings clear information about puberty to your teen.
A pretty cool way to make phones educational, right?!
How we created this article:
luna's team of experts comprises GPs, Dermatologists, Safeguarding Leads and Junior Doctors as well as Medical Students with specialised interests in paediatric care, mental health and gynaecology. All articles are created by experts, and reviewed by a member of luna's senior review team.
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