Kim Martyn, a Toronto sexual health educator, has written a sex book for teens that acknowledges that half of adolescents have sexual intercourse while they’re high school age. Sure, Cosmopolitan does this too, but from a “how to please your man” angle. The aim of this book is to help teens (male and female) decide when the time is right for them to have intercourse and to make that first time rewarding and safe. The readers are offered few hard and fast rules, although Martyn does state that she thinks people younger than 16 are too young for intercourse.

The indexed book covers what actually happens when people have intercourse, other sexual activities, virginity, birth control, where to have sex, sexual assault, and sexually transmitted infections. It is liberally sprinkled with questions and comments from teens. She takes most of these questions seriously and answers them well. There are a few unhelpful answers, such as telling a teen who wants to know how you know which is the right hole that instinct will guide him. There is a chapter for parents on practical issues (such as should your teen’s boyfriend or girlfriend sleep over?) and communication. Line drawings throughout the book add information and keep the tone light.

The first chapter, which abounds with teenage lingo, was offputting to my 15-year-old daughter, who said cruelly, “She’s trying to sound like a teen and she’s, like, 80. Teenagers want to read a book about sex that they can take seriously.” But readers who get past the first chapter will find that the writing quickly improves. Parents can give this book to teens without worrying that it will give them the message that they should have sex. They will know their teen has gotten sound information that will help them make positive sexual choices.