Offering an A-Z range of contemporary topics and terms related to sexuality, with nothing off-limits, this candid, browsable book is suitable for older adolescents who want relevant, reliable answers. An open and nonjudgmental approach characterizes the short discussions of sexuality, relationships, identity, self-image, contraception, cyberbullying, consent, and more. Readers are reminded that individuals are unique, that there are many ways to experience sexuality and that it’s okay to say no. Bold, stylized illustrations, in a limited colour palette, highlight smiling figures; bodies and sexual behaviour are simply portrayed. The reference list includes Canadian and international resources. This is the first book by Myriam Daguzan Bernier, a CBC columnist, communications specialist, and instructor who is studying sexology at UQAM. The original French version received the Prix du Livre Jeunesse des Bibliothèques de Montréal (Montréal Libraries’ Prize for Books for Young People) as well as the Prix Espiègle in 2020.

Cautions / Content Warnings: Some individuals may find some of the terms offensive.
Images: Colour illustrations
Bibliography: Yes
Index: Yes

Source: Books BC - BC Books for Schools

Myriam Daguzan Bernier is the author of the blog La tête dans le cul and a regular columnist for ICI Radio-Canada Première’s radio show Moteur de recherche. She is also a communication specialist and instructor at L’inis, Québec’s national institute of sound and image. Myriam is currently studying sexology at Université du Québec à Montréal and plans to become a sexologist focusing on a feminist and inclusive approach.

 

Myriam Daguzan Bernier's profile page

Cécile Gariépy est une illustratrice originaire de Montréal. Elle aime les images qui racontent des histoires. Elle conçoit des illustrations pour différents supports et clients, en passant par les journaux américains jusqu’aux emballages de produits alimentaires québécois, sans jamais oublier l’annuelle carte d’anniversaire pour sa mère. Son travail est ludique et met l’accent sur la couleur, la composition et la conception du personnage.

Cécile Gariépy's profile page

Charles Simard is a Québécois editor and translator from Montréal, also known as Tiohtià:ke and Mooniyaang. He works as poetry, fiction, and non-fiction editor for Talonbooks in Vancouver on Coast Salish Territory. His published work includes the essay Littérature, analyse et forme: Herbert, Tolkien, Borges, Eco (EUE, 2010) and a number of translations for Orca Book Publishers, including Elise Gravel’s The Wrench and Myriam Daguzan Bernier’s dictionary of sexuality, Naked. As a lexicographer, he has collaborated on the making of the popular linguistic suite Antidote in its bilingual editions. He holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in comparative literature from Université de Montréal and was a postdoctoral fellow at the City University of New York’s Graduate
Center. His doctoral and postdoctoral publications focused on the poetics of avant-garde composer and writer John Cage. He lives in Montréal, Québec.

Charles Simard's profile page

• Commended, Ontario Library association (OLA) Best Bets

“This eye-opening encyclopedia is destined to become a staple of every middle school and high school library...Thoughtful and informative, consistently reminding the readers that their lived experiences are valid and completely normal..I would encourage all readers to pick up a copy of Naked.”

Canadian Children's Book News

“Spunky…Filled with encouraging language and imagery to reassure teens that there is no such thing as normal, right, or wrong when it comes to consensual human interactions.”

Booklist

★ “What makes this sex-ed title stand out is the up-to-the-minute dialogue around age-old concerns combined with discussions about broader concepts…Gariépy’s radiant, curvy, stylized digital graphics are a perfect fit for the body-positive text…Non-judgemental, trustworthy, and savvy, Bernier is the counsellor we all wished we had access to in high school.”

Quill & Quire, starred review

“Attractive, lighthearted...A validating tome that will spark an interest in further learning.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Lives up to its name and also doesn’t speak down to its audience. I whole-heartedly recommend this title for the inquisitive and curious teens in your life, and for adults as well if they want to learn about concepts that are not often covered in other resources for teens. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“Fun, colorful, and off-beat, lending a cheeky irreverence to often difficult subjects…A solid choice for independent reading and browsing. Highly recommended for high school collections.”

School Library Journal

“The perfect compendium of sex/sexuality for curious teens during a heightened time of misinformation.”

Brooklyn Public Library