My new middle grade novel, Are You There, Buddha? is about a 12 year old girl called Bee who gets her period as she’s training for the state swimming championships. For research, I asked the Twitter community to recommend their favourite fiction books for children and teenagers that feature periods, I never expected the answers to come from so far and wide (the US, UK, Asia!) and with such passion and enthusiasm. Starting with my book, here is that list (edited for length, but I will add more books to it when I have time!) I hope it’s a useful reference.
Are You There, Buddha?, Pip Harry. A 12-year-old called Bee talks to Buddha and begs for her first period not to arrive, she’s not ready to become a woman yet, whatever that means.
Go With the Flow, Lily Williams and Karen Schneemann. Abby, Brit, Christine, and Sasha are fed up. Hazelton High never has enough tampons. Or pads. Or adults who will listen.
Blood Moon, Lucy Cuthew. During Frankie's first sexual experience with the quiet and lovely Benjamin, she gets her period. It's only blood, they agree. But soon a graphic meme goes viral.
Jelly, Jo Cotterill. Twelve-year-old Jelly hides her true self behind her humour and keeps her true thoughts and feelings locked away in a notebook. Can she find the courage to share who she really is? In this sweet coming of age novel, Jelly gets her first period at school.
The Year the Maps Changed, Danielle Binks. Fred's mother died when she was six and she's been raised by her Pop and adoptive father, Luca. But now Pop's had to go away, and Luca's girlfriend Anika and her son have moved in. Fred is going through puberty and gets her first period in this powerful historical novel about family and the refugee experience in Australia.
The Babysitter’s Club, Kristy’s Big Day , Ann M. Martin. Kristy’s mom is getting re-married, she’s the bridesmaid and her first period arrives on the big day.
The Edge of Thirteen, Nova Weetman. Clem Timmins can’t wait to see her best friends after being apart all summer holidays. But when they get back together, things have changed. Clem feels left behind in getting her first period.
The Long Secret, Louise Fitzhugh. Released by Harper & Row in 1965, this Harriet the Spy companion novel is widely thought to be the first children’s book in English that addresses periods.
Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret? Judy Blume. First published in 1970, this iconic book is about Margaret Simon, almost twelve, who has just moved from New York City to Farbook, New Jersey, and is anxious to fit in with her new friends—Nancy, Gretchen, and Janie. They form a secret club to talk about private subjects like boys, bras, and getting their first periods.
Sensitive, Allayne Webster. SJ suffers from chronic eczema and allergies – she’s sick of doctors’ appointments and tests, sick of itchiness and pain, sick of looking different, feeling different. Sam gets her period when she’s ill.
New Patches for Old, Christobel Mattingley. Written in 1980, this novel features a young girl called Patricia, who migrates from England to Australia. Her home is an immigrant hostel and the patches on her second-hand school uniform give her an unwelcome nickname. Features a period scene that was considered ahead of its time.
In the Dark Spaces, Callie Black. Tamara has been living on a star freighter in deep space, and her kidnappers are terrifying Crowpeople – the only aliens humanity has ever encountered. References Tamara’s menstruation seamlessly in an alien world.
The Moon Within, Aida Salazar. Celi Rivera adjusts to her changing body, gets a crush on a boy, and learns what it means to be supportive to her genderfluid best friend. Celi's mom wants to have a moon ceremony when her first period arrives.
Revenge of the Red Club, Kim Harrington. Riley Dunne loves being a member of the Red Club - a group of girls supporting each other through their periods and maintaining an emergency stash of supplies. But when the school administration shuts the Red Club down because of complaints, the girls are stunned and they decide to get even.
Alanna: The First Adventure, Tamora Pierce. Becoming a legend isn’t easy, as young Alana of Trebond discovers when she disguises herself as a boy and begins training to be a knight. This fantasy series doesn’t ignore the fact that the heroine on this quest is a girl going through puberty.
Diary of a Confused Feminist, Kate Weston. 15-year-old Kat wants to be a feminist, although she's not always sure what that means. She also wants to be a writer, get together with Hot Josh, and win at her coursework. Features mooncups, period undies and period poverty.
Blood Like Magic, Liselle Sambury. A rich, dark urban fantasy debut following a teen witch who is given a horrifying task: sacrificing her first love to save her family’s magic. Opening with a period scene, menstruation is normalised in this fantasy world.