Let's Talk About It (book)

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Let's Talk About It
DateMarch 9, 2021
Page count240 pages
PublisherRandom House Graphic
Creative team
WritersErika Moen, Matthew Nolan

Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human is a 2021 non-fiction graphic novel written and illustrated by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan. The book is an illustrated guide to sex education that is oriented towards teenagers.

Let's Talk About It has received mostly positive reviews and has been praised for its inclusivity and comprehensiveness. It has been the subject of many attempts to ban the work from public libraries and schools. It was included in the American Library Association's 'Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023'.

Background[edit]

Authors Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan are a married couple of comics creators. They have produced the sex education webcomic Oh Joy Sex Toy since 2013.[1] Let's Talk About It was published by Random House Graphic on March 9, 2021.[2] Layout assistance for the graphic novel was provided by Maria Frantz.[3]

Contents[edit]

As a sex education guidebook, Let's Talk About It introduces and provides an overview of sex and relationships for teenagers and young adults. Topics in the graphic novel are presented in sections through a series of conversations between teenaged characters. Each section has a lesson that begins with a problem confronted by the characters, which leads to an explanatory section on the topic, and eventually returns to a resolution by the characters that the section began with.[4] In the dialogues, the characters engage with topics of physicality and identity.[3][1]

Let's Talk About It defines and describes concepts relating to gender, sexuality, body image, and anatomy. The graphic novel contains detailed information on sex, masturbation, orgasms, birth control, and the prevention of STIs. It also includes sections on sexting, kinks, fantasies, and pornography. The book has graphic illustrations, including those of naked humans and sex positions.[5] The graphic novel includes an overview of various types of relationships, including monogamy, polyamory, open relationships, and companionate love. Let's Talk About It additionally addresses jealousy, rejection, and abuse in relationships.[2] It stresses the importance of consent between partners in sexual activities, while emphasizing open-mindedness and encouraging experimentation. The book's illustrations are inclusive and diverse, with characters that represent various body shapes, ethnicities, gender identities, and abilities.[6]

The conclusion of Let's Talk About It has a letter from the authors, who describe how they "set out with a goal of producing the book that they wish they had access to when they were teenagers".[3]

Reception[edit]

Let's Talk About It has received mostly positive reviews, garnering praise for its comprehensiveness and inclusivity. A review in Kirkus Reviews found that the graphic novel has a tone that is sex positive and honest, while being "colorful, visually appealing, and easy-to-read".[2] A Publisher's Weekly review found that the book was "refreshingly inclusive" and said that it offers "comprehensive, no-nonsense information on sex and sexuality".[6] Avery Kaplan writes in a review that the book offers "practical, important information about sex that is often withheld from teenagers, either because of archaic moral judgments or authoritative ignorance."[3] A review in the School Library Journal concluded that "A sprinkling of profanity (including the odd F-bomb) must be noted as it may affect a school library's ability to shelve it."[7]

Book bans[edit]

Since its publishing in 2021, Let's Talk About It has been the subject of many attempts to ban the work from public libraries and schools. Activist groups have challenged the book for being what they describe as pornographic or obscene content. It has also been challenged for its LGBTQIA+ content.[8] The American Library Association included Let's Talk About It in its 'Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023'. According to the association, the book's inclusion in libraries was challenged 55 times in 2023.[9]

The conservative political organization Moms for Liberty campaigned against the inclusion of Let's Talk About It in public school libraries in Broward County, Florida, in 2023.[10] Some challenges have resulted in the relocation of the book to the adult section of libraries.[11] Activists have called for the defunding of libraries that carry the book.[12]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Zogbi, Emily (March 22, 2021). "Oh Joy, Sex Toy Team Explains Why Their Next OGN Tackles Teen Relationships". CBR. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "Let's Talk About It". Kirkus Reviews. January 11, 2021. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Kaplan, Avery (10 March 2021). "Review: Let's Talk About It is sex ed done right!". The Beat. Archived from the original on 11 June 2023. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  4. ^ "A New Kind of Sex-Ed | All Of It". WNYC. March 26, 2021.
  5. ^ Della Costa, Anna Maria (February 17, 2023). "Two Charlotte schools pull books after complaint about sexually explicit content". The Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human by Erika Moen, Matthew Nolan". Publisher's Weekly. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  7. ^ Willey, Paula (December 1, 2020). "Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on August 21, 2022.
  8. ^ LaBella, Josh (October 12, 2022). "Fairfield Library decides to not remove controversial book". CT Insider. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  9. ^ "Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2023 | Banned Books". American Library Association. Archived from the original on May 22, 2024. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  10. ^ "Sex education book pulled from Broward public school libraries". CBS News. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on March 11, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  11. ^ Slaby, MJ (February 25, 2022). "Hamilton East Public Library makes changes to teen section after complaints". The Indianapolis Star. Archived from the original on May 24, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Gowriluk, Caitlyn (May 1, 2023). "Southern Manitoba libraries battle defunding attempts over sex-ed content in children's books". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 26, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2024.

External links[edit]

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